Gabrielle Duykers, Naracoorte Community News

An Apsley farmer and community advocate is running as a candidate for the state Legislative Council in the upcoming election.

Paula Gust has joined the Advance SA Party in the hopes of securing a seat in the Upper House at the State Election on March 19.

“Being in the legislative council you are actually able to be a part of changing legislation,” Ms Gust said. “I think it will be a good fit for me.”

For the past two years, Ms Gust has been running the Cross Border Call Out page which she founded in 2020 after hard border closures were enforced due to COVID-19.

Since its inception, the page has provided a point of connection for residents along the 500-kilometre border in the absence of a South Australian cross-border commissioner– which they have in Victoria.

Ms Gust has volunteered a great deal of her time, deciphering COVID-19 directions and translating them for confused cross-border residents. She has lobbied the State Government on behalf of the community to get restrictions eased and advocated for people in extenuating circumstances to help them receive travel exemptions.

“I started the Cross Border Call Out page to help my community and let them know that there was somewhere they could turn to for support and clarity,” Ms Gust said.

“To have a bit of faith that somebody was doing something during border closures’ chaos and confusion.”

Ms Gust had previously professed she would never pursue a career in politics but has since realised she could use it to her advantage.

“Through this experience, I realised I have the passion and drive to advocate for those who feel they’re not heard, and make a difference,” Ms Gust said.

If elected, she said the areas of agriculture, health, education and human rights would be her main focuses. 

She said the most pressing issue in the South East was the need for more mental health services, and predicted the demand would only worsen in years to come.

“It was already an existing issue before the pandemic, but now given what we’ve gone through with Covid-19 and the interruptions to education, I think it really needs to be looked at,” Ms Gust said. 

“It’s a long shot, but that’s never stopped me before”

The Advance SA party was founded by independent John Darley MLC in 2017, who has been mentoring Ms Gust over the past few months. 

She will sit below him as the party’s second option on the ballot paper. 

“He is so highly respected and has had such a long successful career in politics, so I’m looking forward to learning from him and how he has done it,” Ms Gust said.

Ms Gust said she hoped to bring her marketing and social media experience to the role, as well as her ability to maintain positive lines of communication with those in positions of power.

“Over the past two years I’ve worked really hard on establishing good relationships and contacts with people in government and in the media which I think will be really helpful,” she said. 

She said her persistence when liaising with government officials was what had helped deliver tangible results for the cross border community. 

“I’ve learnt to be patient and that change doesn’t happen quickly, but I’ve also learned that anything is possible when you just stick to it.

“I don’t take no for an answer.”

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.