Nick Xenophon seeking to spearhead a political revolution through his bid for state election
INDEPENDENT federal powerbroker Nick Xenophon will seek to spearhead a revolution in public accountability and transparency through his unprecedented bid for a state lower house seat. Can he do it - VOTE NOW
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INDEPENDENT federal powerbroker Nick Xenophon will seek to spearhead a revolution in public accountability and transparency through his unprecedented bid for a state lower house seat at next March’s SA election.
In a bombshell announcement that upends state politics, Senator Xenophon yesterday revealed he would leave the Senate within weeks to contest the eastern Adelaide seat of Hartley, his long-time home.
Unveiling the first seven of a likely 20 SA Best candidates exclusively to The Advertiser, Senator Xenophon declared his fledgling party’s aim was to secure the balance of power and force more openness and accountability in areas including government spending, freedom of information and anti-corruption laws.
Critically, he ruled out that he or his candidates would accept ministries and refused to say which party he would back in a hung parliament.
“Whatever way you look at it, our state desperately needs a complete political overhaul,” he said.
But Senator Xenophon’s bid to force the major parties to rely on SA Best’s support to form government was eroded by Liberal leader Steven Marshall immediately ruling out any deal, although Labor left the prospect open.
Senator Xenophon is seeking to capitalise on extraordinary opinion poll ratings — SA Best has consistently attracted primary support of almost a quarter of South Australian voters — to win several lower house seats and create a historically significant third political movement.
It is understood a statewide Galaxy poll taken last month, commissioned by the Australian Bankers’ Association, shows SA Best at 26 per cent primary support.
That is one point behind Labor’s 27 per cent, with the Liberals at 31 per cent.
Asked by The Advertiser if his ambition extended to becoming Premier, Senator Xenophon said: “People are getting ahead of themselves. I think we need to aim to win the balance of power.”
Senator Xenophon revealed his shock decision yesterday morning to quit federal politics just days before a High Court hearing into his eligibility to remain in the Senate because of a foreign citizenship issue. He read from a lengthy prepared statement declaring the trigger for his planned switch had been the statewide power blackout in September last year, and high electricity prices.
“I’ve decided that you can’t fix South Australia’s problems in Canberra without first fixing our broken political system back home,” he said, at a press conference near Colonel Light’s statue on Montefiore Hill.
“Our state politics is broken, politically bankrupt.
“We have the same old soap opera script between Labor and Liberal, but little real policy debate, let alone solutions for the state’s many troubles.
“South Australian politics has been reduced to a triumph of low expectations — where just keeping the lights on over the next summer will be presented by the government as a major achievement to be lauded and applauded.
“It’s embarrassing ... We need deep and lasting reforms to put an end to the shallow political games our self-proclaimed leaders like to play, and get South Australia back on the right path.
“The fact is Labor has been taking us down the wrong path, and the Liberals want to take us to a dead end.”
Senator Xenophon vowed the SA public would know his party’s kingmaker criteria when going to the polls, saying a final decision would depend on seats won by all parties, policies and campaign conduct.
He signalled he would quit politics if he did not win Hartley, declaring his candidacy was going to be “a do or die effort”.
If he is not ejected from the Senate by a High Court ruling, Senator Xenophon will resign and likely be replaced by December by his senior adviser Rex Patrick, who is a former submariner and defence writer.
Senator Xenophon intends to remain as leader of both SA Best and the federal Nick Xenophon Team, posing both logistical and political challenges.
Opposition Leader Steven Marshall yesterday repeatedly ruled out forming a coalition government with Senator Xenophon.
“We’ve already ruled that out,” he said.
“We do not want to form a coalition after the next election.”
Premier Jay Weatherill did not respond to Senator Xenophon’s announcement.
But Environment Minister Ian Hunter, speaking on Labor’s behalf, rejected Senator Xenophon’s accusations that the government was underperforming.
“I think really, you’re seeing [Senator Xenophon] exploit an opportunity that’s arisen because of Steven Marshall’s weak leadership,” he said.
All but one of the first seven SA Best candidates are in Liberal or traditionally Liberal-held electorates.
But SA Best party strategists are vowing to contest an even mix of major party seats. Predicting Labor and the Liberals would throw everything at him and his team to prevent “their cosy duopoly breaking up”, Senator Xenophon warned he would consider both major parties’ policies and their conduct during the campaign if he was in a kingmaker position after the election.
“I expect plenty of dirty tricks,” he said.
“Plenty of mud will be thrown, probably the kitchen sink as well.”
Senator Xenophon conceded he had not applied sufficient rigour when selecting candidates in the past.
One-time running mate Ann Bressington in 2007 branded him a typical politician and a chameleon after a bitter split.
But Senator Xenophon said fellow Senator Stirling Griff had now overseen an extensive vetting process.