Pictures of Peter Malinauskas’ shirtless physique prompt Steven Marshall to quip he’s swearing off carbs

Premier Steven Marshall has joked he might be quitting carbs in response to opposition leader Peter Malinauskas getting topless and firing up the internet.

Labor leader Peter Malinauskas at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre where he announced plans to redevelop the site if Labor wins the March election. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Premier Steven Marshall joked he would cut out carbs after a shirtless photo of opposition leader Peter Malinauskas circulated social media at the weekend.

Mr Marshall told ABC Radio Adelaide on Monday Mr Malinauskas had clearly been going to the gym after viewing the photo which emerged when the Labor leader took a dip at Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

“Look it’s great when people look after themselves and stay healthy but he’s clearly got a bit more time on his hands than I have,” Mr Marshall said.

He said he would not be taking his shirt off in his election campaigning, labelling the move as a “Putin-style” form of propaganda in reference to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Labor leader Peter Malinauskas at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre with the ALP candidate for Adelaide, Lucy Hood. Picture Tom Koutsantonis/ Twitter

“There’s no Putin-style campaigning from me I can guarantee, I’m just focused on the key issues of South Australia … but yes I did have to hang my head in shame when that photo went up,” he said.

“I thought to myself this morning, right, that’s it, no more carbs.”

Appearing alongside Labor’s candidate for Adelaide, Lucy Hood, at a media call, the Opposition Leader stripped down to his swimmers for a quick dip on Saturday.

But when the photos circulated, it wasn’t his policies that got tongues wagging.

Sunday Mail and Advertiser reporter and columnist Matt Gilbertson wrote:

With chiselled abs and pumped-up arms, Mali is certainly giving new meaning to the term “hard Labor” in the run-up to this year’s election on March 19. The more cynical among us might suggest that posing topless five week’s out from an election is less-than-subtle way of luring the more fickle of voters – but we would never be that cruel.”

The article prompted a mixed reaction in the comments section with many seeing the lighter side but others accusing The Advertiser of sexism and double standards.

“Why is this article OK! We would all be horrified if the article focused on the ‘rig’ of a female politician. For years women have been talking about double standards – I agree, I am a woman. But there are double standards that negatively affect men too. We will not get rid of sexism until we consciously eradicate it toward both women and men,” Tania posted.

“And if the Advertiser ran a survey about how hot a female member of parliament was that would be OK? Hypocrites,” Jon added.

In response to the public backlash Gilbertson defended his story, saying he had received multiple messages claiming he would not have written the story had it involved a female politician.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is well known for his topless photos. Picture: AFP

“If this were as woman who invited the media to a photo call in a bikini and she was ripped like a body builder … Yes there would be a public reaction. Would I have written it different? Yes. But that’s because I think women have had the treatment we gave Mali over the weekend for years. So I am happy to swing the pendulum back the other way slightly,” Gilbertson said.

“I think the bigger issue is female representation in SA Politics. The fact that we’ve never had a female premier and only ONE female leader should be more of a worry than anything I wrote.”

He said the article was written as “a bit of fun”

“Frankly we, and I think most people including the Labor party, had fun with the photos over the weekend and after the last two years we should celebrate a bit of fun when the opportunities present themselves. They are rare!”

Mr Malinauskas denied the strip was a pre-planned as a political stunt.

“We all jumped in the pool, everyone was there, along with so many other families using the facility, and I just can’t believe that you’re talking about this,” he told ABC Radio’s David Bevan on Monday morning.