Adelaide Stadium an SA Election Issue

A recent statement by South Australia Liberal Leader Mitch Williams that the Liberal party never had a policy to build a new sports stadium in Adelaide has raised the matter of a new stadium becoming a major issue in the 2010 South Australian election.

The State Opposition leader told ABC Radio that "I don't think we ever had a policy to build a stadium" â a statement that contradicts former Liberal leader Martin Hamilton-Smith announcing that a new stadium would be the centrepiece of a redevelopment plan for the western CBD.

Williams suggested that the Liberals had only planned to build a stadium if Australia was host of the FIFA World Cup tournament, if Adelaide was the host of the Commonwealth games, and if a large amount of federal funding was "in the mix".

Building a new stadium in the city had been a key plank of former Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith's vision to revitalise the city and has resulted in the Government accusing him of wanting to build a $1 billion stadium ahead of a new hospital.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann has previously pledged to make the next election a referendum on the choice between a new Royal Adelaide Hospital and a stadium.