Welcome to The Nationals SA website
Letter from the President
The Nationals SA are an independent political party with a conservative philosophy. We focus on the wellbeing of people and their communities in the rural, regional and remote areas of SA. This primary objective is based on a profound belief that the two major political parties cannot get the balance right between the needs of the country and the city. They are both obliged to maintain a focus on city based electorates where the elected members determine who governs in our parliament.
It is high time for rural, regional and remote people in our State to have real bargaining power in the State parliament. The major parties do not provide it. It will only happen when country people from across SA elect members of parliament who are true community champions; local members of parliament who listen and work with their constituents. They need to put community first, not a political party.
At The Nationals SA we are passionate about what we do, and we support our Member of Parliament, Hon Karlene Maywald, who is working hard for country people as a minister in a Labor Cabinet. We will work with either a Liberal or Labor government to secure better funding for country people and their communities, but we believe we need to reform the current system to achieve better results.
A healthy State needs healthy country and city communities. The link is adequate services: provision and support for all levels of education for country children; adequate physical and mental health services for them and their families; and adequate infrastructure and support to make our communities sustainable, now and in the future. Large regional business ventures and small local enterprises need support to remain at the heart of our country communities.
Let’s stop the ‘big end of town’ Coles and Woollies style of politics by the two major parties. Enough glossy brochures, mass advertising and tricky strategies. It’s time to move back to local people and communities as the first priority. Let’s free up politics and encourage the political equivalent of the local, independent grocery store in our country towns.
Country people deserve a strong voice in parliament. If our communities in rural, regional and remote areas of the State are to develop and be sustainable, we need to fight for change - to make our communities really count. All South Australians, including city based people, need to understand the contribution made by people in country SA. Supporting them will bring sustainability and prosperity for all South Australians.
Wilbur Klein, President, The Nationals SA |
