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SA poll 'neck-and-neck'

South Australia's state election seems set to go down to the wire, withthe two major parties neck-and-neck heading into the final week ofcampaigning.

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Source: AAP


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South Australia's state election seems set to go down to the wire, with the two major parties neck-and-neck heading into the final week of campaigning.

A new poll suggests that when voters cast their ballots on Saturday, the support of independents may be needed to form a government.

The Galaxy Poll commissioned by Adelaide's Sunday Mail newspaper found the Liberals ahead on the primary vote, with 42 per cent, compared with 36 per cent for Premier Mike Rann's Labor Party.

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Swing to the Liberals

On a two-party preferred basis, the Liberals lead 51 per cent to 49 per cent.

This represents a swing of 7.8 per cent to the Liberals since the 2006 election.

On the last weekend of campaigning, Mr Rann said he had always acknowledged the election would be hard-fought.

"People have a choice of moving forward with Labor and serious, costed policies or going back with the Liberals with their history of privatisations and significant cuts to public service delivery," he said.

Liberal leader Isobel Redmond said she was glad the polls suggested "people are listening to our message".

Election 'major exam'

Asked if she was quietly excited, Ms Redmond said: "It's like going up for a major exam - I'm still working towards that major exam and that's on Saturday."

She said she had so far not had any discussions with independents about forming a government.

The swing suggested in the Galaxy Poll would deliver the Liberal Party seven Labor seats if it played out across the state.

The ALP currently holds 28 of the 47 seats in the House of Assembly.

If it loses five seats, Labor will lose its majority and will have to rely on the support of minor parties to retain government.

Independents key

The Liberals currently have 14 seats and need to win 10 more to form a majority government.

However, if they win five extra seats they could govern with support from the independents.

Both parties continued to throw the money around on Sunday, with Mr Rann announcing a $394 million expansion of the Adelaide Convention Centre and Ms Redmond promising to give self-funded retirees an extra $100 a year to pay rising utility costs.

When asked about the total cost of her election promises so far, Ms Redmond said she did not have that figure in her head.

She said the figures had just been sent to a national accounting firm and would be made available to the media and the public in coming days.

"I've looked at the document," she told journalists in suburban Adelaide on Sunday.

Redmond in front

"I'm satisfied that when I read it it all appeared in order, but it's not a figure I think is necessary for me to carry around in my head."

The Galaxy Poll also found that 49 per cent of the 800 voters surveyed thought Ms Redmond would make the better premier.

Only 42 per cent backed Mr Rann, who was seen by his critics as being arrogant and `more talk than action'. Ms Redmond was perceived as more truthful.


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