No Images? Click here XENOPHON RESIGNS FROM SENATE, Nick Xenophon has just resigned from the Senate in order to contest the seat of Hartley in the March, 2018 South Australian election. He has tended his resignation letter to the President of the Senate, the Hon. Stephen Parry, and it is effective immediately. (letter attached) “I am now ‘Citizen X’, not ‘Senator X’,” said Nick. “I have never really been that much into titles anyway. “What matters is what you achieves in public office, not the title.” Nick says that of his early days in the Senate, securing almost $1billion in funding for the Murray Darling Basin and other water projects at the height of the drought was a significant accomplishment. The February, 2009 deal included funding for irrigators, the environment, river communities and stormwater harvesting. Nick was also responsible for instigating dozens of Senate inquiries into issues of public importance including gambling, cults, competition and consumer law, procurement, whistle-blowers,health issues,manufacturing, ship building and food labelling. “All those inquiries advanced the public debate on important issues and a number saw Governments pick up recommendations through their legislative program.” There are other ongoing inquiries that NXT members will pick up the baton on, including the Oakden scandal, and on dodgy building products. Nick said that the advocacy for SA submarine and shipbuilding has certainly had a real impact even though the Government will never admit it. “The voter support for NXT’s strong position on this clearly played an important role in Government decision-making and secured the sub project and other naval shipbuilding for South Australia.” Nick said many significant achievements have occurred since his NXT colleagues - soon to be SA-BEST (Federal) – were elected last year. “With the hard work of my colleagues Rebekha, Skye and Stirling, we have been able to achieve so much more as a team, especially for SA. That will continue with Rex Patrick joining the team very soon as my replacement.” Recent achievements for NXT in the past 12 months include:
“My team has played a very important role in fighting for SA, and in strengthening the role of the Senate and improving the quality of representation in Mayo”, Nick said. “We have pressed for more transparent government decision-making, more rigorous reviews of government service delivery, and making ministers accountable for their actions. “Good government requires a vigilant watchdog in the parliament. “My focus will now be on playing that role in South Australian politics to ensure that whoever forms the next South Australian government will have to commit to and deliver the highest standards of ethics, transparency and accountability. “We can’t have more politics as usual. South Australia deserves much better. “Only with a vigilant watchdog on North Terrace will we get what is best for SA. “That is what SA-BEST is determined to deliver.” For more information contact Nick Xenophon on 0411 626 677
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