Premier’s blunt message for rebel MP Nick McBride after Liberal MPs meet for crisis talks

As the state’s Liberals are engulfed by infighting, Premier Steven Marshall confirmed he has held private discussions with rebel MP Nick McBride.

Premier Steven Marshall says backbencher Nick McBride’s constituents elected a Liberal and would expect him to remain one.

Mr Marshall said he had this week spoken to Mr McBride, who is considering quitting the party, but “I’m not going to go into private conversations”.

“I think that they elected a Liberal and I think that they expect that to continue,” he said.

Mr Marshall also said Mr McBride was “very passionate about his electorate”.

His comments come after two Liberal MPs met with Mr Marshall for crisis talks over the potential defection of backbencher Mr McBride.

It is understood Mr Marshall and other Liberals will over the coming days try to convince Mr McBride to abandon any plans to become an independent MP – a move which could hurt their chances at the next state election.

Asked if he was concerned that infighting within the party could cost the Liberals the election next year, Mr Marshall said his focus was on dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and economy.

The Premier also spoke about the controversial party room meeting last week that prompted Mr McBride to consider defecting.

“We don’t repeat what goes on in the party room,” he said.

“But I think that there is generally some frustration with many MPs, Labor, Liberal, crossbench, about issues associated with the (Covid-19 travel) exemptions process ... (we are) genuinely trying to work through these issues as quickly as we possibly can”.

MacKillop MP Nick McBride. Picture: Tom Huntley

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Sources have confirmed Mr McBride, who has represented the southeast electorate of MacKillop since 2018, is considering quitting the Liberal Party and is consulting his community over the move.

He has given himself a two-week deadline to make the decision.

The Advertiser understands Liberal MPs Dan Cregan and Steve Murray met with Mr Marshall behind closed doors on Tuesday to discuss how to convince Mr McBride to remain in the party.

If Mr McBride defected it would plunge the state government deeper into minority, further crippling its ability to pass legislation that did not have bipartisan support.

It would leave the government with 22 seats to Labor’s 19 going into the election, and also open up the real possibility of a hung parliament.

A spokeswoman for Mr Marshall said the Premier regularly met with colleagues but would not divulge what was discussed.

Mr Cregan and Mr Murray declined to comment on the meeting.

Sources said Mr McBride’s shock decision to re-evaluate his future as a Liberal came after he received a terse response from Mr Marshall when he asked questions during a party room meeting last week.

His queries related to what resources were being put towards bringing home South Australians stranded interstate due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A source said Mr Marshall “gave Nick and his community the middle finger and it’s no surprise that Nick is angry about that”.

Kavel MP Dan Cregan.

Davenport MP Steve Murray

Mr McBride remained tight-lipped about the situation on Tuesday, saying he noted “speculation in the media that I am considering becoming an independent”.

“I do not wish to make any further comment at this stage, other than to indicate that I will continue to engage with my constituents to ascertain their opinions on a variety of matters," he said.

Liberal MP Tim Whetstone, who said he was sitting next to Mr McBride during the party meeting, defended Mr Marshall’s handling of his colleague’s queries.

Mr Whetstone said members were invited to ask questions about vaccinations and restrictions.

“Nick asked a number of questions and then strayed to border issues (and) the Premier stated that’s not part of this conversation,” he said.

“Nick then raced off to a colleague to talk.”

Mr Whetstone said Mr Marshall “did not insinuate the middle finger”.

“Maybe Nick is used to getting everything he wants,” he said.

“Nick as always came well briefed and he had a number of very positive suggestions,” he said.

Mr Wade denied the party was in turmoil, and said a lot of members were receiving calls from constituents regarding exemptions.

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said the saga begged the question ‘what sort of leader is Steven Marshall’?

“If you take away the fact that Grant Stevens and Nicola Spurrier are doing a good job running the state at the moment, Steven Marshall himself is presiding over a scandal-plagued government that is increasingly becoming a basket case,” he said.