Keeping up the fight

There’s no denying it’s been a tough year – cost of living pressures, a dry season, low market prices.

Member for Barker Tony Pasin is all too aware of these challenges but could also find some silver lining to the 2024 that was.

“We started the year securing a commitment from the State Liberal Party to support radiotherapy in the Limestone Coast,” Mr Pasin said. “That’s a real win.

“We then ended the year with the massive announcement for the Mount Gambier Saleyards to provide funding for the project – the State Government has put in $2.7million and the federal Opposition has pledged $7.5million after the bitter disappointment along the way of having its application refused twice.

“It is do or die now so we are happy to secure that.”

Of course, the agricultural sector had a tough start to the year in terms of beef and sheep prices and the dry season has those on the land doing it tough.

“Banning of the live sheep exports played a role in that and if we are returned to government we will overturn that,” Mr Pasin said.

And then there is the cost of living pressures, from which no one has escaped.

“This was the year Labor thought they were going to get on top of inflation and interest rates would come down but I think we have no hope of that, especially in the short term, and the best we can hope for is rates staying level and that is clearly too high,” Mr Pasin said. “It is causing real pain for people. I have been talking to charitable organisations in the region and for the first time ever they are seeing double income households.”

The flip side of those dire circumstances is the generosity of the Limestone Coast community, whether it be donations to Christmas gift campaigns, including Mr Pasin’s own gift drive, or assisting local charities with financial contributions of donated goods.

“This is a tough time of the year with cost of living, housing crisis, energy crisis and I have been humbled and almost a little bit shocked by the generosity of the community,” he said. “There are so many philanthropic opportunities and people have jumped into them really hard.

“That’s the benefit of living in a regional community that is so connected. We know things are tough – some are definitely doing it tougher than others.”

Mr Pasin’s Mount Gambier and Murray Bridge offices received hundreds and hundreds of gift donations, which have been delivered to the Salvos.

“I described it as a room full of joy,” he said.

And while the Member for Barker will take some time off over the festive season to celebrate with family and friends, he has a busy 2025 planned with some key priorities on his hit list.

The switching off of 3G and the slower than expected roll out of 4G mobile phone towers is well and truly in his sights and he will continue to prosecute the disadvantages of poor connectivity.

“The new towers were announced 12 months ago and our understanding is they are still 12 months away,” Mr Pasin said.

Radiotherapy services in the region is an ongoing campaign he has no intention of pushing to the back burner and helping famers navigate this dry season also looms large.

And while he focuses on both his role as a local member and as Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, he is also in campaign mode as the Coalition looks to present itself as the alternative government.

“We are seeking the confidence of the Australian people to return us to government,” he said. “We will get on top of inflation which means getting on top of government spending. We cannot keep spending like we’re spending, it’s the reason why the Reserve Bank governor can’t lower interest rates.

“You also need to drive up productivity, invest in productive infrastructure.”

“And there is set to be a big debate going forward on energy policy in this country – the rest of the world is moving to nuclear. It is not a question of whether Australia will at some point have nuclear as part of its energy mix – it’s a question of when.”

Then there are his concerns over the sprint mining project around Naracoorte.

“Personally I think it’s madness,” Mr Pasin said. “It is prime agricultural land and large swathes of land and feels a lot like the proposal for fracking.”

Having a good team in his office has been critical, despite the fact he is still a familiar face on the ground in his electorate and he feels like the Liberals are building a strong network in the region, including Ben Hood.

“It is great to have a partner in crime.”