Rebekha secures commitment for by-election promises
Posted August 15, 2018
Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie has secured a commitment from the Prime Minister that the Government will “deliver” on more than $21 million worth of projects pledged during the recent by-election.
Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie is escorted into the House of Representatives for her swearing-in ceremony this week by the Member for Denison Andrew Wilkie and the Member for Indi Cathie McGowan.
Just like after her election in 2016, Rebekha used her first question in Question Time yesterday to ask Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull if he would honour the promises made by the Coalition.
The PM said the Government would "deliver them”.
“My job is to make sure the Government does deliver on these promises, with the first step being a commitment on the record in our Parliament,” Rebekha said today.
“Although I note some of these promises were the announcements of grants already applied for, with my support, prior to the by-election.
“For example money for the soccer pitches at Mt Barker and walking trails on Kangaroo Island will come from the Building Better Regions program.
“That aside, just like I did with the $24.5 million worth of promises made in the 2016 election, I will lobby Ministers Federal and State and work hand-in-hand with our community groups to ensure we have everything in place to make their projects a reality.
“I did that for the $3.75 million promised for the Mt Barker sports hub, the $1.2 million for road safety upgrades and the $500,000 for the Victor Harbor RSL and football club upgrade and many other pledges.
“In this by-election more than $20 million worth of promises were made to the people of Mayo including $10 million for the Mount Barker Aquatic Centre, $4.4 million for soccer pitches at the Mount Barker Regional Sports Hub, $1 million for the Strategic Traffic Plan for Hahndorf, $3.9 million for aged-care beds in Strathalbyn, $750,000 for Kangaroo Island walking trails and over $40,000 for community solar grants in Nairne, Macclesfield and Strathalbyn, and all these commitments and others are urgently needed projects for our community.
“It’s vital that Governments keep faith with the Australian people and honour the promises they make during elections.
“Promises must be made because a community needs support, not to support a party candidate.
“To that end, I have also written to the Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to seek his commitment to honour his promise to secure a Medicare-subsidised MRI licence to the Mount Barker Hospital if Labor wins office at the next election.”
Some of the Liberal Party promises included:
- $10 million for Mount Barker Aquatic Centre
- $4.4 million for the Mt Barker sporting precinct
- $3.9 million commitment to fund a 36-bed nursing home facility at Strathalbyn
- $1.2 million for mental health services in Mayo
- $1 million for a Strategic Traffic Plan for Hahndorf
- $750,000 for walking trails on Kangaroo Island
- $200,000 for SteamRanger
- Solar grants for the Strathalbyn Woodshed, the Nairne Oval Committee, the Macclesfield Recreation Grounds Committee and Hills Radio
- A grant to upgrade a section of the Goolwa to Strathalbyn Road
- Grants for the McLaren Vale and District RSL, the Port Elliot RSL, the Hillsview Village Residents Association and the Woodside Defence Families Association.
