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Friday, April 26, 2024

Women lead the way in Labor win in South Australia

Women have led the Labor charge in South Australia, winning five seats for the incoming government, as the party looks to change the culture in parliament and pursue its bold policy agenda.

As counting continues following Saturday’s poll, Labor looks set to hold at least 25 of the 47 House of Assembly seats, with a number of others still in play.

The defeated Liberal government should retain at least 15 seats while independents will hold up to five.

Labor’s gains include the seats of Adelaide, Newland, Elder, King and Davenport, all won by women candidates.

Premier-elect Peter Malinauskas said they would bring passion, intellect and youthful energy to the Labor team.

“This is what modern Labor looks like,” he said.

Incoming Deputy Premier Susan Close said it had been important for Labor to have the right leader, the right policies and a united team. 

“Finally, we needed the right candidates,” she said.

“Peter and I talked long and hard about making sure we got renewal, making sure that we had talent and making sure we had enough women coming into parliament to really change the culture and make it a better place.

“I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that we have five of them here and there are another three possibly in play.” 

Mr Malinauskas said he was determined to pursue all Labor’s policy initiatives, including fixing problems in health, bringing back the V8 Supercars to the city centre, and expanding pre-school to three-year-olds.

“Clearly, the task before us is very substantial, we’ve got a number of issues that we’d like to address within the community,” he said.

“Some are going to be difficult, some are going to be challenging and take some time, others are particularly urgent.

“But it’s a task that we are wholeheartedly committed to.

“We get to work today. There isn’t a moment to lose.”

Mr Malinauskas pledged to work collaboratively with the opposition and the federal government and also vowed to be a pro-business premier.

Among the SA seats still in doubt is the eastern suburbs seat of Dunstan held by outgoing premier Steven Marshall.

He was marginally ahead on Sunday but with Labor’s Cressida O’Hanlon securing a 7.1 per cent swing, the result remained too close to call.

Pre-poll and postal votes were expected to favour Mr Marshall, making it possible for him to hang on.

In his concession speech on Saturday, he made no mention of his intentions, including whether or not he would stay on as opposition leader should he secure his place in parliament.

Among the independents, Dan Cregan in the Adelaide Hills, Geoff Brock, who shifted to the seat of Stuart in the mid-north, Troy Bell in Mt Gambier and Fraser Ellis in Narungga, which takes in Yorke Peninsula, are all set to be returned.

Mr Brock’s win in Stuart meant the departure from the parliament of Deputy Premier Dan van Holst Pellekaan.

In Finniss, independent Lou Nicholson was leading Liberal David Basham after the outgoing primary industries minister was on the wrong end of a 19 per cent swing.

AAP

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