Labor leader Peter Malinauskas pictured standing on the polling booth exclusion line

First, the Premier was pictured illegally lobbying for votes. Now the Libs have hit back with their own photo of the Labor leader – but this is a lineball call.

Has Labor leader Peter Malinauskas stepped over the line?

On Monday, Labor produced photographs showing Premier Steven Marshall caught in a six-metre exclusion zone around the doors of a polling booth, a spot that’s meant to be free of lobbying.

Today it’s Mr Malinauskas’ turn, caught by a Liberal snapper, lobbying while standing on the exclusion zone boundary line of the Modbury pre-poll voting booth on Saturday afternoon.

The zone – enshrined in law – is designed to make sure voters get some breathing space from pestering campaign workers thrusting how-to-vote cards and also protect the hundreds of completed ballot papers inside.

The foot position may not be the end of the umpire’s deliberations, as Mr Malinauskas is clearly talking to someone holding a baby well within the 6m zone.

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas standing on a line marking the six-metre exclusion zone at a polling booth. Picture: Liberal Party

But the Electoral Act fails to clarify if a foot on the line is a breach. The electoral commissioner, who will judge on any complaint, may have to consult the third umpires of the sporting world.

Depending on the sport, it’s a lineball decision.

If Mr Malinauskas were bowling or batting in cricket with part of his foot behind the line as he does in the photograph, he would be fine.

But if touching the boundary line with ball in hand while fielding, the decision would go against him.

It is fortunate Mr Malinauskas is an AFL fan and not NRL or rugby union. In AFL, his foot on the boundary line would be fine providing the ball was in, but in league or union – out.

If he were playing netball and throwing in with a foot on the line the decision would go against him, but he would be ruled “onside” with a foot on the line during play.

Premier Steven Marshall stands within six metres of a polling booth in Colonel Light Gardens on Saturday, talking to an unidentified man. Picture: ALP.

In tennis the slow-motion Hawk-Eye replay would call his shot “in” if the ball touched the line. But a foot-fault would be called if he were serving with his foot touching the baseline.

After Labor started the 6m boundary dispute earlier in the week, the state government was not appreciating the lighter side of the debate.

“This is another embarrassing and hypocritical example of Peter Malinauskas crying wolf in a desperate attempt to avoid explaining to South Australians how they will pay for the Labor Party’s $3b election spending frenzy,” a spokesman said.

“Peter Malinauskas obviously has nothing better to do than make petty complaints about where people stand.”

Mr Malinauskas has been asked for comment.

An apparently able-bodied Greens campaigner in a disabled parking spot. The party could not confirm if he has a disabled sticker for himself or to transport a relative. Picture; supplied.

Meanwhile in another photo obtained by The Advertiser, an apparently able-bodied Greens volunteer has been photographed in a disabled park loading a car.

A Greens spokeswoman said the party could not say if he had a disabled sticker or not, which is the official measure of disability for parking purposes.