Federal Member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie, has released the following statement regarding the 2019 Federal Election result in the seat of Mayo.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Mayo for once again placing your trust in me to be your independent voice in Canberra," Rebekha said.
"I put my hand up to stand in the 2016 election because I was tired of seeing our region being taken for granted as a 'safe blue-ribbon seat' and I decided to be the change I wanted to see in our community," she said.
"We have changed, but I didn't make that happen on my own. For the past three years our community has worked together to make Mayo matter.
"We've stood up to the Government of the day when it came to greater protections for the River Murray and the need for a Banking Royal Commission.
"We have secured more funding for South Australian schools, more funding for South Australian local roads and more funding for health and age care services.
"We have a satellite office at Victor Harbor, a first for Mayo, a Medicare Service Centre on the South Coast, a Medicare rebateable MRI in Mount Barker and much-needed drug addiction services across the region.
"When I go back to Canberra, I will be advocating for stronger policies on climate action, a Federal Royal Commission on the River Murray, protections for the Great Australian Bight and a Federal corruption watchdog.
"I will also be advocating for more reliable telecommunications in our region, extra spending on roads and public infrastructure, including our sporting facilities, better public transport options, improved dental and health services, transparency of aged care staffing ratios, more Home Care Packages for our elderly and an independent agency to set the age pension.
"One of my first tasks will be to lobby the new Government regarding ALL the promises made by the major parties in this election.
"Those promises include:
• $8.6 million to upgrade the Emergency Department at Mount Barker Hospital
• $8.4 million to expand hospital care and dialysis services at the South Coast District Hospital
• $1.5 million to protect threatened animal species, including Kangaroo Island's endangered Dunnart
• $580,000 to upgrade facilities at the Mount Barker and Victor Harbour TAFE campuses
• $2.26 million to upgrade for the Aldinga Sports Complex
• $500,000 to upgrade the Heathfield Oval changerooms
• $5 million for overtaking lanes on Long Valley Road
• $2 million to upgrade the Tiers Road intersection with the main street in Woodside
• $73.6 million to upgrade the Main South Road to McLaren Vale section of the Victor Harbor Road.
"I will also continue to fight for upgrades to the Victor Harbor Road between Mount Compass and Victor Harbor, including overtaking lanes, and a two-way freeway interchange at Verdun," Rebekha said.
"And I haven't forgotten my pledges to fight for an independent and adequately resourced ABC, the phasing out of long-haul sheep exports and the creation of a research institute in SA to help protect the health of our section of the River Murray," she said.
"Mayo is a vibrant and engaged community and this time around we are a much larger electorate with some 22,000 new voters from suburbs of Aldinga, Aldinga Beach, Sellicks, Craigburn Farm and Hawthorndene.
"I am looking forward to connecting more closely with our new communities and taking up the issues we discussed in the 21 community forums we ran across the electorate in March.
"I would like to thank everyone who supported me during this campaign.
"Our volunteer family now numbers more than 1000 people and my team would like to express our deep gratitude for your encouragement and your help. We could not have done it without you.
"Thank you to my wonderful family. Thank you for your support and the many sacrifices you have made to enable me to serve our community.
"To those who did not vote for me, please be assured that I represent all the people of Mayo and my office door is always open to hearing your concerns.
"Please know that I always put our community first and I will be our independent voice in Canberra because we have so much to achieve together to continue to Make Mayo Matter."
