Daniel Wills: SA Liberals allowing popular politics to influence their policies

POLLS more than principle seem to have begun setting policy in the Liberal Party room, as it moves for the second time in almost as many weeks to shut down talk of new jobs and industry

POLLS more than principle seem to have begun setting policy in the Liberal Party room, as it moves for the second time in almost as many weeks to shut down talk of new jobs and industry.

As the next state election begins to comes into view on the horizon, the Opposition is rightly being forced into taking firm positions on issues, rather than being simple commentators.

Earlier this month, Opposition Leader Steven Marshall pulled bipartisan support for any further discussion of establishing a nuclear industry in SA after a critical citizens’ jury.

On Tuesday, he promised a 10-year ban on gas fracking in the South East, responding to local unrest.

On both issues, one would expect the Liberals to be strong supporters. In its 2036 manifesto released earlier this year, the Liberals promised to be a party focused on “cutting red tape and unnecessary regulation that inhibit growth, allowing businesses to create more jobs”.

Instead, they have felt the political winds of the moment and been blown along with them.

Controversial sectors of potential new growth have been sidelined for short-term popularity.

Fracking is a highly emotive issue in the South East, and a ripe one on which independents could threaten several seats currently held by Liberal.

That’s the guiding principle here.

On nuclear, the Liberals are concerned about spending more wasted money on a pipe dream, but also saw the public mood turn and a potentially popular point of difference with Labor.

There is only one way to be the government, that’s winning seats to get a majority in the House.

The Liberals haven’t done that for 15 years, and are now taking populist stands to change that. However, it’s exactly that opportunism the Liberals have loudly claimed as Labor’s great crime.