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Despite five Legislative Council crossbenchers holding the power to change or retain Millicent’s unique retail hours, the community’s focus is squarely on the Member for MacKillop Nick McBride.
Calls for the freshman MP to split from his party and side with the State Opposition were shot down by Mr McBride on two fronts, one of which that it would deliver no practical impact.
What is clear from Friday night’s forum, even after Mr McBride told the crowd voting against party lines would not impact the outcome, is that the symbolic effect of crossing the floor is far more important to the community.
Unlike Labor, crossing the floor does not constitute grounds for dismissal within the Liberal Party, a party formed on a platform that included the right to be independent.
Although party solidarity and discipline might be a good thing for political effectiveness, the Millicent community has indicated its dissent and upholding the results of the two community votes that are of more value to the town.
It must be noted however the highly political action, taken in defiance of the party, has the potential to negatively affect a MP’s career.
But with almost 80pc of respondents against deregulation in last year’s poll, you would think there might be a tendency for the state member to at least consider the wishes of Millicent on the floor of parliament.
In addition to considering whether his first allegiance is to his party or to his constituents who elected him, Mr McBride should assess the damage supporting his party against the wishes of the Millicent community will do to his chances of reelection.
Millicent accounts for 13pc of voters in the electoral district of MacKillop, with Rendelsham, Southend, Tantanoola, Beachport, Furner and Mount Burr boosting voter power to one-fourth of the electorate.
With residents of these towns likely to be impacted by the closure of one of the two independent retailers, and the incoming MP receiving the Liberals’ lowest primary vote in the electorate since 2002, Labor’s warning of an independent threat is more credible than ever.
