MILLICENT’S first political office in almost two decades closed last week.
The town was the base for the MacKillop electorate office between 1985 and 1999 when it was closed by then Liberal MP Mitch Williams and moved to Naracoorte, where it remains to this day.
Last month, Labor MLC and Port MacDonnell resident Clare Scriven opened a so-called “Pop-Up” office in a vacant ex-coffee shop at 27 George Street in Millicent.
It has been staffed by Ms Scriven, who is the Upper House deputy opposition leader, shadow minister for skills, industry and forests and the Labor parliamentarian with oversight of the MacKillop and Mount Gambier electorates.
Her staff and volunteers also manned the office on a part-time basis when Ms Scriven was in the Legislative Council over that four-week period.
She said callers to the office had referred to such topical issues as the NDIS, the patient assistance transport scheme, employment and shopping hours deregulation.
“People could reach an MLC who was here for local issues,” Ms Scriven said.
“The numbers calling at the office were affected by the mid-winter timing and
cold weather.
“I am thinking about opening my next pop-up office in either Penola or Mount Gambier.”
Among the visitors to her Millicent office was Labor colleague and fellow shadow minister Tony Piccolo.
He said the shadow ministry would be holding meetings in regional areas.
“We want to hold the Liberal Government accountable and offer alternatives,” Mr Piccolo said.
