SA Liberals install Ashton Hurn as opposition leader, replacing Vincent Tarzia

Ashton Hurn has taken the poisoned chalice that is the SA Liberal Party leadership with 100 days until the state election. Here’s how she intends to make inroads on Peter Malinauskas.

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Newly installed Liberal leader Ashton Hurn is vowing to axe the Voice to Parliament, place affordable electricity over net zero emissions and deliver a plan to cut state debt of almost $50bn.

In an interview with The Advertiser after being elected unopposed on Monday morning, Ms Hurn said she wanted to personally deliver a plan to reduce the “spiralling and spiralling” debt, surging to $48.495bn, as one of her core policy focuses.

Ms Hurn said her net zero position would not be identical to federal Liberals, because South Australia had no coal-fired power stations and renewable energy was dominant, but said electricity “affordability” would be her party’s prime focus.

In a “clarification” of the Liberal position on the state Voice to Parliament, she declared this would be repealed because “the people of South Australia made their voice really known on this issue” at the 2023 national referendum.

Asked if her policy agenda would be substantially different to Vincent Tarzia, who quit as leader on Friday, Ms Hurn said the Liberals had “announced some good policies” but would be “unveiling a whole range” before next March’s state election.

Ashton Hurn arrives at the South Australian Liberal Party meeting to select a new leader after the resignation of Vincent Tarzia as leader. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“When there is a fresh leader you’re going to have a fresh approach, and so I’ll be reviewing all of the policies with my team once I’ve got the shadow cabinet assembled, which I’ll be looking to do in the coming days,” she told The Advertiser.

Asked if the Liberals needed to outline more clearly how they would pay for their policy to axe stamp duty, announced by Mr Tarzia in early November, Ms Hurn said: “Of course.

“I think that we need to make the choice as clear as possible for the people of South Australia and that’s what I intend to do.”

Ms Hurn, 34, is a first-term MP for Schubert, centred on the Barossa Valley, where her family has farmed near Angaston for more than 170 years.

The Liberals’ third leader since her former boss, Steven Marshall, lost government at the 2022 state election, Ms Hurn used her first comments as leader, at Parliament House, to declare her party had “an absolute mountain to climb between now and next March”.

She then staged her first press conference as leader at the same Norwood park chosen by Premier Peter Malinauskas to claim victory in a March, 2024 by-election in Dunstan – Mr Marshall’s former seat.

She accused Mr Malinauskas of believing he had the election already in the bag and argued the Liberals would put forward a choice on core issues of living costs, health and law and order.

Ashton Hurn with son Rupert. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“Our key focus areas will be on making sure that we’ve got an affordable South Australia with lower costs, of course, that versus higher costs and more waste under the Labor government,” she said.

“Making sure that people know that we’ve got a better health system for patients and for staff versus record ramping and hospitals under extreme pressure.

“And also making sure that they know that we’ve got safer suburbs, stronger communities or more crime and no consequences.”

Ms Hurn did not rule out axing Sam Telfer as shadow treasurer in favour of fellow conservative Ben Hood, saying she would discuss shadow cabinet spots with “all of my colleagues”.

Ms Hurn also echoed Mr Malinauskas’s video before the 2022 election by introducing herself by saying: “I’m a mum. I’m a daughter of a farmer, I’m a public school educated person, the first in my family to go to uni. Love, love my sport and love to roll up my sleeves and get things done.”

Ms Hurn thanked Mr Tarzia for his “dedication and his service over the last 16 months as being leader”.

“He’s done a fantastic job and we thank him sincerely for his service,” she said.

Asked if she wanted Mr Tarzia in her shadow cabinet, Ms Hurn said: “Vincent’s got a lot to offer.”

In turn, Mr Tarzia joined Liberal leadership predecessors David Speirs and Steven Marshall in endorsing Ms Hurn.

Speaking ahead of the Old Parliament House party room meeting that installed her, Mr Tarzia said: “I’m feeling fantastic and I’m going to wish Ashton all the very best as the next leader of the party.”

Vincent Tarzia arrives at the meeting. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Mr Marshall, the former premier for whom Ms Hurn worked as a media and policy adviser, endorsed her leadership in a statement to The Advertiser.

“Ashton is an outstanding talent. She’s highly intelligent, grounded and focused on what is important for South Australians,” he said.

“She started with me in the Norwood Electorate Office. The late Dean Jaensch recommended her. She stayed with me through Opposition and Government.

“There is no one like Ashton. She’s the real deal.”

Mr Speirs, also a convicted drug supplier, said Ms Hurn had “potential to put a good team around her and reset the party”.

Ms Hurn said she had spoken with Mr Speirs “from time to time over the last little while” and he had texted her to offer “some encouragement”.

Mr Speirs, who continued to refuse to reveal whether he would make a political comeback as an independent in the southwestern Adelaide seat of Black, said he had a “huge amount of time” for Ms Hurn.

“She’s intelligent, polished in terms of media performance and very good at building relationships,” Mr Speirs told FIVEAA.

Mr Speirs continued to refuse to rule out a comeback to politics, even after he was convicted of two counts of supplying cocaine and fined $9000 in April.

He said he would take time to “reflect” over Christmas with family and assess whether he would stand as an independent at next year’s election.

“I’m going to continue to find ways to contribute to the community,” Mr Speirs said.

“I feel I’ve got a calling of sorts with that regard.”

Originally published as SA Liberals install Ashton Hurn as opposition leader, replacing Vincent Tarzia