Premier of South Australia Peter Malinasukas weight in on several local political matters during his time in the Limestone Coast region.
Liberal MLC Ben Hood recently introduced a private member’s bill in the Upper House proposing that people seeking to terminate a pregnancy from 27 weeks and six days should instead deliver their baby alive.
Premier Malinauskas labelled the moved as “a major exercise in distraction and internal factional politics on behalf of Ben Hood and the Liberal Party”.
“They’re all licking their lips at the prospect of a preselection battle here in Mount Gambier in the event that Troy Bell is kicked out of parliament but these are all matters for the Liberal Party,” he said.
“No one in the community I think has top of mind these obsessions of Ben Hood and I think what they’re thinking about is making sure that kids have got a good job, can own their own home, what’s happening with cost of living, how do we deliver better quality healthcare – that’s my focus, it’s very different to Ben Hood’s.
“He has got his little obsessions, he can go for it, that’s his prerogative but I do not think it’s what top of mind for those people here in Mount Gambier. “
Meanwhile, Member for Mount Gambier Mr Bell will appeal a jury verdict in the Adelaide District Court that found him guilty of 25 fraud related charges after a trial that lasted more than three months.
“Every citizen has their rights under the criminal justice system, appeal rights are part of that legal process so Troy’s exercising those rights, it’s up to him,” Premier Malinauskas said.
“I just hope the people of Mount Gambier do not get left behind.
“It’s not about Troy, it’s not about the Liberal Party and the Labor Party, it’s about the opportunities this region has not just for the Limestone Coast but for the state as a whole. If the Limestone Coast is firing then South Australia gets lifted up as a whole.
“I do not give two hoots about the politics; the people of Mount Gambier will make their own decisions but hopefully what they see is a Labor Government who is committed to this region and industries and is actually delivering what we said we would.”
Premier Malinauskas said he will still look over the recent Future Mount Gambier – 2.0 plan by Mr Bell.
“Troy’s original future Mount Gambier document very much informed our $100m policy and whatever is happening with Troy, he deserves a bit of credit for that,” he said.
“Really it’s not his policy, it’s not the state government’s policy, it’s a policy that belongs to this region because it’s this region that has the potential and the people that work within it and that’s what we’re focused on.
“You have got Ben Hood trying to play games on abortion law reform because it’s some type of Liberal Party internal machinations, you have got Troy’s situation unfolding before everyone’s eyes and the Labor Party, we’re just getting on with the job to deliver for the local community.
“The people in Mount Gambier deserve competent government, committed local representation and people investing in the community, that’s what my government is doing.
“Ultimately, it’s up to the people of Mount Gambier to decide what they want their future to look like.”
