SA election attracts big field

An arrogant government and an insipid opposition have prompted a big field of
candidates to stand for the upper house at South Australia's March 20 election, an
independent MP says.

David Winderlich, who previously sat in the Legislative Council as an Australian
Democrat but last year quit the party to go solo, said there would be enough
candidates to "fill a tablecloth".
When nominations closed on Friday, there were 74 candidates listed for the upper
house, 20 more than at the last election.
"And that is because the community is in revolt against an arrogant government and
an insipid opposition," Mr Winderlich said.
In the SA House of Assembly, the electoral commission said, there were more than 230
candidates contesting the 47 lower house seats.
The Labor government currently holds 28 seats and the Liberals 14 with four
independents and one in the hands of the Nationals.
If Labor loses five seats, it could lose its majority, depending on the fate of the
independents, while the Liberals need to pick up 10 seats to govern in their own
right.
Latest polling has the opposition gaining ground in key marginals although the swing
may not be as uniform as the opposition would like.
A new poll in the seat of Newland, in Adelaide's northeast, suggests former federal
MP Trish Draper is not attracting enough votes to topple sitting ALP MP Tom Kenyon.
The News Ltd poll of more than 500 voters had Labor still ahead 53 per cent to 47
per cent on a two-party basis.
But more interestingly is also had Premier Mike Rann and Opposition Leader Isobel
Redmond level on the question of who would be the better premier.
Policy announcements were thin on the ground on Friday although the Liberals did
promise to give all new apprentices $500 each towards the cost of purchasing tools.
Ms Redmond said it was critical to encourage young people into apprenticeships if
the government was to create a competitive business environment.
"We will do this by offering practical assistance to ensure SA has an appropriately
skilled workforce," she said.
She put the cost of the initiative at $12 million over four years.
The opposition leader was also challenged by Nationals leader and Riverland MP
Karlene Maywald to a debate on rural issues.
After debating Mr Rann in Adelaide this week, Ms Redmond suggested a second debate
either in the Riverland or at Port Augusta in a town hall setting.
Ms Maywald said she was happy to take on Ms Redmond, or anyone else, and suggested
they come to her next town hall gathering in Berri next Wednesday.