Turnbull wields fighting spirit in SA

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has vowed to fight to protect Australia from his Labor opponent's "spendometer on steroids".

File image of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

File image of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Source: AAP

After a brief martial arts lesson from Adelaide karate kids Malcolm Turnbull vowed to fight the good fight against Labor's "spendometer on steroids".

The prime minister sharpened his attack on his main rival Bill Shorten on Saturday, declaring a return to a Labor government would mean a war on business.

The first casualties would be jobs, he said.

"Shortenomics is very short on economics," Mr Turnbull about 400 Liberal Party faithful rally at Adelaide Oval.

"Billion Dollar Bill is running his spendometer on steroids, making spending promises he can't pay for and will never deliver."

He warned the consequences for not re-electing the coalition government would be a return to chaos.

Labor was not the only opponent in the firing line. He also hit out at the danger of voting for Nick Xenophon, minor parties and independents, saying it was a step closer to Bill Shorten and the Greens running Australia.

Now was not the time for a protest vote, he argued. People had to act wisely to prevent the chaos of a hung parliament.

At the heart of his election pitch to South Australians was a $24 million scholarship program to help make the state the hub of the "ideas boom".

Under the plan 1200 youngsters keen to study science, innovation and engineering will be eligible for $20,000 scholarships to kickstart their careers in defence manufacturing.

The move will help develop SA's brightest scientific brains to build the nation's $50 billion new submarine fleet.

Construction on the first sub will start in 2022, creating 2800 jobs.

Mr Turnbull earlier took his election campaign to Paradise to rally support for Innovation Minister Christopher Pyne in his seat of Sturt.

Mr Pyne is warding off a political challenge from Senator Xenophon's team.

Mr Turnbull announced a $5 million federal contribution towards a project to redevelop the Campbelltown Oval and club rooms.

The local council will match the cash.

The revamp will allow the local karate club to expand its student numbers and move out of the old Scout building it has outgrown.

Assistant instructor Travis Baverstock told AAP the sport was more than just about fighting.

It provided youngsters with life skills, increased confidence, stranger-danger awareness and self-discipline, he said.

His daughter Danika, 8, loves doing karate and learning new moves.

She posed for a photo with Mr Turnbull, and some of her classmates, showing off their fight stance.

"I thought (his stance) was pretty good but he should have kept his guard up," she told AAP demonstrating the proper technique.


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Source: AAP



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