The new Liberal MPs who helped their party win government

THEY’RE the fresh faces who stole back territory to cement a new Liberal Government. Meet the five newbie MPs who took seats back from Labor or independents.

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THEY’RE the fresh faces who stole back territory to cement a new Liberal Government.

Five newbies have joined the Liberal ranks by taking back seats from Labor or independent candidates.

Former Paralympian Matt Cowdrey won the beachside battle in Colton, left vulnerable as long-serving Labor MP Paul Caica retired.

“Like in swimming, like in anything in life, you put in what you can and the people make a decision. It’s about the work that’s done behind the scenes,” he said.

Mr Cowdrey listed restoring longer opening hours at the Henley Beach police station and combating coastal erosion at West Beach and Glenelg North as immediate priorities for him.

In the inner-southern suburbs, it was second time lucky for Liberal candidate Carolyn Habib, who won a rematch with Labor incumbent Annabel Digance in Elder.

After enduring a controversial campaign attack from Labor in 2014, Ms Habib said there was “an opportunity to really raise the bar”.

Opposition leader Steven Marshall with Matt Cowdrey at Fulham Gardens Primary School. Picture: AAP / Tracey Nearmy

Carolyn Habib won the seat of Elder at her second attempt. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

“People really opened up and shared honestly about what they wanted from their government and their local MP,” she said.

Holdfast Bay Mayor Stephen Patterson managed to pinch the bayside seat of Morphett back from Duncan McFetridge.

A former Liberal, Dr McFetridge ran as an independent after losing a bitter preselection battle to Mr Patterson.

The new MP said securing extra funds to start an upgrade of Glenelg jetty would be “great for SA and (the) tourism (industry) as a whole”.

Medical research scientist Richard Harvey proved too competitive for former Labor minister Tom Kenyon in the state’s most marginal seat of Newland, in the north.

Tea Tree Gully councillor Paula Luethen appeared likely to edge out her Labor opponent Julie Duncan in the newly drawn seat of King, also in the northern suburbs.