Responding to Former Governor’s massive pension revealed

This does not pass the pub test, especially if she is also receiving a pension from her previous public servant positions. – Alan McKibbin

Was there a similar headline when previous male governors retired? Or is it confined to female governors? – Herman Pouwels

We are struggling to make ends meet, and they do not miss out, in a position not needed in Australia. – Joseph Van Brussel

Without any disrespect to the outgoing Governor of South Australia, her departure raises an important question regarding public policy and remuneration.

Given her extensive prior career as a senior diplomat and top federal public servant – which already carries a substantial federal pension – it is reasonable to query why an additional, significant state pension (which could continue for decades, far outlasting the term of office) should apply.

At a time when public expenditure requires careful management, taxpayers deserve a clear discussion around overlapping, government-funded pensions, as well as post-retirement payments for government-funded consultancy, board, or committee roles. Ensuring fairness and fiscal responsibility in how we structure overall compensation for former public officeholders should be a priority. – Mark Gregerson

Responding to Roadblock in Adelaide pop-up bike lane plan

Come on, Adelaide City Council – you know more bikes means fewer cars and less traffic. Free parking just encourages more cars. What about free public transport into the city, which makes walking easier! – Louise Cameron

Responding to MotoGP work gets green light

This situation is a classic example of an activist minority trying to block development of the facilities to run a major event that will be extremely beneficial to the future of South Australia. The only beneficiaries of the action will be the lawyers at taxpayer expense.

Claims that the action is in the public interest are total nonsense. – Paul Venables

The survey done by the government did not ask people if they wanted the project to go ahead, just how they wanted the park lands to look after the MotoGP course was built.

So, the survey was flawed from the outset.

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I suspect that the answers would have been very different if this question had been posed, but we will never know. – Verity Cooper

Responding to Guard of Honour as SA Police farewell top cop

A great and good man – well done, and he will be a good vice-regal choice.

Interesting to see the salary difference between Governor and Police Commissioner – I would suggest the Commissioner role is underpaid and the Governor role overpaid, given the commitment and responsibilities of each position.

Frances Adamson’s pension is way too much – she no doubt has multiple pensions from her prior public service roles, and given we were paying into her super as well, it is too much given the benign role of Governor, with all the attendant perks. – Colin Gaetjens

A job well earnt. I trust his family will also enjoy Government House. A really nice human being. A normal, kind and empathetic person who has weathered a lot of storms. – Greg Marcus

Responding to ‘Long bow to draw?’: Premier quizzed on fatal traffic blackspot

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Millions for the MotoGP and a golf range, while dangerous intersections remain unfixed and people die. Now the government wants federal funding to fix one, and another south of the city still needs traffic lights.

Enough, Malinauskas! Stop spending millions on sporting spectacles … Our lives should matter more than … projects. And leave our park lands alone! – Claudia Flaxman

Responding to Protesters find home for banned park lands billboard

Is the opposition to this obscene idea really confined to a few residents of the southeast corner of the CBD? My sense is a lot more people than that are vehemently against this sort of irreversible destruction of our precious environment, particularly when a perfectly viable alternative exists. – Peter Manwaring

As a former Adelaide lad, I enjoy returning to SA for work and play, and regard the park lands as unique in a rapidly urbanising Australia. They set the city apart from the awkward sprawl of other CBDs (think Brisbane).

So, for the current premier to make such a radical change without regard to the long-term future of the city seems a bit short-sighted.

As to saying that a handful of local residents “don’t get to dictate to all the people of South Australia what happens in the park lands”, it seems he thinks he can, but I am pretty sure that the folks in Ceduna could not give a rat’s rectum.

I would suggest he propose a MotoGP circuit in Mount Gambier on the basis of rural revival, and see how far he gets. – Peter Stow

Peter Malinauskas’ comment that “a handful of residents in the southeast corner of the CBD don’t get to dictate to all of the people of South Australia what happens in the park lands,” made my blood boil. I am not a resident of this area of Adelaide, nor are the thousands of others who have valiantly tried to voice their concerns in any way they can about what we know to be inherently wrong. One does not have to be an inner-city resident to understand that Adelaide’s park lands are beautiful and unique and should be respected and protected. The idea that it is acceptable to destroy some of this ancient green space to accommodate a visiting three-day motorbike race beggars belief. It is shameful and outrageous. It makes me ask, who on earth does Peter Malinauskas think he is?

Please, Mr Malinauskas, please do the right thing and be recorded on the right side of history. Thousands of South Australians will be grateful and respect you for it. – Belinda Robb

Responding to Uni drops Santos name from city campus

Congratulations to Adelaide University for dropping Santos from the name of its engineering building. Now it is time to end the greenwashing and sportswashing elsewhere, starting with the Santos Tour Down Under. Gas and coal companies sell a dirty product that pollutes our air and worsens climate change. We stopped tobacco companies advertising for the same reason. Councils such as the City of Mitcham already back a ban on fossil fuel advertising. The Adelaide Botanic Gardens dropped Santos naming rights for their museum. If councils, a university and a public park can make the change, so can a bike race. – Anna Markey

Responding to Protesters find home for banned park lands billboard

Again, I find it disappointing to see the premier target groups that oppose the racetrack development as “activists” or “minority groups”.

