They could be decisive for the result along with six independents who would help one of the major parties to form a government if the result is a dependent parliament.
SA Premier Steven Marshall and SA Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas during a leadership debate at the South Australia Press Club in Adelaide on 10 March 2022. Credit: AAP
Recent opinion polls have put Labor in a commanding position and while the opposition needs just two per cent momentum to gather the required five seats, it remains unclear whether it will get to the right places, a series of marginal seats of government.
Throughout the campaign, Mr Malinauskas focused strongly on health, promising to spend large sums to fix a sick system, plagued by ambulance ramps and congested hospitals.
But this has allowed Mr Marshall to launch a sustained attack on Labor’s major spending promises, warning of higher taxes and costs if the opposition wins.
If the government falls, it will be the first in Australia to suffer such a fate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To vote on Saturday in his safe seat in Croydon, Mr Malinauskas said Labor had outlined a positive plan for the future.
“Today South Australians face a clear choice. My fresh and united Labor team or a tired and divided Liberal Party,” he said.
Mr Marshall will also be elected in his eastern suburbs seat of Dunstan.
He said the election would go all out to those who trusted South Australians to give them security.
“Changing government now risks our economic recovery and will cost us time and money,” he said.
The mood continues until 6pm with special COVID-19 measures in place across the state 690 polling stations, with social distance enforced and everyone having to wear a mask.
Each booth will also have a hygiene officer to ensure that polling stations are regularly disinfected.
All staff working at the polling station have been fully vaccinated.
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