A look at the key characters for the 2018 state election

IT’S one year out from the 2018 state election and Labor is looking for a record breaking fifth consecutive election victory. Craig Cook looks at the political cast of 2018 that will head to the election with hopes high in their hearts.

The Labor Government will keep power for 20 years if it wins next year.

• DEBATE: Leaders square over SA’s power crisis
• INDUSTRY: Leaders reveal their policy wishlist
• POLL: Jay’s still to blame for SA power crisis
• MARSHALL PLAN: Liberal leader reveals his solutions
• DANIEL WILLS: Libs should quit politics if they can’t win in 2018

IT’S one year out from the 2018 state election and Labor is looking for a record breaking fifth consecutive election victory.

A win would stretch their time in power out to 20 years — from 2002 to 2022. At the 2014 election, Jay Weatherill, had only been Premier for two-and-a-half years and opponent Steven Marshall was regarded as a ‘whippersnapper’ having been in the Liberal leadership role for 13 months and only in Parliament four years.

While the polls were always close, there was a strong swell of feeling the Liberals were certain winners.

There were even rumours some prominent cabinet ministers, convinced they would not be returning to their offices, had booked long holidays.

It all got very confusing with a hung parliament — with 23 seats for Labor and 22 for the Liberals — but when independent Geoff Brock sided with Labour Jay Weatherill formed government and continued as Premier.

So, with redistribution in electoral boundaries and Labour facing a crisis in Power can the Liberals finally turn votes into seats and grab a dramatic win?

We look at the political cast of 2018 that will head to election-day on March 18 with hopes high in their hearts.

But with public opinion of politicians riding at an lowest it’s time to check out some of the cartoon alter-egos of the major players because at least cartoon characters are much loved and can always be taken seriously.

LABOR

Jay Weatherill as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde — The premier has made Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic come to life before our very eyes in his first full term in charge. Initially, mild mannered with an amiable and reassuring personality he has increasingly transformed into someone far more unpredictable in mood with the capacity to change in an instant.

Who would have imagined the civil and considered Premier of 2013 beating up big on the big boys from Federal politics.

In Stevenson’s dark and troubled tale, Mr Hyde grows increasingly in power until there is little remnant of his alter-ego Jekyll.

Whether it will be the gas-powered, angry, street brawling Weatherill all the way to March 2018 or the more refined and dignified statesman will be the most fascinating aspect of the next year.

Peter Malinauskas as George Jetson — The man who jettisoned Mike Rann as Premier with a shoulder tap is perfectly cast as tomorrow’s man from the age of space. Just like George, ‘Mally’ is a family man and has had to deal with a couple of intense bosses over time.

George has the short in stature and in temper Cosmo G. Spacely in his life while, PM — interesting initials — has the ‘Godfather’ Don Farrell and House Speaker Michael Atkinson. Both are big fans though and ‘Atko’ even departed his seat to enable Malinauskas to make the move to the lower house. Win lose or draw the election, chances are ‘Mally’ is on a rocket ship to the Labor leadership.

Jack Snelling as Bob the Builder — Can he fix it … not so far? The handover of the new $2.3 billion Royal Adelaide Hospital might have been completed but there are many potential banana skins to slip up on between here and the Hospital being up and running — supposedly before election day.

History of the project is not on Jack’s side. Just like Bob, Jack has severe problems with computers — especially the $500 million Enterprise Patient Administration System (EPAS) that many have renamed “Confusing, Ridiculous, Alarming, Perilous.” or just plain (CRAP).

Each Bob the Builder show emphasises conflict resolution, co-operation, socialisation and learning skills but Jack’s had all on living up to that plot line with the RAH players often off to Court to settle problems.

Susan Close as Velma (from Scooby Doo) — Kevin Foley’s replacement in the safe Labor seat of Port Adelaide is not Education Minister for nothing.

Just like Velma (a NASA research scientist) she’s well qualified in the cerebral department and with a completed PhD is entitled to be titled ‘Dr Close’ — or just ‘Brains”.

Like Thelma she’s forever losing her glasses — she’s rarely seen with them on — and is never too afraid — even when other ‘Scooby Doos’ are quaking around her to volunteer for a dangerous mission.

