SA Election 2018: Weatherill, Marshall, Xenophon’s final pitches to voters — there was a heckler and even more bull

JAY Weatherill, Steven Marshall and Nick Xenophon have made their final election speeches. The Premier was interrupted by a protester, the Liberal leader didn’t say “vote Labor” this time and Mr X was toting a fake bull’s head for one more stunt.

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JAY Weatherill, Steven Marshall and Nick Xenophon have made their final speeches to sway undecided voters just hours before the polls open in the 2018 South Australian election. Mr Weatherill was heckled by a protester, Mr Marshall again ruled out a power-sharing deal, and Mr Xenophon had one more stunt up his sleeve.

JAY WEATHERILL

PREMIER Jay Weatherill’s final pitch for votes ahead of Saturday’s state election has been interrupted by a protester who was dragged away by security.

Mr Weatherill had returned to the West Beach home where he infamously took a televised swipe at Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg over energy policy a year ago.

His speech about the importance of power and jobs in this election campaign was interrupted by a protester questioning Labor’s position on drilling for oil in the Great Australian Bight.

The man, Tadhg Porter, came within a few metres of the Premier, standing right behind the assembled media camera crews.

“What will you be telling the people of Kangaroo Island when oil is washing up on their shores?” yelled Mr Porter, who said he was not there representing any other political party or organisation.

“Does your party have a position on this? What are you going to say?” He called as he was led away by the arm.

Protester Tadhg Porter is led away from Premier Jay Weatherill. Picture: David Mariuz/AAP

Oil exploration in the Great Australian Bight made a dramatic entry into the state election campaign on Thursday, as seismic testing for oil and gas could now occur within 90km of Kangaroo Island, in the knife-edge seat of Mawson.

Two Norwegian companies this week have lodged their latest plans with the independent national umpire for approval to test in a large area, the boundaries of which are 51km from land on Eyre Peninsula, 90km west of Kangaroo Island and 80km south-southwest of Port Lincoln.

Mr Weatherill would not say if Labor would prevent the testing going ahead.

He said it would ultimately be a federal government decision but state Labor would make “the strongest possible representations” about ensuring environmental protection.

“The science will make it very difficult for a project of this sort to be successful,” he said.

Mr Porter is the second protester to interrupt a press conference by Mr Weatherill during the election campaign.

Premier Jay Weatherill holds his final pre-election press conference at the same Henley Beach house where a year ago he lambasted federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg in front of the TV cameras. Picture: David Mariuz/AAP

About a week ago government critic Robert Brown was prevented from getting within 10 metres of the Premier’s press conference at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by his personal security officer.

Mr Weatherill stressed he does not make decisions about how officers charged with ensuring his safety respond.

Making his final pitch to voters, Mr Weatherill said jobs and the future of the energy sector were the most important issues for the state.

He said Liberal Leader Steven Marshall was only relying on an “its time” vote against a 16-year-old Labor Government and SA Best Leader Nick Xenophon was promising to “keep the bastards honest” but had in fact joined them in mainstream politics.

Mr Weatherill would not say how many seats he expected Labor to win after voting closed tomorrow but conceded he was not taking a win for granted.

“We’re concerned about every seat,” he said.

STEVEN MARSHALL

Shortly after Mr Weatherill made his final pitch, Mr Marshall appeared at an Unley mechanics shop calling for voters to back him for majority government. And there was no repeat of the infamous “vote Labor” moment of four years ago.

Mr Marshall again ruled out any deal with SA Best to form government, saying he would rule alone or not at all.

“We’ve got a big decision to make as a state,” he said. “Do we want to continue with more dysfunctional Labor government, or hit the reset button? I believe the people of SA deserve a government which is going to put them first.”

Liberal leader Steven Marshall makes his final pre-election pitch during a visit to Ultra Tune Unley. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

Mr Marshall said his plan for lower taxes would stimulate employment and he was confident of the Liberals’ chances.

“The Liberal Party is in the best position it has been for a very long period of time,” he said.

“We’ve got the policies, we’ve got the team, to get SA back on track.”

NICK XENOPHON

NICK Xenophon has been dogged by the Australian Hotels Association until the end of his state election campaign.

The SA Best leader made his final pitch to voters at the Newton shopping centre on Friday afternoon, but could not shake the hospitality lobby’s “No way Nick” moving billboards.

The well-known political stuntman held a fake bull’s head — which he said would be delivered to AHA chief executive Ian Horne to counter his negative advertising campaign.

Mr Xenophon’s plea for support was also given musical support from Screaming Jets frontman Dave Gleeson.

“I think it’s fair to say that most South Australians have had enough of this election campaign,” Mr Xenophon said.

“They’re sick of Labor and Liberal spin, they’ve had enough of the bull and what they want is a fresh chance to give SA Best an opportunity to fix the state’s problems.”

SA Best leader Nick Xenophon campaigning outside Newton Shopping Centre. Picture: David Mariuz/AAP

Mr Xenophon denied that a campaign that started with him touted as a potential premier and ended with SA Best not starting as favourite in a single seat had been a failure.

“The fact that major parties have pooled so many resources into what they considered safe Labor or Liberal seats that they’ve ignored for years and years indicates the campaign has been effective,” he said.

“The fact MPs in safe seats in Parliament have worked harder than they ever have before is a good sign that SA Best has been a very positive sign in terms of making the pollies work harder.”

But he declined to predict how many seats SA Best would win, or whether he would support Labor or the Liberals if he held the balance of power.