Nick Xenophon says a plan to scrap the seat of Mayo as part of a federal electoral redistribution is an act of war against his Xenophon Team.
SA is set to lose a lower house seat and there are reports Mayo — held by the Xenophon Team’s Rebekha Sharkie — could be in the firing line.
“My concern is that the major parties will actually collude on this and collude in a way that will effectively mean that the people of the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island would be without a real voice and be basically represented on remote control,” Xenophon told David and Will on FIVEAA breakfast.
“I think it’s very convenient for the major parties to pick on Mayo, pick on Rebekha Sharkie… no skin lost for them — it’ll be a cosy little deal.”
LISTEN HERE:
“It would mean that South Australia, with about 30 per cent of the population in the regions, would be down to only two out of 10 seats in the regions, and that would be a real body blow… it would be pretty lousy in terms of representation,” he said.
“We’ll have to wait and see what happens.
“It could mean that we take an anti-incumbency view (preferencing against all sitting members) at the next election.”
When he spoke to The Advertiser, Mr Xenophon said the move would be “effectively a declaration of war on regional South Australians and on Rebekha Sharkie and the team”.
“It would be both illogical and spiteful if that’s what the major parties were doing,” he said.
MOST POPULAR
THE PORT ADELAIDE GUN WHO FANCIES HIMSELF AS A FUTURE NFL STAR
