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ABC News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Will the federal election results be replicated at next year's SA contest?
On Saturday night at the Robin Hood Hotel in Adelaide's eastern suburbs, Liberal MP James Stevens took to the stage to concede that he had lost the seat of Sturt. He apologised for being the man in the seat when it slipped from his party's hands for the first time in more than five decades. As he descended from the stage, there to comfort the now-former MP were party faithful and elders, chief among them the recently-retired Senator Simon Birmingham. Speaking to the media later, Mr Birmingham did not sugar-coat the result. He said it was "diabolical" and he was "gutted" to see "so much good talent, particularly fresher, younger, newer faces" lose their seats. If this wasn't rock bottom, he posited, it won't be too long before there is not much of a party. With the loss of Sturt, the Liberals had lost their last metropolitan stronghold in Adelaide. And with the Electoral Commission currently carrying out a three-candidate-preferred count in the seat of Grey, there are also concerns about one of the party's last two regional strongholds. Live results: Find out what's happening in your seat as counting continues A stark contrast to the Howard heyday where the party held Adelaide, Boothby, Hindmarsh, Kingston, Makin, Sturt, Wakefield (now Spence) and the peri-urban seat of Mayo. Now, all gone. A sign that John Howard knew how to tap into the outer-suburban "battler" vote in a way the current Liberal Party simply does not. That era also saw the SA Liberals with scores of senior voices at the cabinet table — from Alexander Downer to Robert Hill and Nick Minchin — and rising stars like Christopher Pyne and Amanda Vanstone. The party was in government at a state level too, making it unquestionably the dominant force in South Australian politics of the time. How times change. As bad as Saturday's result looks on the face of it, when you dive into the details it starts to look even worse. In almost every one of the more than 400 polling places across Adelaide's eight electorates, voters favoured Labor on a two-party preferred count. On polling day just a small handful of booths favoured the Liberals in higher numbers. A kind way to look at those results would be to consider that pre-polls and postals generally favour the Liberal Party. But any way you cut it, it's a devastating result — voters in almost every part of the city rejected the Liberals, often in emphatic numbers. Want even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverage Catch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC Listen Both state Labor and Liberal leaders have been quick to distance their contest from the federal one. At a press conference the day after Labor's victory, Premier Peter Malinauskas said he wasn't "sitting around counting numbers, thinking about seats". "I think that would be self-serving," Mr Malinauskas said. "Any sort of analysis for what this means for the state election would be foolhardy from my perspective. We've just got to get on with doing the job." While Mr Malinauskas doesn't want to seem arrogant or over-confident, Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia also has strong reasons to distance himself from the result. "The federal election has been fought on federal issues and I think people can distinguish between federal issues and state issues," he said. "All I can say is we're just working hard every day now to make sure that we hold the Labor government to account, but also make sure we continue to put our alternative vision forward for the people of South Australia." Mr Tarzia has enough to contend with, without looking at what's just happened to his federal colleagues. He's a relatively-new leader, still defining to the public who he is and what his team stands for, up against a very popular, first-term government. And there's even more he needs to overcome — the local Liberal Party's woes have been oft repeated. They lost six seats in the 2022 state election, went on to lose two by-elections — one in Dunstan when former Premier Steven Marshall retired, another in Black following the resignation of former opposition leader David Speirs. They lost MacKillop when Nick McBride turned independent. The party has also been tarnished by criminal allegations — Mr Speirs has pleaded guilty to drugs charges, and Mr McBride has this week faced court over assault charges after being charged with three counts of assaulting his wife in April. Before the 2022 election the brand also took a major hit — and lost other seats — when Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell was charged with fraud, and Narrunga MP Fraser Ellis was charged with deception — both have been found guilty but are waiting on appeals. They both still sit in parliament as independents. The Liberals also lost Kavel in the Adelaide Hills when Dan Cregan defected, making a deal with Labor to become Speaker. With all that recent history, Peter Dutton's disastrous campaign is something the local team could have done without. Party insiders are now questioning not how many seats Vincent Tarzia can win, but how many he might lose. The good news is, with all the regional seats lost to defections and scandals, there could be a chance to gain some of those back. But Saturday's result will have done little to energise the local membership — not a good start when you need to be developing an election campaign and pre-selecting candidates. For Tarzia and his team, their hope will echo Simon Birmingham, that the federal election was rock bottom, and the only way from here is up.
