Headlines
Ready for the Starter’s Gun
2007 is a Federal election year, although we don’t yet know when the race to the polls will begin. The prime Minister of the day traditionally calls the date and sets the process in motion. It’s our best guess that Australians will be voting somewhere around October. This year, for the first time, and over more than 98.5% of our State’s ‘wide brown land’, you will be able to vote for a Nationals candidate in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
For the first time, nearly all regional and rural South Australians will have a chance to secure a real voice to represent them in Canberra – the voters at last have a choice on the conservative side of politics.
In Barker, Deb Thiele is a well-liked and experienced campaigner, and a major player in agri-business and education. In Grey, Wilbur Klein brings deep experience in rural and remote education, and profound personal convictions to his desire to serve the people there.
Our Senate team comprises Rob Howard, who is well versed in small business and, from his work in the RAAF, in the defence industries so important to the future of this State. His colleague Mark Cuthbertson has worked as a financial counsellor, and with the ANZ bank. Mark also inherits a proud record of service to the nation – as the grandson (and look-alike) of the legendary R.M. Williams.
Our candidates are endorsed, up and running, with their campaign teams in place, and they are already making an impact in their communities. By the time the election is announced, their adrenaline will really be flowing, as the Party moves into top gear to support them. To run well, and to win, will mean major league financing, as our president John Venus outlines, in his President’s Letter.
The President’s Letter
It has been many years since one could look at the SA Nationals and see such a progressive, vital and worthwhile group working so energetically for the people of regional South Australia. I have been gratified by the quality of our candidates for the forthcoming Federal election, - it has been a long time since we have been in a position to field such a strong and worthy team.
I was delighted that Barnaby Joyce accepted our invitation to speak at our SA Nationals State Conference in Murray Bridge on 18-19 May. Since his election to the Senate, Barnaby has become something of an icon in the claims of the States to be given their proper attention in our democracy – and one our most widely recognised and affectionately regarded Federal parliamentarians.
Among State parliamentarians, no one can match our Leader, the Hon. Karlene Maywald. I again congratulate her on her superb control of the difficult portfolios she carries; no one else could have achieved what she has, for the State and for the Party.
Finally, I must stress that the forthcoming Federal election is unprecedented for our small Party. We must raise a lot of money if we are to succeed. Half-hearted involvement is useless. I urge each of our members, and any friend reading this, to seriously consider ‘digging deep’ and making a donation. If not money, then time and assistance. Any amount over $2 and up to (and including) $1500 is tax deductible, and donations under $10,000 do not have to be declared to the Electoral Commission. We will also be running fund raising events, so come along and support us. Please contact your local candidate’s campaign committee and offer your services – there are many ways to help, please ask. You will certainly be rewarded when we celebrate the first National Federal Member for South Australia.
With warmest regards to you all,
John Venus
President
Minister Maywald Entrusted with Water Security
2007 is proving a tumultuous year for SA Nationals Leader Maywald. She has so far been faced with the worst drought in the nation’s history, when inflows to the River Murray have dropped to almost half what was previously the record for low flows into the system. She has also been faced with a Commonwealth bid to take over management of the Murray-Darling Basin from the States, and a looming crisis in South Australia’s water supply. Through it all, she has steered the portfolio and provided the firm and intelligent leadership which has won her the respect and confidence of both sides of politics, and the most intractable of her regional opponents.
The Premier acknowledged these qualities in February, when he named her as Minister for a new portfolio, Water Security, which was added to her other responsibilities, with one (Science and the Information Economy) being transferred to education Minister Paul Caica. Premier Rann described Karlene Maywald in parliament as ‘the best water minister in Australia’. She has certainly represented this State fearlessly, in dealing with the new Federal Minister for Water and the Environment, Malcolm Turnbull QC.
More About Our Candidates
Our candidates for the coming Federal election have very different backgrounds, but are united in their determination to provide a voice for rural and regional Australia. We gave brief details about them earlier in this bulletin, but thought a little more focus was appropriate on what each of them brings to their task.
