Senator Rex Patrick today urged South Australian voters to cast their Senate vote for a strong, independent voice for their state.
"South Australian voters will have an especially important decision to make when they mark their Senate ballot papers on 21 May," Senator Patrick said.
"The 6th Senate seat for SA will likely go down to the wire and be decided on preferences. The outcome will determine whether SA has a strong, focused and forensic independent voice in the Senate, or whether we see the election of a representative beholden to interstate interests."
"In every Parliament since 1981, South Australia's Federal representation has included representatives from the independent political centre. That independent approach has involved assessing issues on their merits and negotiating better outcomes for SA."
"This political balance has been vital to ensure that our state isn't taken for granted by the major political parties which are all dominated by the political and economic interests of Australia's east coast."
"As an independent Senator for South Australia, I'm determined to continue this distinctly South Australian political tradition "
"It's crucial that we have strong, independent representation to protect SA's interests, especially our water entitlement from the Murray-Darling Basin and key industries, and to push for important reforms, including the establishment of a Federal ICAC as well as real transparency for political donations and caps on political advertising and campaign expenditure."
"Pressing hard for integrity, accountability and transparency is essential for defending SA's interests which are all too often short-changed by the dominance of east coast interests in our national parliament."
"It's also vital that South Australia not risk putting a Senate seat in the hands of either of the two Queensland-led far-right parties - Pauline Hanson's One Nation or Clive Palmer's United Australia Party."
"With big political advertising budgets, both PHON and UAP appear to think they are in with a chance in South Australia, but it's hard to see how our state's interests would be advanced by anyone beholden either to Mrs Hanson's erratic dictates or Mr Palmer's cheque book."
"Unfortunately Nick Xenophon's last-minute candidacy may actually help open the door for PHON or UAP."
"All too often our political process is focussed on theatrics and public relations. I'm cut from a different cloth. I come from a practical engineering background. I deal in facts and real outcomes for people and that focus has been at the heart of my work as a Senator."
"In my time as a Senator I have secured funding for key South Australian projects including the Cape Hardy development in the Eyre Peninsula and the Adelaide University's Australian Institute of Machine Learning, as well as helped many South Australians fight dodgy robodebt claims and exposed the Prime Minister's 'National Cabinet' as a fraudulent Cabinet with no legal standing."
"Having kicked in the door on the issue of fuel price relief, I'll be focussing hard on further measures to relieve the cost of living squeeze that is making life hard for so many people."
"SA needs Senate representatives who are independent with ambition and energy; not tired party drones, nor those who see politics as a career in itself. We need substance and ethics much more than public relations spin and theatrical performance."
"The 6th SA Senate seat hangs in the balance and will be decided on preferences. South Australians have an important choice before them."
"I'm urging them to vote for a candidate determined and able to do the hard yards to help fix our broken political system and fight for our great state."
