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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-12-02 Daily Xml
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King Electorate

Ms LUETHEN (King) (15:27): Firstly, I wish to update the house on the outcome of the King electorate boundary changes. In August, the Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission proposed boundary changes across the state. In King, the commissioner's proposal saw the suburbs of Hillbank, Bibaringa, Uleybury and Yattalunga moving out and Fairview Park moving in.

As I doorknocked across King last election, I remember distinctly people asking me again and again at their doorstep why they are in King and why no-one had told them that the boundaries had changed. I said I had no idea why the Labor members who had known about the changes since February 2016 did not bother to communicate the change in boundaries to people. My view is that Labor took constituents in the north and the north-east for granted. This is evident in the way they did not fight for investment into our local community for so many years. A stand-out example is the shocking, unsafe condition of the Golden Grove Road being ignored for over 20 years.

In contrast, I considered it very important to write to my constituents who would be impacted by the proposed changes, and I encourage them to ask questions and share their views with the Electoral Commissioner. I was so happy when so many constituents, particularly so many from Hillbank, shared their views on the change. I was very touched by how many of these comments were positive. For example, one constituent wrote:

I have noticed that with the latest Liberal incarnation and particularly with you in King, there seems to be a greater awareness that voters actually exist.

Also, from another:

I strongly object to this change and it feels like us lowly electors have no choice in who represents us. Paula has been a great help in this community and I absolutely have more trust and faith in her staying as our local representative and cannot see any reason why some unelected bureaucrat can totally stuff up a good area. Please leave this suburb as it is.

This is just one reason why I love representing the voices of the amazing people living in King. People do speak up. They are telling me what they think, good or bad, and I am so grateful every day for this. The voices in Hillbank were heard. The outcome of the boundary changes is that Hillbank is staying in King. I am so very glad about this outcome, as we are working together as a community to tackle some key local concerns, and my knowledge of how to help is building every day as people share with me their views and experiences.

It is with disappointment that I report that the Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission has decided to move Bibaringa, Uleybury and Yattalunga to the Schubert electorate in 2022. I reiterate to every one of those electors who supported me in March 2018 that I remain their member, proudly so, until March 2022, when the boundaries change, and after the boundaries change I will still be supporting them every chance I get.

People across King have welcomed me into their homes and communities since 2017. I am so grateful for that, and my life has been enriched by it. It is an honour to serve. I look forward to continuing to serve my community passionately until March 2022. In fact, I have nominated to be the Liberal candidate for King in the 2022 election. We will hear about the results of this preselection process soon.

Finally, I wish to recognise the passing of one of the most popular people in our King community Lance Walter. A long-term resident and gentleman, Lance welcomed me and the Premier into the One Tree Hill community. Lance is known for many years of service and dedication to the CFS. Lance was a life member of Progress, and I am told he worked tirelessly to serve the community over many decades.

In his earlier days, Lance was a keen member of the Billies, the One Tree Hill cricket team. Great man, superstar, legend—these are all words people used to describe Lance. My heart goes out to his family, his friends, his wife, Hazel, and the Billies. I send my deep condolences to his family from parliament. His funeral was held today. Vale, Lance Walter.

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