Senior Liberals caution Premier Steven Marshall to curb his partying and claimed arrogance

A campaign to undermine Steven Marshall has led to an old video of the Premier being circulated – after senior Liberals warned him over late-night partying and “arrogance”.

Senior Liberals have opened a new personal front to criticise Steven Marshall, urging him to curb late-night functions and a perceived growing arrogance fuelled by high public approval for his pandemic performance.

Respected party elders spoken to by The Advertiser on Thursday cautioned the Premier was developing an “I can’t do anything wrong” attitude and an increased unwillingness to listen, exacerbated by being surrounded by people afraid to challenge him.

They insisted his leadership was iron-clad, praising his economic and health management during the pandemic, and declaring there would be no change before the March 2022 state election.

But senior Liberals said there was a level of concern about late-night functions attended by the Premier, saying some of this socialising might not be a good look and risked overloading him.

But the source has no evidence of inappropriate behaviour.

In mud-slinging on Friday, an anonymous email purportedly from “Concerned Liberals” was forwarded to SA newsrooms containing a short video of the Premier at a Jonas Brothers party. A link in the email suggests the event was held in mid-2019.

Responding to the video, Mr Marshall, who holds portfolios including the Arts, Tourism and Multicultural Affairs, said he could not recall when it was recorded.

“It looks like it was a very long time ago because I had a lot more hair, and I looked a little bit thinner but yeah, I don’t even remember how long ago that was,” he said on Friday.

“Last time I looked, socialising wasn’t illegal and when it becomes illegal, well, I hope I’m in parliament so I could stop that piece of legislation.”

TELL US BELOW: What do you think of the Premier’s conduct?

Premier Steven Marshall at Modbury Hospital. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The critics insisted their concerns were unrelated to Labor parliamentary attacks on the Premier for attending an event in the Barossa on Saturday, the day after The Advertiser revealed Kavel MP Dan Cregan would quit the Liberals for the crossbench.

Mr Cregan became Speaker in a Tuesday midnight coup.

The senior Liberals, who spoke to The Advertiser on the condition of anonymity, said the internal party issues that spurred the Labor and crossbench-backed ousting of former Liberal Speaker Josh Teague for Mr Cregan had been brewing for some time and the coup was not concocted over the weekend.

Asked to respond, a spokesman for Mr Marshall said, “The Premier has been focused on not only protecting South Australians from the health threat of Covid-19 but also working extremely hard on the state’s nation-leading economic rebound from the pandemic.

“He is determined to engage with the state’s arts, tourism and business sectors and continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them during these challenging times,” the statement says.

“The Premier is energised and passionate about the opportunities ahead as our state further enhances its standing as the best place in the nation to live, work and raise a family.”

Premier Steven Marshall and former Adelaide Crows player Mark Ricciuto are seen enjoying a beer during a media opportunity at the Alma Hotel in June last year. Picture: David Mariuz

Mr Marshall has won widespread plaudits from business and community leaders for his zealous networking, often after business hours.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison in May praised his upbeat and cheery persona, likening him to a quokka, and declaring that is “why South Australians trust Steven Marshall so much”.

But one senior Liberal said Mr Marshall’s strong personal approval ratings in internal polling had insulated him from political reality.

Another said there was a growing belief in the party Mr Marshall was not accepting challenging feedback and would be hampered by the ­retirement at March’s election of Treasurer Rob Lucas, with whom the Premier meets every Sunday morning for counsel. “There’s a developing view of hubris – code for arrogance. It’s on display both in cabinet and in the party room,” one senior Liberal figure said.

“He’s the manager, rather than the leader. There’s a huge difference if you choose to go into politics.”

But another senior Liberal rejected conservative faction accusations the Cregan coup had been triggered by Mr Marshall’s management style or insufficient right-wingers in the ministry. The senior Liberal listed Stephan Knoll, Sam Duluk, Troy Bell, Fraser Ellis, Terry Stephens and Adrian Pederick as variously having left the ministry, party room or parliamentary positions because of various scandals.

SA Treasurer Rob Lucas and Premier Steven Marshall. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Mr Cregan had been blackballed from the ministry by the Right

after a factional fallout, the source said, and a Right factional figure had told Mr Marshall that Morphett MP Stephen Patterson should be promoted instead.

“So how is Marshall at fault for the fact that their great offerings to the party either can’t stay out of trouble or fall out with their own faction?” the source said.

In a turbulent political week, Labor has been grilling Mr Marshall over a Saturday trip to the Barossa Contemporary event, which promoted the region’s food, wine and art. Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas on Wednesday in parliament accused the Premier of neglecting the stability of government and having his mind occupied on a “Barossa wine festival, attending dinners at $390 a head popping into a dance party called Transcendence”.

Mr Marshall defended his support for the new Barossa event, saying he sat next to prominent winemaker Charles Melton.

“There were a range of people there but the barbs and political attacks from those opposite just serve to demonstrate to every single person in this state how petty, pathetic and unfit for office they really are,” Mr Marshall told parliament on Tuesday.