7NEWS
04-05-2025
- Politics
- 7NEWS
South Australia trends red in 2025 federal election
All metropolitan federal seats in South Australia are now held by the Australian Labor Party, as has been the national trend in the 2025 federal election. The most attention was on Sturt, where the Liberal Party 's James Stevens was desperately trying to cling to office by less than half a per cent. However, by mid-afternoon on Sunday, Labor's Claire Clutterham was already being celebrated as new royalty in the eastern suburbs. Her two-party preferred lead was a whopping 57 per cent to Stevens 43 per cent. That represents a 7.5 per cent swing to Labor in a seat which was considered there for the taking, but by no means guaranteed. Former Sturt MP Chistopher Pyne could only watch as the 50-year Liberal glow in Sturt was snuffed out, and will be hard to regain anytime soon. Boothby was another marginal seat snatched last time around by Labor's Louise Miller-Frost. The much-hyped return of former Liberal member Nicolle Flint proved to be yet another blue mirage. Labor increased its two party preferred stranglehold to 61 per cent, with Flint languishing at 39. The Greens had something to smile about, scoring 18.5 per cent of the primary vote. Mayo was retained by Independent Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie who can now rightfully own the hills electorate which was once lauded over by Liberal Alexander Downer. Her margin was an impressive 63 per cent to the Liberal candidate's 37 per cent. The only Liberal wins were in Barker and Grey in the east and north of the state. Prominent conservative Tony Pasin dropped slightly in Barker but without any chance of losing his grip. The margin appears to be 63 per cent to 37 per cent. In Grey, newcomer Tom Venning secured a 57 per cent victory to replace retired Liberal stalwart Rowan Ramsey, who came in 43 per cent. From there it's Labor red flags right across the electoral landscape. Steve Georganas retained Adelaide with 69 per cent. Some say he is now keeping the seat warm if Premier Peter Malinauskas ever enters federal politics. Health Minister Mark Butler did likewise in Hindmarsh with a predictable 66 per cent win. NDIS Minister Amanada Rishworth clobbered her namesake cousin Jim Rishworth in Kingston with a 71 per cent win over his 29 per cent. The so-called bible belt electorates of Makin and Spence were also easy Labor victories. In the Senate, it appears the Liberals will lose a seat to Labor, while Sarah Hanson-Young will be re-elected for the Greens. It was Labor's day and will stay that way for the next three years. Next question: what does this result mean for next year's SA state election? It could be a massacre under the same banner.
West Australian
03-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Liberals at risk of losing South Australian marginal seat of Sturt: Exit poll
The Liberal Party is at risk of losing the blue-ribbon South Australian electorate of Sturt, early exclusive exit polling has revealed. Liberal incumbent James Stevens secured 37.8 per cent of the primary vote in the poll conducted by NewsWire, which asked 193 voters across three booths how they marked their first preference vote. Labor challenger Claire Clutterham nabbed 71 votes, or 36.8 per cent of the vote, and Greens candidate Katie McCusker secured 30 votes, or 15.5 per cent. Independent candidate Verity Cooper scored 12 votes, or 6.2 per cent of the vote, One Nation contender Peter Bogatec secured five votes, or 2.6 per cent of the vote and Family First candidate Joshua Mervin won two votes, or 1 per cent of the vote. Mr Stevens' first preference vote share in the poll marks a five-point fall from his 2022 performance, where he secured 43.1 per cent of primary votes. His Labor challenger in 2022 secured 30.7 per cent of first preferences. Exit Poll Sturt May 3 2025 Mr Stevens holds Sturt with a tight 0.5 per cent margin, and if there is a fall in his first preference vote share on election night, he could lose the seat to Labor. The Liberals have held the seat, which covers Adelaide's eastern suburbs to the Adelaide Hills, since 1972, and it was previously held by former Coalition defence minister Christopher Pyne. The sample size of the exit poll, however, is small, and the poll took in just three booths: The Glynde Lutheran Church, Campbelltown Uniting Church and the Kensington RSL. The poll also assumes voters told the truth when responding to how they marked their ballot paper. And Australia's preferential system of voting means a poll of first preferences only offers an indication of the possible final outcome. Francis Ajo, speaking with NewsWire at the Campbelltown Uniting Church booth, said he shifted his vote from Liberal to Labor. 