This week, a song titled ‘Ragtag Extremist Blues’ was released in protest of plans to move MotoGP to Adelaide and the redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course for LIV Golf and the Australian Open.
The song title takes inspiration from South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas labelling protesters a “ragtag group of extremists” in May.
Schumann is best known for his anti-war song ‘I Was Only 19’ released by Redgum in 1983.
He told South Australian outlet InDaily he was “absolutely appalled” by the state government’s appropriation of the parkland for golf and motorcycle racing.
“I think it’s absolutely outrageous, and I don’t believe they have a mandate for it,” Schumann said.
“The originating thought was (South Australian Premier Peter) Malinauskas’s dismissal of some protesters as ragtag extremists, when I think they’re just concerned citizens who are speaking out and acting in defiance of the government’s decision.
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“I’ve known Peter Malinauskas as an acquaintance for a long time now, and I think, generally speaking, he’s a good premier… but in this instance, he has it badly, badly wrong, and he’s overstepped the mark.”
The Adelaide Parklands Circuit is set to be developed for the motorcycle world championship’s arrival in 2027.
Part of that redevelopment will see the circuit extended in parts, including the use of the iconic East Terrace and Rundle Road while bypassing Bartels Road.
The final plan has not been released, though the Adelaide Park Lands Association has rallied against the motorcycle racing and golf developments.
As it stands, at least 45 trees are set to be felled for the Adelaide Parklands Circuit modifications while 585 are set to be chopped for the North Adelaide Golf Course overhaul.
A report from the Adelaide City Council last month claimed more than 200 trees could be felled for the MotoGP redevelopment.
“A conservative estimate when factoring in potential gravel pit safety areas for MotoGP riders could result in at least a further 100 trees to be removed,” the council report said.
“This increases the estimated tree removals required to host the Adelaide MotoGP for the next six years, towards 200 trees removed.”
Following the release of that report, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said that the council intentionally opposed the project and its numbers reflected that view.
“The Lord Mayor and the council have made clear that they’re opposed to MotoGP in the city anyway. In fact, they don’t want MotoGP in South Australia at all,” Malinauskas said on ABC Radio.
“Whether it’s one tree or 20 or 45 the council’s opposed to this, so they’re running around doing all this, you know, this latest number, and they’ll inflate the numbers as best as they can.
“They’re doing all this work, but they’re not doing it with the purposes of getting answers for people, they’re doing it with the purposes of undermining the event for the state, which I think is a pretty extraordinary position.”
The South Australian Government said that for every tree that is cut, three would be planted.
A parliamentary inquiry is looming as the ‘Stop The Chop – Save The Adelaide Park Lands’ petition reportedly nears 10,000 submissions.
If it hits the 10,000 benchmark, the petition will be submitted to the Legislative Review Committee.
Another petition via Change.org has received more than 50,000 signatures.
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