Source : Perth Now news
Leaders of South Australia’s Labor and Liberal parties exchanged fierce barbs in a key debate just days before the state heads to the polls.
Premier Peter Malinauskas and Liberal leader Ashton Hurn faced up to one another in a televised debate on Wednesday organised by Sky News and the Advertiser newspaper.
And as South Australians prepare to head to the polls on Saturday, fiery words were exchanged between the two leaders.
Ms Hurn, who became leader of the SA Libs in December, accused Mr Malinauskas of being “more interested in razzle dazzle” than the basic needs of South Australians.
Meanwhile, Mr Malinauskas questioned the stability of his opponent’s party, which he described as being “divided”.
The hour-long debate featured a host of topics, including cost of living, the housing market and economic policy.
On the cost of living, Mr Malinauskas said: “I find at a state level, the best policy is to be honest and say that I do not control the price of petrol or Weet-Bix.
“What I can do is make sure the conditions are there for the things we can control to improve demand, to improve custom and to improve living standards.”
Ms Hurn, however, accused Mr Malinauskas of having “lost sight” of basic issues while pursuing high-profile events such as the Moto GP.
“We have a premier that is blinded by the razzle dazzle, he likes rubbing shoulders with celebrities,” she said.
“But he has lost sight of the things that are truly important to South Australians. We have got to get these things right.
“People are worrying about being able to pay their power bills, they are worrying about public transport and the housing market.”
Mr Malinauskas, however, insisted that under his premiership South Australia was achieving unprecedented economic growth.
“People are not looking at the state in the same way as they did four years ago,” he said.
“South Australia has never been in a moment like the current one, with the fastest-growing economy in the country.”
Heading into Saturday’s election, Mr Malinauskas has reason to be confident, with the most recent YouGov poll predicting a landslide victory with 38 per cent of the primary vote.
The poll also predicts that One Nation, which was not represented in the debate, would secure 22 per cent of the primary vote, ahead of the Liberals (20 per cent).
In closing, Mr Malinauskas said: “This election offers the choice of a united, stable, centrist Labor government, that is moving South Australia at pace.”
Mr Hurn said: “If we are elected we will be unashamedly focused on getting the important things right. We will be cutting the bulls**t and getting back to the bread and butter things South Australian’s are talking to me about each day.”