'I used to be a Liberal but I've changed for this election,' Mr Ajo said. 'Labor has been very consistent in their messaging and their campaign, about what they would like to do. 'Whereas the Liberals, every week seems to be a different policy. 'Their policies have to be more consistent. Not just jump from one to another,' he said. Former foreign minister Alexander Downer, speaking with NewsWire at the Kensington RSL booth, said the election had failed to 'excite the imagination' of the Australian public. 'The parties are offering them benefits on borrowed money, but they are not talking a lot about how they are going to stop prices rising,' Mr Downer said. Former foreign minister and Liberal titan Alexander Downer spoke with NewsWire about the 2025 election at the Kensington RSL booth in the seat of Sturt on Saturday. 'I think in every political contest. It should be a contest of ideas. And this election, it hasn't really come across as much more than a managerial debate, manage the place better than you much has happened that has inspired the public.' All major opinion polls point to the return of a minority or majority Labor government. Mr Downer expressed confidence the Liberal Party could rebuild, even if it suffered a defeat on Saturday night. 'They were in power for nine years, then they lost in 2022. It's only three years on. 'It's improbable they would win back in just three years on, and the fact that people are talking about it is a bit of an indictment of the current government. Father and daughter Jeremy and Hannah Moore voted at the Kensington RSL booth. Mr Moore voted Labor while Ms Moore voted Greens. 'There is a connection between the Greens and Labor,' Mr Moore said. 'Labor needs the Greens and the Greens need Labor.' Ms Moore said she voted for the Greens because they were more 'progressive' than Labor. 'They're focused on serious climate action, they are more community focused,' she said. She said Palestine was also an important factor in her vote for the Greens. Irene Tolios voted for the Liberals at the Glynde Lutheran Church and said she had done so looking for the closest major party to One Nation and Clive Palmer. 'I want the closest to that opinion,' she said. Housing was a central issue for her, she said, and expressed alarm on the impact of immigration on available housing stock. 'I've just come from the rental market and it's very tough,' she said.
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Liberals at risk of losing South Australian marginal seat of Sturt: Exit poll
The Liberal Party is at risk of losing the blue-ribbon South Australian electorate of Sturt, early exclusive exit polling has revealed. Liberal incumbent James Stevens secured 37.8 per cent of the primary vote in the poll conducted by NewsWire, which asked 193 voters across three booths how they marked their first preference vote. Labor challenger Claire Clutterham nabbed 71 votes, or 36.8 per cent of the vote, and Greens candidate Katie McCusker secured 30 votes, or 15.5 per cent. Independent candidate Verity Cooper scored 12 votes, or 6.2 per cent of the vote, One Nation contender Peter Bogatec secured five votes, or 2.6 per cent of the vote and Family First candidate Joshua Mervin won two votes, or 1 per cent of the vote. Mr Stevens' first preference vote share in the poll marks a five-point fall from his 2022 performance, where he secured 43.1 per cent of primary votes. His Labor challenger in 2022 secured 30.7 per cent of first preferences. Mr Stevens holds Sturt with a tight 0.5 per cent margin, and if there is a fall in his first preference vote share on election night, he could lose the seat to Labor. The Liberals have held the seat, which covers Adelaide's eastern suburbs to the Adelaide Hills, since 1972, and it was previously held by former Coalition defence minister Christopher Pyne. The sample size of the exit poll, however, is small, and the poll took in just three booths: The Glynde Lutheran Church, Campbelltown Uniting Church and the Kensington RSL. The poll also assumes voters told the truth when responding to how they marked their ballot paper. And Australia's preferential system of voting means a poll of first preferences only offers an indication of the possible final outcome. Francis Ajo, speaking with NewsWire at the Campbelltown Uniting Church booth, said he shifted his vote from Liberal to Labor. 'I used to be a Liberal but I've changed for this election,' Mr Ajo said. 