Independent MP Geoff Brock becomes nowhere man in Jay Weatherill Labor Government

GEOFF Brock was to be the political hope of regional SA, an independent voice. But, as Daniel Wills reports, he is no longer welcome by the people who hoped he would be their champion.

ON A quiet Sunday morning eight days after an election day that defied all predictions, a little-known independent MP from the state’s Mid North stood in the glare of camera flashes and cast his decisive vote to deliver Labor a historic and remarkable fourth term.

With Premier Jay Weatherill peering over his shoulder, former Port Pirie mayor Geoff Brock swallowed and conceded a decision he made to provide stability would be nonetheless divisive.

“It’s not a decision that will please everybody,” he said. “I’m going to stand by it with all the consequences that may come back to me, but I’ve tried to do the right thing for the people.”

The decision came with a pledge to work for regional people and bring their voice to North Tce.

Mr Brock is now fast finding out just how impossible pleasing everyone is going to be.

Months of heavy lobbying over controversial changes to the marine park regime came to a head in State Parliament last week. Having won support in the Upper House, Liberal plans to open up fishing in 12 of the state’s 83 marine sanctuaries had arrived in the chamber of government.

The public gallery was packed with warriors from conservation and industry lobbies. Labor was implacably opposed to change and the Liberals resolute. The result rested with two men, the self-declared independent ministers of Labor’s Cabinet. Martin Hamilton-Smith landed in the camp of his former party. Mr Brock again became the decisive vote in Labor’s favour.

For Mr Brock’s critics, the decision was far more than an isolated judgment on the future of the state’s marine parks. They say it’s a clear sign he has become an independent in name only.

Forthright tuna tycoon Hagen Stehr this week told The Advertiser that Mr Brock, the Regional Development Minister, had made himself a pariah in country SA.

“I talk to a lot of people and he is certainly not welcome,” a furious Mr Stehr said. “He should take at least one honourable step and resign. He’s not independent. The guy hasn’t got his own brains. He is a puppet and Weatherill is the puppet master.”

Chief among the evidence tendered by Mr Brock’s detractors is a YouTube video filmed a month before the March election in which he pledges strong support for fishing communities.

“No matter what our political aspirations are (or) who we belong to,” he says in the video. “We’ve got to make sure we look after what industries are out there, and the fishing industry.

Mr Brock urges campaigners to “get your voice heard” on polling day and insists local communities know more about fisheries than Adelaide politicians and bureaucrats.

SA Rock Lobster Advisory Council executive officer Justin Phillips said Mr Brock’s relationship with the regions had been deeply wounded and his independence was being widely questioned.

“Geoff essentially voted against regional development on that issue and he also voted against his other portfolio in local government,” Mr Phillips said. “It was very clear that all of the local government organisations, agencies and councils within affected areas wanted that Bill to pass.

“Regional South Australians, particularly in coastal communities, have certainly lost the faith.”

Liberals also point to Mr Brock’s support for Education and Child Development Minister Jennifer Rankine against a no-confidence motion, opposition to a motion backing enhanced compensation for CFS volunteers and employment of former Labor staffers as signs of partisanship.

MR BROCK declined a request for interview this week and his office said he was unwell.

Despite vocal criticism of Mr Brock’s performance since becoming a minister, he has a strong record of building and maintaining political support around a fiercely independent brand. Mr Brock entered Parliament at the 2009 Frome by-election after running a close third to the major parties on primary votes and being pushed over the line by Labor preferences. He spent the next year clocking up kilometres through his conservative electorate and was returned at the 2010 general election after finishing first on primary votes with 38 per cent. By this year, Mr Brock’s personal brand was strong enough to secure an overwhelming 45 per cent.

And in the deal to hand Labor minority, struck personally with Mr Weatherill after the famous weekend convoy to Port Pirie for Hawaiian pizza, Mr Brock demanded rights of autonomy.

The written contract grants Mr Brock freedom to vote “according to the needs of his electorate and his conscience”, except on the key issues of state finances and confidence.

However, he must “give the premier a reasonable opportunity to consult” before voting against Labor positions and Mr Brock is bound by Cabinet decisions unless he absents from debate. On the other side of the marine park voting ledger is one break with the Government. Mr Brock surprised some by backing a non-binding Liberal motion condemning the election tactics of the Housing Trust Tenants Association, which backed Labor in key marginal seats.

In defeating the Liberal push to open up marine parks, Mr Brock insisted he was standing up for the regions and went as far as accusing the Opposition of playing politics on the issue.

“The Opposition’s approach appears to be more about politics than a real regard for the complex environmental and economic issues involved,” he told Parliament. “The proposals in this Bill have the potential to seriously undermine the effectiveness of the marine parks network.”

In an apparent bid to offer a third-way solution, Mr Brock is now pointing to a review of the economic and social impact of marine parks in Kangaroo Island, Ceduna and Port Wakefield. He hopes it is proof of his status as an independent and honest broker seeking compromise.

“If these assessments identify areas of immediate economic concern, then these will be addressed as soon as they’re identified, not at the end of the review,” he said in a statement.

But despite the heavy criticism that is currently falling on Mr Brock’s shoulders, the final judgment on his decision to back Labor and ministerial performance won’t come for another three and a half years. If he runs for re-election as currently planned, Mr Brock’s jurors will be 25,000 voters in Frome scattered across 8000kmsq in towns like Port Pirie, Clare and Gladstone.

An Advertiser poll in the week after the state election found 53 per cent of the electorate wanted Mr Brock to back the Liberals and just 35 endorsed support for Labor.

History documents an uphill battle for conservatives that back Labor governments who seek re-election. Former water minister Karlene Maywald was turfed by Riverland voters in 2010 and federal independent MPs Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor chose not to run again rather than face voters in their electorates where polls showed them likely to face punishing losses.

Mr Brock will have bought some friends home with Government support for the Nyrstar smelter and cash for a series of local sporting, health, tourism and infrastructure programs.

UNIVERSITY of Adelaide School of History and Politics lecturer Clem Macintyre said Mr Brock had a “rude awakening” as he dealt the with high stakes of being in the balance of power.

“When he has disagreements with the Labor Party, he has those behind closed doors and he’s obviously decided it’s not productive for good policy making to air those in public,” he said. “When somebody elected as an independent clearly throws their support behind one side or the other, there is a tendency to see things through that view because they’re the people you’re spending time with.

“Geoff Brock is in the Labor Cabinet listening to the arguments. That’s not to say he won’t break ranks on other issues, but it’s going to have to be a pretty overwhelming matter for him to give the Liberals the victory in the Parliament.”