Niche issues come to the fore at Hammond election forum

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Fiery scenes have unfolded at a forum in Murray Bridge as the most hotly contested election campaign in Hammond’s recent history comes to a head.

Debates between the eight candidates present, and between candidates and audience members, became heated at times during Tuesday night’s forum at the Bridgeport Hotel.

Many of the fiercest debates were about topics not previously highlighted in Murray Bridge News’ election survey, including vaccines, sex education and the conflict in Palestine; but candidates also gave their thoughts about preference deals, population growth, energy generation and jobs.

Participating in a discussion moderated by Murray Bridge News’ Peri Strathearn were eight of the 12 candidates for Hammond: Liberal MP Adrian Pederick, Labor’s Simone Bailey, independents Airlie Keen and Lucas Hope, One Nation’s Robert Roylance, the Greens’ Nicole Palachicky, Animal Justice candidate Ruby Eckermann and United Voice’s Carmelo Graziano.

Here’s what we learned.

Preference deals and ‘gutter politics’ put in the spotlight

At this election, voters in Hammond will be asked to rank all candidates from one to 12 on their ballot papers, and can put them in whatever order they like.

You, voters, are the only ones who decide where your preferences go.

But, at the forum, there was still a lot of interest in the ranking candidates will recommend on their how-to-vote cards.

For the record:

• Two minor parties will recommend Airlie Keen above either major party
• Three will preference Labor
• Three will preference the Liberals
• One Nation will run an open ticket, encouraging voters to rank the candidates however they like.

Labor will recommend that voters rank the Liberals higher than Ms Keen.

Ms Keen and the Liberal Party will each list the other as their number-two choice; but Ms Keen said that was a coincidence, not the result of any formal preference swap.

She had quit the Liberal Party nine years ago, she said, and had no intention of rejoining either major party in future.

“I ran as an independent four years ago because I believed in independent politics,” she said.

“I don’t want to be associated with either of the major parties.

“I’m going to be remaining independent – I’m happy to give you that guarantee.”

How should Murray Bridge prepare for growth?

Tracey Piltz asked candidates what infrastructure they thought was most needed as Murray Bridge prepared for population growth.

Ms Bailey nominated overall planning, saying she was motivated by making sure Murray Bridge did not end up like Mount Barker; she also highlighted Labor’s promises.

Mr Pederick, the Liberal, expressed a similar view, but said the government needed to get out of the way; he also highlighted his party’s hospital funding promise.

Ms Keen picked the proposed Monarto roundabout and Murray Bridge freight bypass, and criticised the state and federal Labor governments for failing to agree on how to fund them.

Other candidates mentioned parks, hospitals, schools, wildlife crossings and affordable housing.

Mr Hope argued for a cut to immigration, which he hoped would make housing more affordable; Ms Palachicky called for more taxes on property investors instead.

Mr Graziano said the most important thing we could do to prepare for growth was investigate corruption in government contracting, and questioned why the Australian dollar was no longer tied to the value of gold.

How do the candidates feel about renewable energy?

A Mannum woman, Amanda, asked about candidates’ views on the Summerfield battery and other renewable energy projects.

Mr Pederick said it was good that renewables now met 70 per cent of SA’s power needs, but argued for investment in other forms of baseload power.

Ms Eckermann said she supported renewables, while Mr Graziano made an unsubstantiated claim about batteries affecting people’s health.

Other candidates took a more neutral tone, suggesting more research and better planning.

What’s the best way to support local businesses and create jobs?

Mypolonga resident Val Braendler asked what candidates would do to support local businesses and help them create jobs for young people.

Mr Roylance, a small business owner, argued that reducing taxes and bringing down the cost of power were the best things any government could do.

Ms Bailey pointed to Labor’s promise of a new technical college in Murray Bridge, and a loan the government had provided to help Golden North move into the region.

Mr Pederick pointed to his party’s investments in the region from 2018-22, including at Murray Bridge’s TAFE campus; and spruiked Liberal plans to encourage more businesses to employ apprentices and trainees, and to shorten tradie training from four to three years.

Ms Keen called for a university campus to be built in Murray Bridge; Mr Hope said some government departments should be moved into regional SA; renewable energy jobs were the answer for Ms Palachicky, as were mineral processing jobs for Mr Graziano.

Both major-party candidates said they recognised that driver training program L2P Murraylands needed more support, and that they would advocate for it if elected.

What about all that other stuff?

Asked about vaccines, the major-party candidates did not express strong opinions – Ms Bailey said she was just focused on Hammond, and Mr Pederick noted that COVID-19 vaccines had saved tens of thousands of lives.

Mr Roylance said he supported individual autonomy, while Mr Graziano proudly declared “I have never had a vaccine, ever,” and was applauded for it.

Asked about sex education in schools, Mr Graziano veered into a tirade against Freemasons and declared that “the government has taken control of our children”; Mr Roylance declared that public school students should not be taught about gender diversity; Mr Pederick agreed that there was “too much wokeness” in the curriculum; and Mr Hope said he did not believe in diverse gender identities.

The Greens candidate received both applause and jeers for pointing out that sex change operations had been performed for the better part of a century, and asking the questioner to “get your head out of your arse”.

She created even bigger shock waves in the audience when, asked about the situation in the Middle East, she raised a fist and called out, “Free Palestine, from the river to the sea” – a phrase the Liberals have proposed to ban.

The Liberal MP pointed out that a nuclear-powered Iran was a danger, while Mr Graziano argued that Israel should not exist.

Ms Keen took the opportunity to criticise the federal government’s management of Australia’s fuel reserves, given recent price hikes.

If you could only do one thing...

Meningie’s Rosa Hillam finished the night by asking candidates about the one thing they most wanted to get done if elected.

• United Voice: Strengthen the family home
• Greens: Solve the housing crisis
• Animal Justice: Introduce subsidised veterinary care for people on low incomes
• Lucas Hope: Get Kids Helpline phones in all foster care homes
• Liberals: Make the community more sustainable, safe, secure, strong and affordable
• Airlie Keen: Give Hammond voters the representation they deserve
• Labor: Close the gap in services between the city and country
• One Nation: Solve the housing crisis

Only about 50 people turned up for the forum, despite 120 tickets having been booked.

About 3000 people had watched at least part of a live stream by Thursday morning.

The event was presented by Murray Bridge News, with support from the Local and Independent News Association.

Murray Bridge News attempted to contact the other four candidates in the lead-up, but none had returned our emails at the time of publication.

• Watch a replay: Watch the video above or visit www.youtube.com.