On the 22nd June 2025, with the support of my community, I announced my independent candidacy for the state seat of Adelaide at the upcoming 2026 election. It has been an honour of a lifetime serving as an elected member at the City of Adelaide for the last four years. It has become clear however, that many of the issues my constituents raise with me, can only be dealt with at a state level.

I’d like to begin with Park Lands.

In the last 6 weeks alone we’ve seen two extraordinary attacks on our Park Lands and civic spaces by the Malinauskas state government.

Firstly, the approval of the 38-story monolithic, corporate Walker tower on Festival Plaza. Looming over and casting a shadow over Parliament House, the people’s House for much of the year. This development is symbolic of the developers stranglehold over this government. This decision was clearly pre-determined many months ago, with groundwork’s underway for quite some time before the official approval. Festival Plaza is public, civic space, which is also Park Lands, and this approval, goes against Col William Lights vision for our Park Lands, and Don Dunstan’s vision for the festival Plaza.

The second attack is the outrageous decision by this government to seize the entirety of Possum Park (Park 1) and a large part of John E Brown Park (Park 27A) for their LIV Golf redevelopment. This decision will result in hundreds of trees being cut down and a significant amount of understory and ground level vegetation destroyed, removed as collateral, as the designers attempt to purge the site of the prolific Kikuya grass, to replace it with a more suitable golfing species. There will also the construction of new buildings as well as extensions of existing ones and I suspect, the creation of additional car parking. I also have significant concerns about the nearby Aboriginal cultural site next to War Memorial Drive.

I also want to acknowledge the tonnes of concrete and asphalt poured into Victoria Park, for the fossil fuel car race, Adelaide 500. The long-term alienation of the eastern Park Lands, for an event that lasts only 3 days, has caused significant disruption and distress for many in the east of the city, especially as the boundaries of the event continue to grow. I’m calling for a new, more suitable site for this event.

But this campaign isn’t just about opposing the governments many attacks on our Park Lands, it’s also about looking forward to the future. This campaign will be pushing for State Heritage Listing for our Park Lands, and funding of the ongoing bid for World Heritage Listing. I will also be pushing for increased funding for the restoration and beatification of our Park Lands and River Torrens. We can have activation of our Park Lands without advocating for its destruction. With an increasing inner-city population, open green space is key to maintaining and improving our liveability.

The fight against climate change is more than just green space. Public transport is key to reducing carbon emissions. I will be campaigning for a tram extension to North Adelaide and asks the next state government to acquire the Adelaide Bridge to accomplish this. I know this isn’t a partisan issue, and so I ask all parties running in the state seat of Adelaide to join me in advocating for this extension.

Another focus of my campaign is putting a community voice back into development. From the Walker Tower development on civic land to the bulldozing of local heritage places throughout the electorate, it is clear that the current system favours developers over communities. We need nothing less than a complete overhaul of the development code, not just a few tweaks around the edges. It’s time to put communities back into the forefront of planning here in South Australia.

The crux of most of these issues, is the lack of transparency and accountability with this government. The culture of secrecy needs to end. Many of the most controversial projects, decisions and captains’ calls are made behind closed doors. The best disinfectant is the light of day. If elected to state parliament I will vote for transparency every time. I’m honoured to have the support and endorsement of transparency warrior and former Senator Rex Patrick in this endeavour.

I have a great deal of respect for the current member for Adelaide. I genuinely believe, like me, she has a desire to help the community. The problem is, when it comes to a vote, she puts the government’s needs ahead of the community’s needs every time. What happens outside of the chamber doesn’t reflect what happens inside. It’s time for a member for Adelaide that puts people ahead of their party.

It has also become clear that with the implosion of the Liberal party, and The Greens focused on the hills and upper house, there will be no real challenge to the Malinauskas government here in the seat of Adelaide, the people deserve a real choice, and this campaign is here to give them that.