Nick Xenophon launching new South Australian party called SA Best
NICK Xenophon launches a new SA political party today called SA Best, promising a genuine third alternative at the 2018 election. Vote in our poll
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NICK Xenophon will launch a new South Australian political party on Sunday called SA Best, promising to provide a genuine third alternative at the 2018 state election.
The launch is the first step in a national rebranding exercise that is likely to lead to the Nick Xenophon Team becoming Nick Xenophon’s Australia Best at a federal level.
“For the first time ever, in South Australia, there will be a genuine three-way contest,” Senator Xenophon told the Sunday Mail.
“There will be a genuine, credible alternative to the major parties. Forming SA Best is putting the out-of-touch political elites on notice that their age of entitlement is well and truly over.
“We want to bring out the best in people, the best in our institutions and do the best for our state.”
The party will use the slogan Forget the rest, vote SA Best.
The March election will be the first time that Senator Xenophon has run candidates in a Lower House election in South Australia.
SA Best is unlikely to field candidates in all 47 Lower House seats, but Senator Xenophon expects to make a considerable impact on both the Liberal and Labor parties — buoyed by the results of last year’s federal election.
The party will start calling for potential candidates today through a new website, sa-best.com.au.
The Nick Xenophon Team won three SA Senate seats and the Lower House seat of Mayo, won by Rebekha Sharkie, in last year’s federal election.
The party also had a strong showing in the regional federal electorates of Grey, where NXT secured 27.8 per cent of the primary vote, and Barker, with 29.1 per cent.
If this popularity was to continue in these regions, SA Best could snare seats in the state electorates of Mt Gambier, Mackillop, Hammond, Chaffey, Finnis, Heysen, Kavel, Flinders and Giles.
Senator Xenophon has made it clear he will target Labor seats as well, potentially bringing Elizabeth, Colton and Kaurna into play.
Senator Xenophon, who moved from SA’s Legislative Council to the federal Senate in 2008, will tell supporters a focus on the state election is because South Australia “is in desperate need of good government”.
“Given the massive support we have had in the past, we’re within striking distance of actually winning many state seats,” a letter that will be sent to party faithful today reads. “And, by doing so, shake up the SA parliament to be a true workhorse for the people of SA.”
Flinders University political analyst Haydon Manning said minor parties looked likely to play a major role in the state election.
“Voters are no longer as rusted on as before,” he said. “They are looking for parties that offer an alternative.”
Senator Xenophon said he would finetune policy positions over the next 12 months with candidates, but the party would focus on:
REDUCING spiralling power costs.
INCREASING rehabilitation services for methamphetamine users.
OVERHAULING state parliamentary practices.
IMPROVING health services.
Other policy positions would include specialist manufacturing, a mandatory $1 betting limit on pokies, and a skilled migration and population growth strategy.
Senator Xenophon said SA Best would operate under a branch structure, where members could meet to discuss important local issues as well as propose local candidates.
Financial members of the Nick Xenophon Team will become foundation members of SA Best without having to pay an additional fee.