Independent MPs Geoff Brock and Bob Such consider which party to support for SA state election
THE two independent MPs are considering their next move — and for one, it means dealing closely with the party that dumped him. WHAT ARE THEIR OPTIONS?
INDEPENDENT MP for Fisher Bob Such says South Australians might be better off without politicians running the government and public servants are “smart people” running the show.
Talking to the media in the hallways of Parliament House, Dr Such detailed a plan for the future of the state’s economy, local council reform and social reforms such as keeping people out of prison as key issues.
Liberal and Labor are negotiating with Dr Such and Independent MP for Frome Geoff Brock in attempts to shore up their support in the likely event neither party wins enough seats to govern in their own right.
After spending almost 90 minutes meeting Liberal leader Steven Marshall, Dr Such talked down suggestions he was already in the Labor camp. In doing so, he delivered some of the most direct comment of the election campaign.
“The world’s not going to end, it’s probably better, in a way, that we don’t have a government running things — the public servants will run the show anyway,” he said.
“Might be better to do away with politicians, might be better not to have that system.”
Dr Such went on to detail his decade-old rift with the Liberal Party, of which he was a member and minister during Dean Brown’s premiership.
He also expressed disappointment at the fierce and well-resourced campaign the Liberals ran in his seat of Fisher with the intention of securing it for themselves.
“The silly element in the Liberal Party told people I’m with Labor. I think Steve (Marshall) realised what was done in terms of strategy was foolish,” he said.
“After John Olsen dropped me in ‘96, I was sent to Coventry for four years. Some of the Libs wouldn’t talk to me.
“Even when I had cancer someone said ‘oh you’re back’. They were hoping I’d die ... drop dead.
“I’m assured by Steve the people who are going to run the show aren’t the baddies from years ago. Most of the Liberal people are good people.”
Dr Such said he had a very productive meeting with Mr Marshall where the pair canvassed a range of issues, including many on which they shared common ground.
“I’m not seeking anything (ministry or speakership) but I said ‘we’ll see what happens’. That’s not my priority,” he said.
“I don’t have any ill feeling against the Liberal Party collectively. He (Mr Marshall) is a small ‘l’ liberal, which is what I am … he’s very interested in social policy really, dealing with people trying to keep them out of prison, all the sort of things I’m trying to see happen.”
“I will look at the vote overall in SA and their (each party’s) plans for SA to get the state going.”
Vote counting will resume today and it’s hoped results will soon become clearer. Labor is forecast to finish with 23 seats, which would enable it to govern with the support of just one independent.
The Liberals are on track to take a total of 22 seats, requiring them to win over both independents to form a minority government.
Mr Brock admitted that choosing who could form the next State Government was a decision he wished he “didn’t have to make”.
He said he was unlikely to make a decision before Thursday or Friday and would have to hold further meetings with the leaders and their frontbench MPs.
“The first thing I want is a stable government going forward and I want a government that’s going to have a financial management plan in there,” he said.
“That has to include directions for the regional parts of South Australia.”
Mr Marshall said he had “respectful meetings” with the two independents and that he would meet with them again later in the week.
“It’s the start of negotiations. Neither of them gave me the buzzer today ... let’s just see what happens later in the week,” Mr Marshall said.
In an opinion piece written for The Advertiser, Mr Weatherill criticised Mr Marshall for spending “most of the election campaign dodging questions, avoiding debates and walking out of media conferences”.
“What policies were announced were small, populist and inconsistent — each with the other,” he said.
“Taken as a whole, they did not amount to a persuasive policy agenda for change.”
- with Lauren Novak
‘Daunting’ time ahead for Brock
IT'S the decision he doesn’t want to deliver, and probably won’t for days.
Independent MP for Frome Geoff Brock said the responsibility of potentially choosing the state’s next government was a decision he wished he “didn’t have to make”.
However, he was keen to use the situation to put more focus on regional South Australia and indicated he might consider a ministerial position related to regional development if offered.
Mr Brock and fellow independent Bob Such, who holds the seat of Fisher, will hold the balance of power if Saturday’s election results in a hung Parliament.
“The first thing I want is a stable government going forward and I want a government that’s going to have a financial management plan in there,” Mr Brock said.
“That has to include directions for the regional parts of South Australia. It’s a daunting decision I have to make and something I wish I didn’t have to make.”
The grandfather of 12 and former Port Pirie Nyrstar smelter worker spent almost 90 minutes meeting with Liberal Leader Steven Marshall at Parliament House. He met Labor Leader Jay Weatherill on Sunday.
Mr Brock said neither leader made specific offers of parliamentary roles or benefits for his electorate and he had not asked for any.
He will hold further meetings with the leaders and their frontbench MPs and is unlikely to make a decision before the end of the week, when the final voting outcome would be clearer.
He said he was taking advice on how to handle the “overwhelming” situation from other independents including Dr Such and Senator Nick Xenophon.
Senator Xenophon told him not to be rushed into a decision and to be wary because “everybody wants to be your friend”.
Mr Brock will travel back to his electorate to meet the chief executives of the five local councils to canvass their thoughts. Mayors in his electorate were divided on who he should support when asked by The Advertiser.
— Lauren Novak