Dunstan by-election to replace former premier Steven Marshall to be held on March 23

About 27,000 voters in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs will go to the polls to replace former premier Steven Marshall in the state’s most marginal seat. Find out when.

About 27,000 voters in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs will go to the polls on March 23 to replace former premier Steven Marshall in the state’s most marginal seat.

Speaker Dan Cregan officially revealed the date on Thursday afternoon, after Mr Marshall formally resigned on Tuesday morning.

Mr Cregan, who defected from the Liberals to become an independent late in Mr Marshall’s government, consulted with the state electoral commissioner before the announcement.

March 23 had been considered the favourite in corridor speculation at state parliament this week.

Former premier Steven Marshall at Norwood Oval on Tuesday. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Potential poll dates in the inner-eastern Adelaide seat of Dunstan were complicated by the Adelaide Cup long weekend from March 9-11 and the First Nations Voice to Parliament election on March 16.

Adelaide hosts AFL Gather Round from April 4-7 and school holidays start on April 12.

The Liberals have worked in concert with Mr Marshall to calculate the by-election timing to coincide with the two-year anniversary of Malinauskas-led Labor deposing Mr Marshall’s government with a central promise to fix ambulance ramping.

Mr Marshall eschewed tradition by declining to give a valedictory address. Parliament resumed on Tuesday and he did not return, even to deliver his resignation.

Revealing his impending resignation to The Advertiser on Monday, Mr Marshall argued the by-election would be a referendum on the first two years of the Malinauskas government.
The Premier has said Mr Marshall deserved “the ability to be able to resign with dignity and grace”.

Mr Marshall outside his former Norwood electorate office. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Opposition Leader David Speirs on Tuesday said the legacy of Mr Marshall’s government would extend beyond the internationally significant success managing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Speirs highlighted Mr Marshall’s repositioning of the state economy to hone in on defence, space and cyber security, saying the centrepiece was him spearheading the creation of the Lot Fourteen precinct.

“I believe that history will be kind to the government of Steven Marshall and in particular, of the leadership provided to this state by Steven Marshall,” Mr Speirs said.