Issues clear in SA leaders' debate

The key issues in the South Australian election have come into sharp focus in the latest debate between the three political leaders.

SA politicians Jay Weatherill, Steven Marshall and Nick Xenepohon.

Jay Weatherill has told an SA election debate that his government has done "magnificent things". (AAP)

Energy prices, the brain drain and job creation have solidified as the key issues less than two weeks from the South Australian election, with the state's political leaders clashing on all three subjects in the latest debate.

Taking to a floating platform on Adelaide's River Torrens on Monday night, the trio were asked to share their vision for the state for the next 20 years.

Labor Premier Jay Weatherill talked about jobs, Liberal leader Steven Marshall talked about economic growth and SA-BEST leader Nick Xenophon about population decline, all topics where there was some level of agreement.

But it didn't take long before they clashed over the energy network, the state government's push for more renewables, power prices, the recent report into the Oakden scandal-plagued nursing home and the future of the Murray-Darling Basin agreement.

Mr Weatherill said his government had done "magnificent things", citing the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval and the construction of the world's largest lithium-ion battery.

"We're creating international attention for this state," he said. "We're creating a leadership position in renewable energy."

But Mr Marshall said South Australia had potential to do so much better and described this election as the "most important ever".

"In 12 days time, we can hit the reset button in this state," he said.

"If we're elected on March 17 we'll work every single day to improve the lot of every South Australian."

While Mr Xenophon said, for the first time ever, South Australian voters were being offered a genuine alternative from the political centre.

He said support for his party would ensure the next government was better focused on delivering outcomes for South Australia, ensuring the state had a parliament that was a workhorse, "not the rocking horse that it is now".

Mr Xenophon said it was time to end the cycle of the two major parties, simply "swapping the baton" every few years.

Monday's debate also came after the opening of early voting across SA with some pre-poll centres reporting long queues.

More than 90,000 people cast an early ballot in 2014 and that number is expected to increase this year meaning their decisions could be decisive in a number of key seats.


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world