The unofficial Liberal Party campaign to win back the seat of MacKillop started this week when ex-Federal MP Nicolle Flint fronted a public meeting at the Lake Albert Golf Club at Meningie on Monday night.
It was the first of a number of community forums across the electorate in what has been called the “Liberals Listening Tour”.
Although the next State Election is 26 months away, there is intense speculation the Liberal Party will look to Ms Flint to wrest back the blue-ribbon seat from Liberal-turned-Independent Nick McBride.
Ms Flint did not seek re-election for her city seat in the 2022 poll but has since remained active in Liberal Party circles
She is the chairman of the Rural and Regional Council of the Liberal Party and is being supported by Member for Barker Tony Pasin and Ben Hood MLC.
Mr Hood said the Liberals spent much of Monday speaking with businesses at Meningie.
“There were lots of great conversations with businesses and hearing from them about what regional business especially are facing, it’s electricity prices, it’s staffing, generally the cost of doing business is what is biting regional businesses,” Mr Hood said.
“There are great little businesses in Meningie that have popped up recently, it’s great to see that happening in the town.”
Mr Hood said there was plenty of feedback received at a community forum in the town.
“There was lots of talk about health, regional health really continues to have the guts cut out of it, health services being centralised back to the capital city which makes it hard for regional people to get the health care they need and deserve,” he said.
“When it comes to education, we heard it’s hard to secure maths and science teachers in the regions and as far as education standards we are seeing the state falling behind.
“We do need to get back to reading, writing, arithmetic and teaching the fundamental basics, letting kids know there is a great deal of options available, not just university, but vocation and trades.”
The tour headed to Kingston on Tuesday, where the Liberals met with businesses and the local council, before hosting another community forum. Kingston is the home town of both Ms Flint and Mr McBride.
Yesterday was spent in Naracoorte, with meetings including pastoralists and the Kincraig Medical Centre, with a community forum completing the visit.
The Liberal MacKillop tour continues today in Penola, with visits to businesses and a coffee catch up.
“This is about getting out to the grass roots, listening to what people have to say,” Mr Hood said.
“Tony has a lot of ground to cover in Barker … both Nicolle and I are regional people, we have grown up in the regions, it’s important regional people are heard.
“That’s what this tour is aiming to do, to get that great community knowledge as we go to form policy for the party for the Federal Election in 2025 and State Election in 2026.
“It’s a great foundation as to what we are hearing at a grassroots level.”
Mr Hood said the Liberals would stage an hour-long community meeting at 5.30pm on Monday at the Grand Hotel, Millicent.
He said the aim of the meeting was to hear directly about priorities or issues of concern in and around Millicent.
“There is nothing more important to us than making sure we are providing the best representation we can to local residents in Millicent and the electorate of MacKillop more broadly, on behalf of the Liberal Party of South Australia.”
