Former prime minister John Howard’s advice for Premier Steven Marshall

PREMIER Steven Marshall’s mentor John Howard is declaring the state’s new leader “his own man”, who will move stop the drain of young people interstate by creating more business opportunities.

Former prime minister John Howard with new premier Steven Marshall during the election campaign. Picture: AAP / Mike Burton

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PREMIER Steven Marshall’s mentor John Howard is declaring the state’s new leader “his own man”, who will move to stop the drain of young people interstate by creating more business opportunities.

In an exclusive post-election interview with The Advertiser, Mr Howard said Mr Marshall had a detailed plan to boost the economy, listing measures including axing payroll tax for small business.

Mr Howard, who’s counselled Mr Marshall since the aftermath of his 2014 state election loss, said the Premier’s family business background and policy preparation helped equip him for the challenge ahead.

“You’ve got to generate more business opportunity. You’ve got to generate sufficient business opportunities to stop the flow of, particularly, younger people out of the state to other parts of Australia,” Mr Howard said.

“It’s one of the big challenges the state’s got. The best way of doing that is just to lift the incentives for businesses, small and medium-sized businesses, so there’s more critical mass and people will find opportunities at home.”

Mr Howard said there was no simple solution, other than creating a more conducive business climate.

“It’s a very pleasant place to live. I don’t know why you’d want to leave Adelaide to go and live in other parts of Australia,” he said.

“The housing is not as expensive as many other parts of Australia. But it’s just jobs, particularly in the service sector, are not as plentiful in South Australia as they are in other parts of the country.”

State Liberal Party president and former premier John Olsen told The Advertiser Mr Marshall would be focused on repairing SA’s interstate reputation, which former premier Jay Weatherill conceded had suffered after the statewide blackout in September, 2016.

“Steven is a very proud South Australian and I think he will want to ensure that the standing of South Australia in the eyes of the rest of Australia is enhanced,” Mr Olsen said.

“He’ll want to encourage that pride and self-belief in South Australians, that we can and will achieve.”

“ ... My observation of Steven Marshall is he’s his own man. He’s very clear on what needs to be done and what he wants to do to rebuild South Australia’s economic base, job prospects and population.”

Senior SA federal Liberal and Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, to whom Labor has suggested Mr Marshall is beholden, said the Premier would be focused, disciplined and “like a laser beam trained on the SA economy”.

“Every policy will be about driving jobs and investment. I can’t wait to work with him on the defence industry because he gets the role of the state, the Commonwealth and the industry,” Mr Pyne said.