Representing the Port she needs some serious maritime skills to sail through stormy waters although managing to lose the toxic ‘Families SA’ portfolio in the latest Department reshuffle was her smartest tack of all.

Tom Koutsantonis as The Energizer Bunny — Faster than a speeding bullet, it would have been easy to portray “Turbo Tom” as Speed Racer, sitting at the wheel of his Mach 5 as one of the track’s hot stars but if Labor still has the power to win the Treasurer’s energy levels are going to have to put to good use.

Tom’s the man with a plan for SA’s energy crisis, apparently, but if truth be told there is no-one in parliament who is better suited as a pink toy rabbit wearing sunglasses and blue and black striped sandals, beating his own drum.

The bad news is that several U.S. presidential candidates have been compared to the Bunny, including President George H.W. Bush in 1992 who lost to Bill Clinton and Howard Dean in 2004 — who lost to everyone.

LIBERALS

Steven S. Marshall as Wile E. Coyote — The Liberal leader has been chasing his prey of the Premiership for four years but it remains infuriatingly just beyond his grasp.

He’s tried the tactic of being the Invisible Man and critics have labelled him Mr Jelly for showing little policy courage.

But, initially dismissed as a political novice who was not wily enough to combat Labor’s election winning machine, there are firm signs he’s finding stride.

Perhaps the man who has thrived under the mentorship of Astro Boy (Rob Lucas) is finally ready to become the Road Runner and as a blue-ribbon well-heeled Liberal he’ll have no trouble repeating the Road Runner’s triumphant signature sound on election night of a “popping-cork” tongue noise.

Vickie Chapman as Lucy Van Pelt (from Peanuts): Twice Deputy Dawg for the Liberals during the many years in exile, just like Lucy, VC has often been characterised by rivals as the villain of the piece.

On Charlie Brown’s baseball team, Lucy plays right field, who, when temporarily kicked off the team, turns to heckling from the sidelines. Bossy, opinionated girls aren’t always appreciated in carton or political life but Chapman, while she can be antagonistic is a smart player with well-crafted survival skills.

Any similarities to LVV as vainglorious are wildly wide of the mark although perhaps there’s more than one reason Chapman is the member for Bragg?

Rob Lucas as Astro Boy — It might be considered unusual to call ‘The Father of the Parliament’ by a mighty seven years a ‘Boy’, but no-one better fits the bill than the energetic Rob Lucas.

Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore), a robotic child with seven powers including superstrength, X-ray vision and the ability to fly was built by a brilliant scientist and it’s hard not to consider Lucas must have been built in a lab.

The Libs Six Million Dollar Bionic Man is irrepressible and apparently politically indestructible. If the man who was State Treasurer a mere 20 years ago returns to a cabinet post it should be to fulfil Astro Boy’s brief to learn what being human is all about — and to report the news to his parliamentary colleagues.

NB: Is it pure coincidence, George Jetson (Peter Malinauskas) has a dog named Astro.

David Pisoni as Foghorn Leghorn — “A large, anthropomorphic white adult rooster with a stereotypically Southern (Unley) accent, a “good ol’ boy” speaking style, and a penchant for mischief.”

But we’re not sure what the definition of ‘Foghorn Leghorn’ is? David Pisoni raised his profile considerably before the last state election with mention in a memo of a Labor cabinet member’s heightened fundraising potential every time she wore her leather skirt.

We stand by for his attention-seeking gaffe this time. The obvious other cartoon characteristic of Pisoni, was Mr Potato Head.

But that was quickly dismissed because overall — he’s no spud — and has been a highly competent contributor to the Libs cause.

Stephan Knoll as Bart Simpson — As the young scallywag of the Simpson household ten-year-old Bart’s most prominent and popular character traits are his mischievousness, rebelliousness and disrespect for authority.

There could be no better example of Knoll’s propensity for a “bit of fun” than signing up for extramarital affairs website Ashley Madison as — a joke. But then the youth are prone to an ‘odd’ mistake.

The former President of the SA Young Liberal Movement, also known as Google Boy, is hardly out of short pants but he’s already been given the kiss of death as a future liberal leader and possible Premier. Expect him to grow up in a hurry if the Libs blow another “unlosable” state election.