Malcolm Turnbull has wooed the South Australian business fraternity with the promise of jobs, tax breaks and transport funding.
With independent senator Nick Xenophon and his new political team breathing down the neck of key coalition candidates, the prime minister took the opportunity to tell a business conference of his government's achievements in the state while taking another crack at Labor's tax policy.
Mr Turnbull cited defence jobs created by planned naval shipbuilding projects, while assisting new start-up companies with tax initiatives, legislation for which will introduced into parliament next week.
Every lever of government was pulling in the direction of supporting the economic growth of the state, he told the Business SA Back to Business summit.
But he again took aim at Labor's planned tax changes, particularly for negative gearing and the capital gains tax.
"They will substantially reduce the rewards for investment," Mr Turnbull said.
But shadow treasurer Chris Bowen hit back, saying the prime minister can keep peddling the same lies, "but that doesn't make them suddenly true".
He said Labor's policy on negative gearing will not affect any active business investment assets, which includes Australians investing in their own small businesses and offsetting losses against their wage and salary income.
During his tour of SA this week, Mr Turnbull announced fast-tracking a major upgrade of the east-west national rail network between Adelaide and Tarcoola that will allow heavier loads to be moved more quickly.
Labor frontbencher Penny Wong wasn't about to criticise a decision that supports jobs in her home state.
But it was a bit belated given the government's approach to the automotive sector and "fudged words" about shipbuilding promises, she said.
"The steel industry will need more than ... one decision," Senator Wong told Sky News.
