State opposition leader to visit South East

IN TOWN SOON: State Labor leader Peter Malinauskas and Labor Shadow Minister Clare Scriven will be in Millicent on Wednesday.

IN TOWN SOON: State Labor leader Peter Malinauskas and Labor Shadow Minister Clare Scriven will be in Millicent on Wednesday.

MILLICENT’S unique trading hours will be on the agenda when Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas makes his first official visit to Millicent on Wednesday.

He will have a meet-and-greet session with the public at The Domain mega-playground on North Terrace at 10am.

“The threat to Millicent small business from the Marshall Liberal Government’s attempt to deregulate shop trading hours is an important issue I want to hear from residents about,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“Opposition gives us an important opportunity to take stock, fully listen to people’s views and reflect on where we have been.

“That is the best foundation for going forward.”

He said shadow minister and Port MacDonnell resident Clare Scriven had told him about some of the other important issues in the South East such as the drug and alcohol funding from the Federal Government.

“I was very disappointed with that decision as I was chair of the ice taskforce under the previous Labor Government.

“As a result of that taskforce, we delivered extra funding for rehabilitation beds.

“I expect this vital issue is one that people will want to talk to me about.”

Ms Scriven said she was pleased to have this opportunity to bring Mr Malinauskas to her home region.

“This is a great opportunity for people in our region to tell our leadership first-hand what is important to them and what they’d like to see in Labor’s future policies,” Ms Scriven said.

“I encourage everyone to come to one of the Labor Listening events to meet Peter and have a chat.”

Later in the day Mr Malinauskas will visit Kalangadoo and Nangwarry.

His Millicent visit is part of his Labor Listens campaign which is taking him to all 47 electorates in the space of 12 months.

Mr Malinauskas has served as leader of the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party since the 2018 state election.

First entering state parliament as a member of the Legislative Council from 2015, he held Cabinet portfolios including Police and Health in the Weatherill Ministry from 2016, before moving to the House of Assembly suburban seat of Croydon a year ago.

Before politics, he headed the shop assistants’ union.