For the past six decades, South Australian politics has been characterised by long periods of Labor domination interrupted by short-lived Liberal governments. Since a record 32 uninterrupted years in office came to an end in 1965, the Liberal Party has spent a mere 17.5 years in government. Now, as they go to the election on March 21, the Liberals face yet another term (and probably several more) in opposition.
Led by Peter Malinauskas, Labor enjoys extraordinary levels of popular support. Solid, if unspectacular economic progress, combined with the aggressive pursuit of popular sporting events (AFL Gather Round, LIV golf, MotoGP) has left Labor in a seemingly impregnable position on the eve of the election.
And, as has been the case for much of the past 60 years, the Liberal Party’s ongoing internal divisions provide a sharp contrast with the professionalism of Labor. This in turn has rendered the Liberals an ineffective opposition and made the government’s task easier.