The issues on which they are running are those which most vitally affect their electorates: rural health; the provision of Broadband services in the bush comparable
to those received in the rest of Australia; the single desk policy for wheat marketing; the sustaining of high-quality education for all SA children, wherever they live; and measures to recognise and enable indigenous communities – all these need strong champions in Canberra.
Not one of our candidates is a city slicker, and that’s a reason in itself to vote National: we know our hinterland, and we believe in its people.
DEB THIELE FOR BARKER!
Deb was profiled in a former edition of this bulletin, when she ran for the SA Legislative Council. She is now running for the Federal seat of Barker, which takes in the Barossa Valley, the Riverland and the South-East. She is a farmer and grazier near Loxton, with her husband Anton and two sons. She is also a lecturer in farm business management, and a consultant. Deb’s abilities have been well recognised previously, when she became the SA and Australian Inaugural ABC Rural Woman of the Year. She is currently a member of the Telstra Country Wide Advisory Board. Deb’s campaigner manager is Bev. Scarfe, a long time friend, and she has the strong backing of the SA Nationals Eastern Districts Team. Deb has begun doorknocking her extensive electorate and visiting the local Field Days such as those at Karoonda, to meet people.
WILBUR KLEIN
Wilbur is the descendant of the German immigrants who brought so many benefits to their adopted country. He is the son, brother and nephew of Lutheran Church pastors in SA and WA, and is every bit as committed to his calling as they are. This pioneering background, and his own long experience as an educator and a farmer in two States, give him a standing in this widely spread community, with its ongoing challenges of water supply and services. Wilbur’s wife Monika is his campaign manager; a former policewoman in PWA, Monika is a member of the SA Regional Communities Consultative Council. She and Wilbur and their four children live at Cockaleechie, near Cummins on the Eyre Peninsula, although three of their children are currently seeking further education away from home. Wilbur’s campaign was launched in Port Lincoln, and he has approached it in an unorthodox way, with his bush band taking out the ‘Best Performers’ award at the Port Augusta music festival. The band has made many trips to indigenous communities to make music, the common thread binding us all. Perhaps Wilbur is The Nationals’ answer to Peter Garrett? He’s certainly a big man with a big heart.
ROB HOWARD, NO. 1 FOR THE SENATE
Rob works at Edinburgh Air Base with the RAAF, as a maintenance programmer, and has travelled extensively around the State. He is married to Michele, an intensive care nurse, and is running on a highly relevant platform: less red tape, and more opportunities for small business. Rob is a quiet achiever, and is making his presence felt in a wide variety of occasions. With Deb Thiele, Rob recently participated in training days organised in Sydney by the Federal Secretariat of The Nationals, where fifteen candidates from electorates all over Australia – from Geraldton to the Queensland Gulf Country were able to meet and compare notes, while being given beneficial media training.
MARK CUTHBERTSON, NO. 2 FOR THE SENATE
Mark’s experience is of the financial needs and services so vital to running businesses in the bush. As an officer of the ANZ Bank, he has worked in many areas of the State,
and knows what adverse financial pressures can do to families. He has trained and worked as a rural counsellor, and with his understanding and sympathy for people, was drawn to study for a ministry, to better enable him to be of service. Mark is married to Lorrayne. As we noted before, he is filling some pretty big shoes, in being the grandson of a giant of Australian business, the late R.M. Williams, and the likeness is uncanny. Mark’s a real chip off the old block.
All our candidates have been attending meetings and functions; from breakfasts for business and professional women to council planning meetings and cattle sales. They have been introduced to The Nationals’ incumbent Members of Parliament, such as Senators Fiona Nash and Barnaby Joyce, and they are settling down to the demands of a long and testing campaign. They are also making sure they enjoy their work, as readers can see, from the Photo Gallery on this site!
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