'Labor has been very consistent in their messaging and their campaign, about what they would like to do. 'Whereas the Liberals, every week seems to be a different policy. 'Their policies have to be more consistent. Not just jump from one to another,' he said. Former foreign minister Alexander Downer, speaking with NewsWire at the Kensington RSL booth, said the election had failed to 'excite the imagination' of the Australian public. 'The parties are offering them benefits on borrowed money, but they are not talking a lot about how they are going to stop prices rising,' Mr Downer said. 'I think in every political contest. It should be a contest of ideas. And this election, it hasn't really come across as much more than a managerial debate, manage the place better than you do. Nothing much has happened that has inspired the public.' All major opinion polls point to the return of a minority or majority Labor government. Mr Downer expressed confidence the Liberal Party could rebuild, even if it suffered a defeat on Saturday night. 'They were in power for nine years, then they lost in 2022. It's only three years on. 'It's improbable they would win back in just three years on, and the fact that people are talking about it is a bit of an indictment of the current government. Father and daughter Jeremy and Hannah Moore voted at the Kensington RSL booth. Mr Moore voted Labor while Ms Moore voted Greens. 'There is a connection between the Greens and Labor,' Mr Moore said. 'Labor needs the Greens and the Greens need Labor.' Ms Moore said she voted for the Greens because they were more 'progressive' than Labor. 'They're focused on serious climate action, they are more community focused,' she said. She said Palestine was also an important factor in her vote for the Greens. Irene Tolios voted for the Liberals at the Glynde Lutheran Church and said she had done so looking for the closest major party to One Nation and Clive Palmer. 'I want the closest to that opinion,' she said. Housing was a central issue for her, she said, and expressed alarm on the impact of immigration on available housing stock. 'I've just come from the rental market and it's very tough,' she said.
Mercury
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Mercury
Full list of SA polling booths, where to vote on election day 2025
South Australian voters will head to the polls on May 3 for the 2025 federal election. Voting centres across the state will open at 8am and close at 6pm. It's shaping up to be a tight contest in South Australia's key electorate of Sturt, with the Liberal Party's James Stevens currently holding the seat at a margin of 0.45 per cent. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the Labor-held seat of Boothby with Liberal Nicolle Flint set to give incumbent Louise Miller-Frost some tough competition An early voting centre at Brighton Surf Club in the Boothby electorate. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt Voting is compulsory in Australia and hundreds of polling booths are located across local schools, churches, community halls and public buildings. See the full list of polling booth locations below: WHAT TIME ARE POLLING BOOTHS OPEN Polling booths will open at 8am on Saturday, May 3 and close at 6pm sharp. IS VOTING COMPULSORY? Yes, voting is compulsory for Australian citizens over the age of 18. WHICH ELECTORATE AM I IN? Who you vote for on election day will depend on which federal electorate you are in. You can find out the electorate you are in by clicking here. WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA? South Australia's federal election battle is again dominated by the state's two most marginal seats as the major parties both claim Sturt and Boothby are too close to call. See the full list of federal election candidates in South Australia here. WHERE TO FIND A DEMOCRACY SAUSAGE The democracy sausage is a voting tradition in Australia. Here are the polling booths that will have snags on the barbie this Saturday. WHO YOUR NEIGHBOURS VOTED FOR Find out what party won the first preference vote in every polling place across Australia between 2004 and 2022. Legend for the above map. WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T VOTE? If you don't vote in a federal election, you will receive a letter from the Australian Electoral Commission. If you are unable to provide a valid and sufficient reason why you did not vote, you are required to pay a $20 penalty. Forlive election coverage, click here. Originally published as Full list of SA polling booths, where to vote on election day 2025
