Former Liberal premier Steven Marshall poised to win seat of Dunstan

Former Liberal leader Steven Marshall looks certain to win his eastern suburbs seat and stay in state parliament.

Former Liberal premier Steven Marshall will keep his seat of Dunstan in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs.

While counting only resumed late on Thursday, Mr Marshall had increased his lead over his Labor opponent Cressida O’Hanlon by 462 votes

Ms O’Hanlon’s campaign manager, former Labor attorney-general Michael Atkinson, said he was expecting Mr Marshall to win.

Mr Atkinson said the votes had been 55 per cent to 45 per cent in favour to Mr Marshall on Thursday.

“The postal and pre-polls are going so heavily to Steven Marshall that I cannot see Cressida bridging the gap on the absentee votes to be counted on Friday,” he said.

Former Liberal premier Steven Marshall. Picture: Tom Huntley

Labor candidate for Dunstan Cressida O'Hanlon.

Mr Atkinson said there had been 2790 formal votes counted by late on Thursday, of which 1534 were for Mr Marshall and 1256 were for Ms O’Hanlon.

Mr Marshall did not respond to a request from The Advertiser for comment.

Former Liberal education minister John Gardner has kept his northeastern seat of Morialta.

In the other three undecided seats, former Liberal education minister John Gardner (10,542) narrowly beat Labor opponent Matthew Marozzi (9810) in Morialta.

In Waite, Labor candidate Catherine Hutchesson was sitting on 53.3 per cent while Liberal candidate Alexander Hyde had 46.7 per cent.

With 2000 out of 3000 pre-poll votes counted on Thursday afternoon it seemed certain Ms Hutchesson would win.

Lou Nicholson

On the Fleurieu Peninsula, hopes were fading of independent candidate Lou Nicholson beating sitting Liberal MP and former primary industry minister David Basham.

By late Thursday, Ms Nicholson had failed take the second spot from Labor candidate Amy Hueppauff to beat Mr Basham on preferences.