Both Premier Steven Marshall and Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas have joined more than a million South Australians in voting today.
There have been long lines at polling booths this morning, with social distancing measures limiting how many people can vote at once.
Voting in Woodville Gardens, Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said he was hopeful that Labor would win today’s election.
“I’m confident that my team and I have done all the work that we can to put an alternate vision forward for South Australians in the post-pandemic era,” he said.
“I’m confident that I’ll lead a united and fresh team that’s hungry to do good for the people of our state.”
A female constituent confronted Mr Malinauskas about comments he allegedly made to a group of Young Liberals last week, calling them “girls” when they fell behind while crashing his weekly parkrun.
The woman said his comment was regrettable but she would still vote for him.
“I really respect you — I’m voting for health,” she said.
“I see your beautiful wife there — you must regret those comments about girls — that was silly.”
Mr Malinauskas said it was “a quip I’m kicking myself about”.
Another man inside the booth thanked Mr Malinauskas for helping him and then the voter had to pull his shorts back up after they fell around his feet.
Premier focusing on economic record
Today’s Newspoll has Labor leading the government 54–46 in its interpretation of the likely two-party preferred vote.
However, the Premier said he could still win, likening his opponent to former federal opposition leader Bill Shorten, who was favoured to win in 2019.
“I’m very confident that the people of South Australia will vote in their own interests and have a continuing Liberal government in South Australia,” Mr Marshall said.
“They can’t be fooled.
“They remember what happened under Labor.
“They won’t forget Oakden, they won’t forget the child protection crisis in South Australia, the closure of the Repat, the sky-high energy prices, the statewide blackouts — that’s what Labor delivered after 16 years.”
Mr Marshall said things were “moving in the right direction” in terms of the economy and reducing the cost of living.
“There’s only one risk to that — it’s a change in government today,” he said.
“That will put a massive handbrake on our economy here in South Australia.”