The Liberal Party has expanded its leadership in the state by-elections for Bragg’s electorate in South Australia.
Key points:
- Liberal Jack Batty has defeated Labor’s Alice Rolls, but the seat that was once safe is now considered marginal
- By-elections were triggered by the resignation of former Bragg member Vickie Chapman
- Liberal leader David Speirs said the opposition had had “a nose with blood”.
The counting of pre-vote and mail votes today has led to Jack Batty’s lead rising to 53.4% on a two-party preferred basis.
Labor’s Alice Rolls is at 46.6 percent.
Mr. Batty won the win over the weekend.
Opposition leader David Speirs said he was relieved that the Liberal Party had retained the seat, mainly because many voters would have considered it an unnecessary election.
Former Bragg member Vickie Chapman announced she would resign the same day Speirs became leader.
“No doubt the Liberal Party has had a bit of a nose in these by-elections,” Speirs said this morning.
“This is what often happens in by-elections, especially unnecessary ones, and the good people at Bragg would have considered this to be a rather unnecessary by-election.”
He said the result should not be extrapolated to South Australia as a whole.
“I don’t think we can take a partial election result, triggered right after an election, after the departure of a long-term incumbent, as a reading of voters’ views on the Liberal Party at this time, ”he said .
Bragg’s Labor candidate Alice Rolls with cards on how to vote on by-election day. (ABC News: Evelyn Manfield)
Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas said it was “a very strong result for Labor”.
“It’s a substantial change for us, so I still find it hard to calculate that Bragg is now officially a sideline,” he said.
“Alice Rolls is an excellent South Australian who is a smart and highly accomplished woman who is committed to her local community and campaigned very well.”
He noted that Labor won the Burnside and Linden Park stands.
“I think any political expert knows very well that this is unheard of, at the very least,” he said.
The next state election will be held in March 2026.
Posted 1 hour 1 hour ago, Monday, July 4, 2022 at 8:40 AM, updated 1 hour, 1 hour ago, Monday, July 4, 2022 at 8:43 AM