Pub distances itself from push to move communist soup kitchen

Adelaide pub Sparkke at the Whitmore has distanced itself from a push to move a nearby communist soup kitchen, declaring it remains committed to “inclusivity”.

Earlier this month, one of the pub’s directors, Lois Boswell, approached volunteers who ran the kitchen and queried whether they had a permit to operate out of Whitmore Square.

Ms Boswell is the chief executive of South Australia’s Department of Human Services and lives near Whitmore Square.

Both the Australian Communist Party and the state Labor opposition have questioned whether Ms Boswell’s soup kitchen visit constitutes a conflict of interest with her public servant role — a claim Ms Boswell denies.

Sparkke at the Whitmore co-founder, Kari Allen, said the company did not know about Ms Boswell’s visit.

“We don’t talk to Ms Boswell about work related to her position or role within government and haven’t discussed activities or conditions on the square with her at a board or personal level; we also didn’t have prior knowledge of her — or any other person’s — visit to the square,” Ms Allen said.

“We deliberately chose our Whitmore Square site for all of its rich social, cultural and economic diversity, and we are very committed to our location and our community,” Ms Allen said.

Last week, Communist Party officials accused Ms Boswell of trying to pressure them to move.

The group has been providing meals to homeless people in Whitmore Square for two years without a permit — and has been told by police and council that it will not be granted permission to stay in the square.

Ms Boswell has denied knowing the communists had been asked to move on and said her visit to the soup kitchen was purely to tell the group they needed a permit.

She said the Sunday afternoon visit was in her capacity as chair of a government task force set up to “reduce anti-social behaviour” associated with “visitors to Adelaide from remote Aboriginal Communities”.

“I advised them that the taskforce had concerns that some services in the area may not be assisting vulnerable people in the way they were intended to,” she said in a statement.

During the visit, Ms Boswell was accompanied by her husband Don Frater, a senior SA Health Executive.

The Communist Party has written to Premier Steven Marshall, querying whether Ms Boswell’s interests as a nearby resident and pub owner conflict with her duties as a public servant.

Liberal Premier and minister defend public servant who’s a Labor member

Lois Boswell has been a long-time Labor Party member and was a deputy chief of staff to former premier Jay Weatherill.

But this week the ALP has been applying pressure to the government over Ms Boswell’s actions.

“What we’ve seen is a very senior public servant who is a director in a hospitality premise on the square asking homeless services to be moved on.

“That doesn’t really seem entirely appropriate unless of course there’s been a full declaration of that conflict of interest.”

Premier Steven Marshall said it was “interesting” that the opposition was questioning Ms Boswell.

“The reality is, Lois Boswell is an outstanding South Australian public servant — she’s done a good job over a long period of time.”

Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink told parliament that Ms Boswell had declared her part-ownership of the pub.

“There is a pecuniary interest document that I think probably all public servants, certainly chief executives, need to sign,” Ms Lensink said.

“I was made aware, I can’t remember exactly what date it was, and, yes, I did agree to it.

“I fully support my chief executive in what she is involved in. She is a conscientious, hardworking individual.”

Communists vow to fight for city square occupation

As for the soup kitchen, the Communist Party is vowing to continue in Whitmore Square – with or without permission.

“The efforts made to shut down our efforts reflect very badly on those authorities, whose priorities appear to lie elsewhere.

“We must continue with our modest efforts, funded completely out of our own pockets, because there is clearly a need from them.”