PM Malcolm Turnbull in Adelaide campaigning for Liberals’ Mayo by-election tilt

PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull is in Adelaide campaigning for the Liberal Party in the forthcoming Mayo by-election, having pledged $10 million for a new swimming centre in the first major funding commitment of the campaign.

• Downer’s Plan B: Wannabe MP set up Melbourne consultancy firm
• Daniel Wills: Voters in Mayo could get two elections in a year

• The candidates for the Mayo by-election:

• Centre Alliance: Rebekha Sharkie
• Liberal: Georgina Downer
• Greens: Major “Moogy” Sumner
• (potentially) Labor: Alice Dawkins

MALCOLM Turnbull will be in Mt Barker on Saturday to pump $10 million into a new swimming centre in the first major funding commitment of the Mayo campaign.

It comes as the Prime Minister wrote to all state premiers late on Friday to call a national summit to reduce violence against women that will be held in Adelaide in October.

The summit would be followed by a meeting of the nation’s leaders and include talks on the future of the Murray Darling Basin.

In an exclusive interview with The Advertiser as Mr Turnbull headed to Willunga on Friday for “politics in the pub” with locals and Georgina Downer, he described the Liberal candidate as “much more than her father’s daughter”.

“Alexander (Downer) is a very good friend of mine but Georgina is much more than her father’s daughter,” he said.

PUB TEST: Malcolm Turnbull and Georgina Downer, far right, with Tracy Jackson, centre, and daughter Annabelle, 9, at The Alma Hotel in Willunga. Picture: TAIT SCHMAAL

“I’ve known her for a long time, I can say that with real insight; a very impressive woman in her own success and achievements.”

Willunga resident Mostyn Hancock, 69, used the opportunity to ask the Prime Minister to be involved in an event close to his heart. “I was chatting to him about the Invictus Games,” Mr Hancock said.

“As a returned serviceman myself, I suggested that he open the Invictus Games. He seemed pretty amenable to the idea.”

Also in attendance at The Alma Hotel on Friday was former member for Mayo and foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer. Picture: TAIT SCHMAAL.

The Hills seat was the electorate the Government has been most widely tipped to pick up in the Super Saturday by-elections on July 28, which was prompted mainly by a series of resignations caused by the citizenship saga.

But analysis of this year’s State Election results puts the contest between Ms Downer and Centre Alliance candidate Rebekha Sharkie on a knife’s edge.

The $25 million aquatic centre, which was being joint funded by the Turnbull Government and local council, would replace the Mountain Pool built by volunteer labour in 1955. It will feature three indoor swimming pools, a wellness and lifestyle centre, indoor multipurpose stadium, cafeteria and retail space.

“I’m particularly personally pleased about it (the announcement) because water safety is such an important issue. It’s always been a big part of my life being a lifesaver in my youth,” Mr Turnbull said.

“Everyone knows that in Australia you need to make sure your kids learn to swim as soon as you can and having the appropriate aquatic facilities was vital.”

Mr Turnbull said employment in the electorate had been growing as the unemployment rate was 4.5 per cent in December last year, down 0.9 percentage points from a year earlier.

CHEERS: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with local Mostyn Hancock and Liberal candidate for Mayo Georgina Downer at the Alma hotel in Willunga on Friday night. Picture: TAIT SCHMAAL

Youth unemployment was 14.6 per cent in Mayo compared to 16.5 per cent in SA overall, he said.

“Giving business the incentive to invest and hire is critical and we have been able to support and create an environment where we’re seeing the strongest jobs growth in the country’s history,” Mr Turnbull said.

While the Prime Minister did not want to criticise Ms Sharkie personally, he said independents had “very limited influence” in the Parliament.

“Bek has chosen to vote mostly with the Labor Party … including issues such as border protection as an example,” he said.

“Do you want to have a member who is part of a Government team who is delivering for both your electorate and the nation or an independent who is most of the time voting with (Labor leader) Bill Shorten.”

Responding to a question about criticism that Ms Downer was a “blow in” given she left SA after high school, Mr Turnbull said he believed many people would be “thrilled” she was returning to her roots.

“To have been able to represent Australia in Tokyo and practice law in Melbourne … then be able to come home and say ‘right I have improved my experience … and now I can bring all of that to bear to be the best possible representative for you’ is a good thing.”