Dangerous potholed roads, a crippling drought, the high cost of living, failing and unreliable mobile phone coverage, burgeoning government bureaucracy – as May 3 looms, they are just a few of the concerns people want addressed by the next federal government.

The nation is in election mode and Liberal senators Alex Antic and Leah Blyth have been weaving their way throughout the Limestone Coast, hearing about our issues during meetings across the region.

Their visit concluded with around 50 people rolling in for a public meeting at Robe Football Club, which included member for Barker, Tony Pasin, who is the coalition’s shadow Roads and Safety minister.

Mr Antic and Ms Blyth were welcomed by hosts – SA Liberal Party Robe branch president Jaqui Bateman and SA Liberal Party Rural and Regional Council chairman, Naracoorte’s Lachlan Haynes.

Mr Haynes, who is also a Liberal state executive member, was MC for the evening which included speeches from the two senators, then an open Q&A forum.

“Whilst senator Antic has been a frequent visitor to the region it was senator Blyth’s first in her official capacity, having filled the casual vacancy in February due to the retirement of senator Simon Birmingham, and remaining the South Australian division president,” Mr Haynes said.

“Leah expanded on her involvement and knowledge in the education system and both she and Alex received questions on woke education and the indoctrination of children right through the school system.

“Both Leah and Alex spoke (of) their great concern at the state of our institutions and how anti-Australian and unpatriotic they are, poisoning whole new generations against their country and how the coalition is a strong supporter of Israel as the only democracy in the Middle East.”

Mr Haynes said they believed universities and schools generally “must have a diversity of views taught”.

A series of questions from the floor related to the “over reliance on renewable energy” and expensive power which was “crippling consumers and business”.

Mr Haynes said the two senators and Mr Pasin spoke about their enthusiasm for nuclear energy regarding its pricing, cheaper transmission costs and ability to meet low emission targets.

No longer having a phone service and the dangers that posed found the ire of many at the meeting.

“Tony talked about the black spot funding which stopped when Labor won government,” Mr Haynes said.

“It’s certainly a big issue, right across the region. Tony said a senate inquiry has overwhelmingly heard the 3G shutdown has been a terrible failure and disadvantaged regional Australia.”

Mr Pasin believed a Dutton led government would see the return of funding to assist with mobile coverage.

A question involving “the right to farm” considered “how we change the urbanised population increasingly hostile to modern agriculture”.

Mr Haynes said the questioner highlighted there were more and more restrictions on land use, land was being locked up, the live sheep trade was being abolished and there was no help during the current crippling drought.

“Tony spoke as a sheep farmer himself (and his) concerns of current state and federal government and agriculture ministers Scriven and Collins and their lack of understanding of the issue.

“Hence government help was not forthcoming – such as the hay convoy being held up and not being assisted with diesel costs to assist SA farmers in terrible low rainfall conditions,” Mr Haynes said.

He said there were a lot of other questions covering a wide range of concerns and topics.

“The state of rural roads, federal government bureaucracy – its size and spending priorities, Covid-era restrictions and the major issues of the upcoming federal election were amongst a number of questions asked of the three federal Liberal politicians,” Mr Haynes said.

“In his newly elevated promotion to shadow minister for Roads and Safety, Tony Pasin provided an oversight of regional roads and South Australian infrastructure backlogs and projects.”

Mr Haynes said wherever he went people throughout the electorate constantly raised and were deeply concerned about the state of the roads and the decreasing standard of them.

“Tony (Pasin) said that when the coalition left government, they had programs in place for much more infrastructure spending (but) the Albanese government has reduced that (with) cuts – particularly in South Australia,” Mr Haynes said.

“Tony acknowledged that what really concerns him and the Dutton coalition colleagues, particularly regional members, is that the backlog and long-term deterioration continues and he fears upon return (to government) there will be further billions of dollars needed just to catch up.

“He also spoke of his real fears in the huge blowout in construction costs and loss of real value in the road spend, with far less metres and kilometres being repaired or upgraded – billions of dollars extra needed to be spent.”

“Tony spoke of the need for a serious evaluation of the cost of roads and he would like a broader conversation of involvement of others in road maintenance, such as local government.”

Mr Haynes said other highlights of the visit by Mr Antic and Ms Blyth involved various meetings with business owners and a number of community groups, including those associated with the lobster industry.

“They also enjoyed meetings with Robe deputy mayor Cr Nick Brown and Naracoorte Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross and council members.” Mr Haynes said.

“The senators also took the opportunity to meet members of the Liberal Party Robe and Naracoorte branches at pre-arranged functions.”

This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 2 April 2025.