SA election 2018: South Australian Liberals and Steven Marshall have best week in years

WITH a little help from some friends, a dose of positivity and an all-consuming aged-care scandal, the state Liberals have had one of their best weeks in years — at a crucial time.

• Exclusive polls: Xenophon candidates neck-and-neck in major parties’ heartland seats
• Ex PM John Howard says voters waking up to Nick Xenophon
• SA Liberals propose national Aboriginal gallery at old RAH
• State Election 2018: All our state political coverage

WITH a little help from some friends, a dose of positivity and an all-consuming aged-care scandal, the state Liberals have had one of their best weeks in years — at a crucial time.

It started when the state’s most senior Liberal, federal minister Christopher Pyne, hit the phones early in the week, zealously backgrounding journalists across the state gallery.

Former PM John Howard and current SA Opposition Leader Steven Marshall walk along the River Torrens River on Thursday. Picture: AAP/Mike Burton

FIVEaa’s Leon Byner revealed the extent of Mr Pyne’s activity in a tweet on Tuesday — he even highlighted inconsistencies in Nick Xenophon’s ice rehab policy.

Chris pine sent me a message that nick x has announced mandatory ice addiction rehab but voted against commonwealth welfare drug trial testing in the senate.

— Leon Byner (@LeonByner5AA) February 27, 2018

But Mr Pyne and his Liberal acolytes had particular success pushing the Liberal narrative about exclusive Advertiser -Galaxy polls released at noon on Mad Monday.

Mr Xenophon’s candidate was in striking distance in the Liberal stronghold of Heysen but, with some validity, the Liberals sold this result as showing Mr Xenophon’s support was waning because he was not ahead in the seat and his ratings had slipped since an extraordinary pre-Christmas statewide Newspoll.

This message was amplified yesterday by the Liberals’ most canny political operative, former prime minister John Howard.

By having the master campaign with his apprentice, Opposition Leader Steven Marshall, the Liberals were able to emphasise a stark contrast with the chaos of Labor’s Oakden scandal with the man who presided over Australia’s last stable federal government.

Importantly, Mr Marshall on Tuesday unveiled plans for an indigenous art gallery at the Old Royal Adelaide Hospital site, aiming to make Adelaide stand out as a must-see and unique destination for visitors.

Given Labor has failed to settle on a plan for this prime 7ha CBD site for more than a decade, this demonstrated positive action rather than just carping at the government.

With a critical fortnight remaining until the March 17 election, the question remains for Mr Marshall — can he sustain this momentum until polling day?