For the past six weeks the stream of election press releases has mounted towards a crescendo.

While many are making promises that will affect Kangaroo Island residents generally, such as public hospitals, sports grants and school funding, there have been none specific to Kangaroo Island issues until this week when the Member for Finniss Michael Pengilly announced a $10 million road funding package if the Liberals are elected to government.

The big bucket of election promises sloshing around the State has yielded barely more than a damp splash for Kangaroo Island.

There are significant issues to face here: electricity provision, the cost of travelling, road maintenance, issues of access and equity across education, health, transport and youth services.

Both parties have concentrated their efforts elsewhere. We have seen no visits from senior party people, apart from Isobel Redmond’s brief fly-in at the Kangaroo Island Cup on the day the election was officially called. No State Government ministers made it to the race day this year. There were more important places to be.

Do they consider us so safely Liberal or so insignificant in the State picture? Surely not.

Despite the widely forecast swing against the Government, popular Victor Harbor Mayor and Labor candidate Mary-Lou Corcoran seems set to make a further dent in the Liberal margin in this seat.

Perhaps becoming a more marginal seat will bring the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island into the spotlight and increase our bargaining chips.