THE Barker electorate has a strong Liberal history, with the party having sole claim to the seat since 1956.
Incumbent member Tony Pasin took the role on in 2013, winning the election after the retirement of long-serving Liberal member Patrick Secker.
Mr Pasin will contest Barker, which covers about 63,886 square kilometres from Morgan to Port MacDonnell, against a host of passionate challengers.
Family First’s Yvonne Zeppel and Labor’s Mat O’Brien will contest the seat, while James Stacey will represent the Xenophon team after standing for the Senate with the Nationals in 2013.
The Greens’ Mark Keough will contest the Barker seat for the second time after representing the party in 2013.
On that occasion, Mr Pasin won 66.55 per cent of the vote on a two candidate preferred basis against Labor's Phil Golding.
Mr Pasin was born, raised and educated in Barker – an area that includes the Upper and Lower South East, the Mallee, Riverland, Murraylands and most of the Barossa Valley region.
His family has farmed in the SE for more than 40 years, initially in horticulture and onions before turning to a mixed farm enterprise near Mount Gambier.
“Coming from a rural background, and helping my parents on-farm, I understand issues facing farmers in Barker,” Mr Pasin said.
There is a broad range of industry in the electorate, from livestock and cropping to horticulture, viticulture, fishing and forestry.
Mr Pasin said his major focuses were developing new export markets, and improving transport and communications infrastructure.
Challengers for the Barker seat listed issues such as water, research and development, and agricultural profitability and sustainability as topics to be addressed.
Mr Pasin said it had been a privilege to advocate on behalf of the Barker electorate for the past three years.
“In 2013, I wanted to be Barker’s best advocate and ensure my electorate wasn’t forgotten,” he said.
“In 2016, I still want to be Barker’s best advocate and continue bringing Barker to the attention of federal parliament.”
