In recent days opinions polls have narrowed to show the Liberals under Steven Marshall with a 53 to 47 lead over Jay Weatherill’s Labor government.
However analysts say the result could be closer than the statistics suggest, with tight contests predicted in a swathe of marginal seats that could result in a hung parliament.
The election has been fought on jobs and the economy.
Labor claims Liberal policy costings, released less than 48 hours before the poll, point to significant job cuts and financial pain for low income families.
By contrast the Liberals say this week’s Bureau of Statistics figures putting South Australian unemployment at 6.7 per cent, the highest of the mainland states, show the state needs a new economic direction under fresh leadership.
The efforts of both parties are focused on 11 marginal seats in the Adelaide metropolitan area that are held by the ALP on margins of less than five per cent .
The Liberal Party needs to pick up six of these seats to govern in its own right.
In 2010. the ALP won 48 per cent of the state wide vote, but held office by retaining a handful of key seats.
The head of the school of history and politics at Adelaide University, Dr Clem Macintyre, says it could come down to a hung parliament, with neither side achieving an outright majority and having to rely on minor parties or independents to govern.
“We know from past experience that Labor is a very professional party in terms of marginal seat campaigns," he said. "The Liberal party needs six (seats) to form government in their own right."
"I think Labor is showing signs of some recovery there and it could genuinely come down to a handful of votes in a handful of seats that could decide whether we have a hung parliament or a majority Liberal government."
While Labor and Liberal capture the headlines in their battle for power in South Australia, a host of minor parties and independents are manoeuvrings in a bid to get a toe hold in the state’s parliament.
While most of the candidates for the major parties are white men, much more diversity is to be found amongst the smaller players, with African, Vietnamese and Aboriginal people in the mix.
However, it’s been a struggle for them to even run for election, following an electoral reform specifically designed to stop microparties from seeking office.
Following the success of microparties in last year’s Senate results, South Australia made nomination criteria much tougher, massively increasing the number of endorsement signatures and boosting nomination fees to $3000 for individuals and $6000 for parties.
Dr Joseph Masika, an independent candidate of Tanzanian background says there’s little doubt the established political parties are trying to prevent fresh voices being represented in Parliament.
“I know the major parties have put up a front to make sure that the same parties, same persons are in the parliament and whoever comes in as an independent won’t get a chance.”
Indigenous candidate John Browne claims the change is undemocratic.
“I think it’s discriminatory, I don’t think it’s giving Australians a fair go, and I don’t, I think both parties have made it so difficult that it’s almost bordering on something else besides liberty and democracy – something worse,” he said.
As part of his campaign Mr Browne is calling for a designated Aboriginal seat in state parliament, but the idea hasn’t found favour with either of the major parties.
