Mount Gambier residents were invited to community sessions with the Labor Party on the weekend during a whistle-stop tour of the town.
Labor Party leader Peter Malinauskas visited the region with fellow party members, Deputy Leader Dr Susan Close, Kyam Maher MLC and Clare Scriven MLC.
The community sessions were held with Mount Gambier’s new Labor candidate and community justice advocate Katherine Davies to enable the party to hear concerns from the community.
Among issues raised was the Mount Gambier Metropolitan Fire Service’s lack of new appliances, with the station currently using two 22-year-old pumpers, despite the MFS having a policy of either replacing or refurbishing vehicles after 15 years.
“This is the state’s second-largest city, so I do not think it’s an unreasonable expectation for this community to be treated on a level playing field with others in Adelaide,” Mr Malinauskas said.
Ms Davies agreed the Blue Lake city needed replacement trucks.
“Getting newer trucks will surely help the victims of those horrific crashes that we see sadly down here so often,” she said.
Ms Davies additionally heard from community members who have struggled with access to specialist health services, an issue she plans to focus on moving forward.
Concerns were also raised about the poor quality of Mount Gambier’s public transport system, which already has been flagged by Mount Gambier City Council.
Mr Malinauskas told The SE Voice Labor could substantially increase its vote in Mount Gambier with Ms Davies as its candidate.
“Katherine has a heart of gold and that is demonstrated through her line of work as a lawyer for people seeking community advocacy and legal services,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“She’s a passionate member of the community and actively involved in Girl Guides in a position of leadership.
“That is the sort of person that speaks to us wanting to put our best foot forward in Mount Gambier.”
However, Mr Malinauskas acknowledged his party has a “challenge in front of us”.
“If I’m honest, I know that Troy Bell is a hardworking local member,” he said.
“It’s a seat that has been won by Labor, but of course this has not happened for decades. But as people have become familiar with just how city-centric the Marshall Liberal government is, they’ll look for other options.”
Off the back of the release of the Marshall Liberal government’s State Budget 2021/22, which provided no new announcements for the Limestone Coast, the Labor Party said it would commit $100m to country health in South Australia.
“I have made it clear that we’re not going to pursue Steven Marshall’s basketball stadium in the city,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“Instead, we’re going to invest that money in health.”
Mr Malinauskas said there were needs in and around Mount Gambier at the Mount Gambier Hospital, particularly with the news of the Mount Gambier Private Hospital’s closure.
When asked by The SE Voice how confident he was that Labor could take the seat from Mr Bell and over the Liberal Party, Mr Malinauskas said people would have a choice at the ballot box.
