Confusion reigns over Labor links to secret page trolling park lands protesters
The state government is washing its hands of a social media page – originally authorised by a key Labor MP – targeting protesters. Key Labor Ministers follow the page and the Labor Party regularly gives ‘likes’.
The Labor Party has rejected claims that it is running a prominent Facebook page with former government links that has “trolled” Adelaide Park Lands protesters and Adelaide City Council over its opposition to major CBD developments.
The ‘Back SA Major Events and Tourism’, which was renamed after being an Adelaide 500 promotion page, relaunched on May 8 a few days before tree felling began at the North Adelaide Golf Course.
Screenshots made by InDaily reveal the page was previously authorised by the former state Labor secretary and current Labor Legislative Council Member Reggie Martin, before his authorisation was removed in June.
“This page is about celebrating and supporting the major events that put South Australia on the world stage, bringing visitors to our state, filling our hotels, restaurants and bars, creating local jobs and showcasing everything SA has to offer,” the page description reads.
In recent weeks, the social media page has made posts “exposing the extraordinary hypocrisy of the Adelaide City Council and Park Lands protesters”, while promoting the North Adelaide Golf Course redevelopment and the 2027 MotoGP city street circuit.
You might like
Currently, there are more than 6600 followers, including the pages run for key Labor Government ministers including Premier Peter Malinauskas, Education Minister Lucy Hood, Housing and Urban Development Minister Nick Champion, Humans Services Minister Katrine Hildyard, State Development Minister Chris Picton, and also the official South Australian Labor Facebook page which can often be seen hitting the ‘like’ button on posts.
Martin told InDaily it had been “four years since I’ve authorised anything” and that he has “no involvement with the page”.
People in the comment sections have speculated whether the page is run by Labor staffers.
But a spokesman for the state government said, “the state government is not running those pages”, while a Labor Party spokesman added “it is not a Labor Party page”.
Stay informed, daily
One post on July 2 following a court case hearing on the golf course read “a good day in court for everyone who wants to see the North Adelaide Golf Course redevelopment delivered”.
“It was a bad day for the nimbys and naysayers who are determined to stop this important project,” it said.
Other posts can be seen promoting Adelaide’s ranking as the eighth most liveable city in the world, an increase in Cathay Pacific flights between Adelaide and Hong Kong, and LIV Golf being nominated for “World’s Best Golf Event”.
The page was originally launched in October 2020 as ‘Save the Adelaide 500’ following the former Liberal Government dumping the car race, citing financial impacts of Covid-19.
In February 2022 the page again rebranded to ‘Bring Back the Adelaide 500’, a central Labor Party election pledge led by Premier Peter Malinauskas during the 2022 state election campaign.
During this period, the page featured Reggie Martin’s name as giving it government authorisation before it rebranded to ‘Back SA Major Events and Tourism’ in May.
Adelaide Park Lands Association president Mat Monti said, “potentially setting up Facebook pages to troll” would be “a new low for the SA Labor party”.
“The government tells us the destruction of the Park Lands is necessary, and the majority of South Australians support their actions. Well, a government that truly believes they have the public’s backing doesn’t need to set up a fake Facebook page to drum up support,” Monti said.
“If this page is being run by a Labor staffer or affiliate then the government needs to make that clear and explain why there was no clear authorisations or disclosure of this link.
“Say what you want about the people who support our campaign, but they are real South Australians who are concerned about the loss of their Park Lands. We haven’t had to set up fake community groups to support our fight.”
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
