SA Liberals hire former state director Geoff Greene to review disastrous campaign

The embattled SA Liberals have drafted in a former state chief to review its disastrous campaign as leaders urge the party to “do better”.

The embattled South Australian Liberals have drafted in a former state chief to review its disastrous campaigning over the past 10 years as leaders urged the party to “do better” after the Black by-election thrashing.

Labor’s Alex Dighton, 46, will on Tuesday be officially crowned the southern suburbs electorate’s newest politician after recording an almost 13 per cent swing off the Liberals.

Premier Peter Malinauskas with Labor Black winner Alex Dighton at the Boatshed Cafe, Hallett Cove. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Liberal candidate Amanda Wilson on election day at Woodend Primary School, Sheidow Park with opposition leader Vincent Tarzia. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Mr Dighton, a father-of-two and former Sacred Heart College deputy principal of Hallett Cove, will win with a 10 per cent margin over Liberal opponent, Holdfast Bay mayor and mother of three Amanda Wilson, 53, of Glenelg East, which is located outside the electorate.

The massive swing, which has shaken many Liberals who fear an election wipe-out at the 2026 general poll, occurred after former MP, David Speirs, quit parliament amid a drug supply charge.

Geoff Greene will review the SA Liberal election strategies. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Party headquarters have hired former state director Geoff Greene to lead a review into the Black result, two other by-elections since the 2022 election – Bragg and Dunstan – as well as other poll losses including 2014 to help fix “systemic” campaign failures.

Mr Greene, who declined to comment on Monday, resigned as SA state director in 2016 to co-ordinate the re-election of current federal opposition leader Peter Dutton in Brisbane.

He will review election material and interview key personnel before handing his review to the party’s state executive board in the New Year.

In a note to Liberal members at the weekend announcing the review, new state president, Leah Blyth, gave a frank assessment of the party’s fortunes.

She wrote: “The events surrounding this by-election were difficult and historically unprecedented. It was always going to be a tough fight

“The circumstances surrounding David’s exit from politics no doubt caused damage to the Liberal brand and, unfortunately, that showed in the result.

“We know there’s only one way forward and that is to be better. We need to be united, focused, and disciplined, and we need to do more to connect with voters right across the state.”

Dunstan Candidate Dr Anna Finizio and Opposition leader David Speirs on polling day. Picture: Instagram

Premier Peter Malinauskas and Labor MP for Dunstan Cressida O'Hanlon touring Norwood after she won the Dunstan by-election. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Bragg candidates Alice Rolls, (pink jacket) and Jack Batty (white shirt) with wife Charlotte,(long grey coat) at the Glenunga High School on 2 July 2022. Picture Dean Martin

Senior party leaders are privately scathing at Mr Speirs, 39, over his conduct before he quit as Liberal leader and are also critical of poor local Liberal recognition.

Dr Anna Finizio, 38, Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia’s senior adviser, is expected to renominate for Liberal preselection in Dunstan after narrowly losing March’s by-election following former Premier Steven Marshall quitting parliament.

She lost to Cressida O’Hanlon, 51, by 360 votes despite winning almost 2450 more primary ballots after Greens preferences swept Labor’s candidate to an unprecedented victory.

Former Liberal staffer Jack Batty, 34, won the Bragg by-election in 2022 over Labor’s Alice Rolls, 45, after former deputy leader and Attorney-General Vickie Chapman, 67, quit politics.