I understand that there are tens of thousands of our citizens who have signed a petition to prevent this park land development. I believe up to 45,000 have done so.

May the Premier be reminded that such a number is double the size of a Port Adelaide home game in the middle of winter. Maybe he could consider that with renewed perspective. – Tony Simmons

Responding to Night shooting of native birds on Fleurieu

What happens to the birds that are injured from the shots and do not die? Are they left to suffer on the ground? What if other bird species are seen to be a problem to people there? Will they be targeted next? Has there been development that has forced these birds to accumulate into a smaller space? If the bird flu threatens to wipe out these birds, then the local authorities will be flipping to save them! – Tania Murphy

Responding to Pulped: No budget for free Adelaide Festival headliner

What is happening to the Festival State?

Popular and fantastic OzAsia festival axed!

No traditional free concert for the start of the Adelaide Festival in 2027. Reason – no government funds available.

Oh, that’s right, the money is going to getting rid of our park lands and having a noisy, fuel-driven MotoGP.

Thanks Labor government. Who has given you the mandate to change all our priorities?

So sad. – Lyn Howland

Our state seems to be all about bread and circuses. The government is happy to invest public money in motorsport and golf, so the arts deserve support too. But a free concert is a headline, not a substitute for long-lasting support for the arts. Whether it is a concert, a car race or a golf tournament, a user-pays system should apply, with those attending contributing to the cost.

We need sensible, lasting investment – not just a good show. – Kirsty Willis

Responding to Stop the Chop sign turfed, vaginal health campaign stays

I cannot believe there is such heavy-handed banning of legitimate community advertising going on. This is not my South Australia!

Much as I would prefer protesters to stop running down our Premier verbally (it does not exactly support future negotiations), there is no rationale for burying controversial messages that do not harm people nor go against either democracy or capitalism! – Shoshana Berry

Responding to First AUKUS nuclear sub to come to Australia revealed

This AUKUS deal was the fault of Morrison, who cancelled the order for French up-to-date conventional submarines. The ALP inherited this mess. Paul Keating went ballistic when he heard just how stupid we were. He said that for the same cost, we could have built modern conventional submarines in Australia that would cover the complete Australian coastline, and he pointed out that the coast of China is very shallow and any submarines would be easily dealt with by China. Three submarines are a joke, and to accept 10-year-old vessels is an insult. – Tony (surname withheld)

Responding to Protesters find home for banned park lands billboard

Premier, please use your outstanding negotiating skills to explain to Liberty Media that Adelaide citizens will increasingly continue to oppose the MotoGP with court cases and non-violent public protests, while welcoming the race at Tailem Bend, if funding is diverted and invested to make The Bend the Southern Hemisphere’s most popular motor racing venue (like Istanbul and Malaysia, where tourists stay in the city and use free transport to attend the races). You will be implementing ALP regional development policies at the same time as attracting thousands to the hotels, restaurants and bars of Adelaide city. We know you are trying to grow South Australia. Beware the cost to the environment, traffic flow and your reputation. – Julanne Sweeney

Responding to Auditor-Gen warning over hospital and T2D cost blowouts

SA Labor is set to blow yet another infrastructure budget. This time it is about the next stage of the North Adelaide Golf Course redevelopment, the whole project of which the Premier has insisted since last year would not cost more than $45 million. In the Auditor General’s 2025–26 annual report, tabled in state parliament on 13 October, he revealed that: “At 30 June 2026, the Department for the Premier and Cabinet had [already] executed contracts and approved variations with a combined value of $38.6 million”. He diplomatically noted that, “This expenditure was within the $45 million budget approved for Stage 1 of the project”. But while the balance left over on 30 June was $6.4 million, during the subsequent four months, government spending on the golf course project continued. It is obvious that the Stage 2 costs to fund construction of major new clubhouse buildings, expansive car park facilities and a golf driving range in a new two-storey building are going to cost a lot more than the Premier’s original “$45 million” figure. How much, Premier? And what about the secret North Adelaide Public Golf Course Redevelopment Masterplan by DASH Architects? It was presented to the government on 4 July 2025 – but kept secret. Premier, table that report now, plus the full costings for the Stage 2 building works. A cost-benefit analysis and full business case is also well overdue. – John Bridgland

Responding to Profits rise but SA Water complaints overflow

What I do not understand is why SA Water charges a supply fee ($88) for every unit in my block of four units when there is only one water meter and the total cost of the water is divided into four.

Would not a supply charge per meter make more sense? – Stephen Merrett

Responding to ‘Bittersweet end’: Casey in chorus as MotoGP farewells Phillip Island

Well, it is proposed to be a big event, the MotoGP; selfish to destroy century-old park lands for a racetrack that is supposed to be a street event, but it in fact will turn our park lands into a bitumen heat trap 😫 – Elaine Niedorfer

Responding to Wine legend’s donation to transform Adelaide ‘eyesore’

Thank you, Wolf! Great generosity in supporting the club! – Peter Jackson