After losing the seat of Hindmarsh by a small margin in 2013, but forever passionate about politics, it came as no surprise when the ALP selected Steve Georganas last month as it’s candidate for the seat of Hindmarsh. He’s already overcome the first obstacle on a return journey to Canberra.
But the memory of the 2013 federal election, losing to Liberal Matt Williams, is a stark reminder of the difficulties that lie ahead for the former MP, who represented the seat of Hindmarsh for nine years.
Since his election loss, Georganas has been actively involved in public life. So what are the main motivators for him in deciding to make a comeback?
“I’ve never stopped campaigning,” he tells Neos Kosmos. “I’ve lived and devoted the majority of my life to the electorate of Hindmarsh and I certainly feel that I can still contribute.
“Hindmarsh deserves good representation and it’s not getting that. I want to continue where I left off, to ensure that we deliver all that we can for the residents of the western suburbs.”
Have the priorities changed during his hiatus period? Not for Georganas, who will run on Labor’s bedrock themes of protecting public services.
“Labor believes in a universal health system. In Hindmarsh we’ve one of the highest populations of pensioners of any electorate in the state, so we want to ensure that the pensioners and all families continue to get the health services they require and which have been left to the side by the current government.”
Job creation is a central issue to voters in South Australia, with the state experiencing the highest unemployment figures in the country. Georganas has been a fierce critic of the Abbott government’s position on the Future Submarines contract.
Challenged on whether South Australia has put all its eggs in one basket, in terms of the submarines contract to stimulate the local economy, Georganas admits the state has to be smarter about job creation.
“Look at science and industry technologies. We can train our people to start businesses and outperform other nations in cutting edge technologies.”
On the nuclear debate, Georganas is yet to be convinced. “I come from a position where I was very opposed to nuclear and have been for many years. I have great reservations. Deep reservations. But I am open to discussion and what has changed my mind slightly is that I know the technology today is very different. I still have huge reservations about it though.”
Turning to the much-discussed Free Trade Agreement with China signed in June, Georganas says that while the agreement has many positives, certain areas need more attention.
“Labor has said that some particular clauses in the agreement need to be looked at, one of them being the ability of Chinese companies to bring in their own workers by investing $150 million in a project. We oppose this. We want the FTA to benefit Australian workers and this is currently a sticking point.”
On same-sex marriage, Georganas is supportive of his party’s standpoint.
“Labor’s position, as already stated by Bill Shorten, is that the ALP will legislate for marriage equality. Certainly, what I will be debating and aiming for, is that religious organisations continue to have the ability to conduct ceremonies,” he says.
With Independent Senator Nick Xenophon having confirmed a candidate from the NXT party (the Nick Xenophon Team) will contest Hindmarsh in the next election, a Hellenic ‘face-off’ is on the cards. How does he view such competition?
“I’ve had two Greeks run against me in the past, one in 2013 and a Liberal candidate in 2007. It’s a democracy and I welcome the debate that will take place.”