SA election 2018: South Australian political leaders to face scrutiny in Advertiser/Sky News people’s forum
ONE hundred undecided voters will question the state’s political leaders and declare a winner at the final campaign debate, less than 60 hours before the polls open on a critical election day.
SA 2018
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ONE hundred undecided voters will question the state’s political leaders and declare a winner at the final campaign debate, less than 60 hours before the polls open for the critical election day.
The Advertiser/Sky News People’s Forum, to be held next Wednesday night, will be the final chance for election pitches from Premier Jay Weatherill, Opposition Leader Steven Marshall and SA Best leader Nick Xenophon to be judged in a debate, ahead of polling day on March 17.
Award-winning Sky News political editor David Speers will moderate the one-hour forum, to be held at Elizabeth’s Central District Football Club.
The leaders will take questions from 100 undecided voters, selected by polling firm Galaxy to ensure a broad cross-section of the South Australian population.
The debate will be screened live on Advertiser.com.au and Sky News from 7.30pm next Wednesday.
The Advertiser’s editor Matt Deighton said: “This is a prime opportunity for the political parties to make their final pitch to voters – to really show who has earned the right to govern our state.
“The volatility around this election is almost unprecedented. This is their chance to explain to a cross-section of our community, beyond all the smoke and mirrors, why they have the best policies and vision to lead South Australia.”
Speers said: “This has already been a fascinating campaign and, as it comes to a close, I’m looking forward to seeing how the three leaders go in this forum.
“Facing off against each other and a room full of undecided voters isn’t easy. We’ll see Weatherill, Marshall and Xenophon taken off script and into the areas voters are really concerned about.”
Mr Weatherill was declared the winner of the 2014 People’s Forum, held in the campaign’s penultimate week, creating critical momentum for an election in which Mr Marshall had been favourite to seize his job.
In that debate at the West Adelaide Football Club, 38 of the 100 undecided voters backed Mr Weatherill as the victor, 28 opted for Mr Marshall and 34 remained undecided.
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