THE state’s new premier guaranteed a stronger and renewed focus on regional South Australia with a Liberal State Government during yesterday’s whirlwind tour of the South East.
Premier Steven Marshall met with a range of local businesses and government service providers across the Mount Gambier and MacKillop electorates as part of the new government’s regular regional itinerary.
Premier Marshall met with some of the city’s key stakeholders, including former Liberal colleague and Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell, before travelling to Penola to discuss issues with Coonawarra vignerons.
Accompanied by Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Tim Whetstone, the new premier outlined the Liberal State Government’s plan for boosting regional growth, including the Liberals’ billion dollar Recharging our Regions package.
“In the lead up to the election, we spoke a lot about wanting to increase regional populations,” Premier Marshall said.
“To do that, we need to have good regional infrastructure and good regional services, especially around health, and also dealing with mobile phone blackspots, which are a real curse in country SA.
“We’re absolutely focused on growing jobs in regional South Australia and, most importantly, listening to people in regional South Australia about the things we can do for them.
“We’re going to be delivering on all of our commitments and quite frankly I cannot wait to show the people of regional South Australia exactly what a good government is all about.”
Premier Marshall reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the regions through the recently imposed moratorium on fracking in the South East.
He said the Liberal Party did not want to wait for parliament to resume and had since “put the necessary instructions in place” to ensure no application for fracture stimulation, based exploration or extraction would be considered.
“We have put the moratorium on fracking in the South East in place already,” he said.
“Fracking is a really big issue for the local community.
“We have listened to the local community in the South East, the majority of which were vehemently opposed to the notion of fracking on their prime agricultural land.”
Independent MP Troy Bell said his discussions with Premier Marshall around Mount Gambier’s priority projects had been “very productive”.
“This is the second time in the last couple of weeks that we have had a face to face sit down meeting,” he said.
“We discussed some of the issues in the Lower South East and particularly the seat of Mount Gambier and the projects I want to see advance.
“My priorities are the airport upgrade, the indoor aquatics and recreational centre, funding for the meningococcal B vaccine and the biomass plant.
“Another priority is the Qantas pilot training school and how we can work together to attract them to Mount Gambier.”
