A raft of community concerns were raised by Limestone Coast residents when the SA Labor Shadow Cabinet held a Town Hall meeting in Mount Gambier on Sunday evening.

Labor leader Peter Malinauskas brought his Shadow Cabinet to the region, meeting with various community groups and organisations on Sunday and Monday.

The flagship event of the visit was a public meeting to give residents the opportunity to air any grievances which could be answered directly by the responsible Shadow Minister.

Around 45 people attended the event, which was opened by Labor candidate for Mount Gambier Katherine Davies.

Issues raised by speakers included renewable energy resources, ownership of the city’s rail lands, access to medical and support services, lack of foster carers, child protection matters, homelessness and further education.

Mr Malinauskas told those gathered that after the last election he had “made a beeline to the Limestone Coast and particularly Mount Gambier”.

“I wanted Labor to make a stronger presence in this area,” he said.

“I think that Labor made mistakes in the Limestone Coast when it came to the former government.

“One of the virtues of being reasonably new I get a clean slate … I did that early on and have been down here regularly ever since.”

Mr Malinauskas said there was “unbridled opportunity” in the region.

“That opportunity has largely been realised through the work of the local community and the local community alone,” he said.

“It’s never had the focus of the state government trying to exploit the opportunity that remains.

“There’s never been a crisis here.

“Here in the South East there is not one single industry or one single employer the town depends upon, there is a range of industries and a range of employers.

“You have all done exceedingly well.”

Mr Malinauskas said the Limestone Coast economy had “outperformed the rest of the state and you have done it all yourself”.

“It’s a great testament to the strength and the resilience of the local community,” he said.

“This will not be the last time you see any of us before the next state election, I will be travelling down here a bit.

“I do think there is a value in the whole government, if we are elected, spending time on the ground as a whole group.

“We will reinstate country cabinet if re-elected.”

Mr Malinauskas also paid tribute to the work of the community in helping to keep the state safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I wanted to acknowledge the difficulty you have been having during COVID, being a cross border community it is particularly acute,” he said.

“You have paid a particularly big sacrifice in the name of everyone’s safety, there are a lot of people in Adelaide who should be grateful.”