Premier Steven Marshall has refused to rule out the demolition of Thebarton Theatre after he returned from leave to find spot fires on his Government's policy front.
The much-loved theatre's future was questioned this month when the Government confirmed that significant and heritage-listed buildings were in the mix of up to 1,000 buildings that could be compulsorily acquired for a South Road upgrade.
This was despite Mr Marshall publicly declaring at its 90th birthday celebrations in 2018 that Thebarton Theatre "must be protected [and] it must never be bulldozed" .
Asked to repeat those promised on ABC Radio Adelaide's Breakfast program this morning, Mr Marshall refused.
"Let's not get carried away by this issue," he said.
"There's an investigation away … I'm not going to pre-empt the outcome of that process partway through the investigation."
He said there were three options being considered for the "toughest part of the north-south corridor", two of which involved tunnelling.
He said the Government would make a decision on the upgrade model by the end of the year.
Unapologetic on land tax
Mr Marshall also remained resolute on plans to reform South Australia's land tax system.
From July 1 next year, the Government wants to crack down on a legal loophole that allows those with multiple properties to pay less tax by splitting the ownership among different businesses or trusts.
"In the current situation, they're paying virtually no land tax on five properties," Mr Marshall said in response to a question involving a hypothetical investor.
"They are going to be aggregated and I don't know what that percentage is because it depends on the value.
"If they're paying virtually nothing now, then yes, there is going to be an increase, but isn't that fair?"
The Property Council of Australia believes the policy will take "a sledgehammer to mum and dad and institutional investors", suggesting it could increase the land tax for a couple owning three homes of average value from $1,100 to $21,000.
Liberal members and supporters have also criticised the Government's plan, but Mr Marshall remained unapologetic, despite assuring there was room to move in the policy to "get it right" before July next year.
"I heard the other day of someone who's got 63 different legal entities to avoid paying land tax," he said.
"Well, they're not going to be better off, but in total, people will be better off."
This is because the Government also plans to increase the minimum threshold for land tax to $450,000.
It currently comes into effect when a property is worth more than $391,000 and increases with the value of the property — up to 3.7 per cent for those worth more than $1.3 million.
The Government plans to reduce that percentage into the 2 per cent range "like every other jurisdiction in Australia".
"There will be 8,000 people currently paying land tax who won't pay a cent going forward," Mr Marshall said.
But when asked how many people would be negatively affected, Mr Marshall argued it was a harder figure to model due to understanding the number to multiples of properties with the same beneficiary or otherwise.
Aboriginal Art gallery an 'obligation'
Mr Marshall defended his intent to build an Aboriginal Art and Culture Gallery in Adelaide, with $145 million set aside for it in the budget's forward estimates despite a business case still being incomplete.
"I think we unequivocally have the most incredible collection that exists anywhere in the world, between the SA Museum, the Art Gallery of SA and also Tandanya," he said.
"I think we have an obligation to share this with the rest of the world and also think it will have a profound effect on interstate and overseas visitation to South Australia.
"When we look at what's happening around the world with regards to Aboriginal Art, it's literally going through the roof," he said.
Premier to support sex work reform
When prompted, Mr Marshall added that he was likely to vote in favour of decriminalising sex work, with a bill having already passed the Upper House, depending on what the final bill proposed.
"That's coming down to the [Lower] House and I'll look at what the final piece of legislation is," he said.
"Quite frankly, I'm up for reform in this area.
"I'm inclined to be supporting it."
