THE STATE PLANNING REVIEW

Premier John Bannon was influential in the development of the State during the 1980s. He combined the Savings Bank of South Australia (founded in 1848) and the State Bank of South Australia (founded in 1896) to form the new State Bank and this was part of a substantial period of expansion in Adelaide. Bannon also created the South Australian Finance Authority to assist the private sector with developments. Further, he brought about the ASER development, despite opposition from the ACC, and in 1985 secured the Grand Prix motor race for Adelaide with the support of the ACC.

However, by the late 1980s there was mounting public criticism that the Bannon Labor Government was failing to deliver major projects. There was a community feeling that the planning system was to blame and the Government believed the existing planning system did not serve the community well. The problem was the philosophy of control behind the City of Adelaide Development Control Act 1976 and the Planning Act 1982. There had been a perception in the 1960s and 1970s that government under Dunstan's influence could bring about change and achieve reform through legislation. This attitude had changed and Greg Crafter observed that what was needed was legislation with some vision that empowered communities and facilitated rather than controlled development.