This week we are focusing on the seat of Mayo in South Australia, before analysing the final two seats, Braddon and Longman, next week.
Covering the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island, the boundaries for the by-election in Mayo were unaffected by the recent federal redistribution of South Australian electorate borders. Industries within the rural electorate include dairy, beef and sheep farming, as well as copper mines, goldfields, forestry, wine and tourism.
Ms Rebekha Sharkie, of the Centre Alliance (previously Nick Xenophon Team), was the incumbent MP until May of 2018, when she resigned due to not having renounced her British citizenship prior to her election in 2016.
An advocate for local industry, protection of farming land and improving rural health and youth services, Ms Sharkie began her career in conveyancing and office management. Ms Sharkie additionally worked as a part-time adviser for both State and Federal Members of Parliament and began her term in the House of Representatives in 2016, during which she served on the Standing Committee for Employment, Education and Training. Both the ALP and the Australian Greens have placed Ms Sharkie second on their how-to-vote cards.
Ms Georgina Downer (Liberal Party) has worked as a solicitor and consultant, in addition to serving as a diplomat with the Australian Embassy in Tokyo- her career has been oriented towards Asia-Australia engagement, especially through her work as the Director of Asialink. Ms Downer is now looking to work at a more local, community level through representing Mayo as the Federal Member. She is campaigning on issues such as improving the safety of regional roads, rural health and aged care access, and boosting tourism and local jobs.
The 2016 election saw Ms Sharkie defeat the incumbent Liberal member, holding the seat with a 5% margin. It is unclear whether the absence of Nick Xenophon from her party will make a difference to her re-election.
Polling for the electorate of Mayo by the Australia Institute had Ms Sharkie ahead of Ms Downer on a two-party preferred basis 62–38%.
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