Weatherill, Marshall, Xenophon in state election debate held by Women in Media SA

SOUTH Australia is “not doing enough” for its women and politics can be a “nasty space” for females, the state’s political leaders have conceded during a debate ahead of the state election.

Australian Conservatives MLC Rob Brokenshire, Greens MLC Mark Parnell, Premier Jay Weatherill, The Advertiser’s Tory Shepherd, Opposition Leader Stephen Marshall, and SA Best leader Nick Xenophon at the Women in Media forum. AAP/RUSSELL MILLARD

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• MORE ISSUES BELOW: Open ICAC hearing, domestic violence

SOUTH Australia is “not doing enough” for its women and politics can be a “nasty space” for females, the state’s political leaders have conceded during a debate ahead of the state election.

Premier Jay Weatherill, Opposition Leader Steven Marshall and SA Best Leader Nick Xenophon have faced off at a forum held tonight by the SA branch of Women in Media.

Mr Weatherill also named domestic violence as the “single biggest issue” halting women’s progress in the state.

Answering an audience question, Mr Weatherill revealed that he is “afraid that my two little girls will grow up and perhaps get involved in relationships that will constrain their options in the future”.

“An extraordinary number of women die at the hands of their partner, and so many more feel scared and afraid” he said.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said that elevating his deputy, Vickie Chapman, to the role of Deputy Premier would hugely progress women’s fortunes in SA.

SA Best Leader Nick Xenophon originally named the gender pay gap as the biggest obstacle for women, but agreed with Mr Weatherill that domestic violence was an immediate priority.

Mr Xenophon also suggested that Mr Weatherill would be open to compromise on ICAC secrecy if it needed support to form government.

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He confirmed that he would still require a commitment from Labor or the Liberals to allow some public hearings by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, as part of a deal to support either party to form government.

Mr Weatherill has steadfastly refused to ease restrictions which keep ICAC hearings secret.

He told the audience at the Women in Media SA debate that Mr Marshall would be “mad” to do a deal with Mr Xenophon to allow some maladministration hearings to be held publicly.

However, Mr Xenophon suggested he believed Labor could change it’s tune after polling day on March 17.

“It’s amazing that when a major party just needs a few votes, a few seats (in Parliament), to get across the line, how they’re prepared to be born again reformers on certain issues,” he said.

“Politics is the art of compromise. My door would be open if I’m in that position to both sides.”

ICAC boss Bruce Lander is due to release a public report into allegations of maladministration at the former Oakden nursing home before the election.

Mr Lander had asked for the power to hold the inquiry in public.

The opening question posed to all five men was whether South Australia’s political leaders were doing enough to progress the fortunes of women.

“No, we’re not doing enough,” Mr Weatherill said.

“If we’re not drawing on 50 per cent of the talent (in the population) then we’re impoverishing our community,” he said, adding that 38 per cent of Labor’s state MPs were female.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said many women told him they “don’t want to be running (for Parliament) because it is a very nasty space.

“That’s something we need to address,” he said.

Mr Xenophon flagged a radical idea to change the way Members of Parliament are elected to ensure more women were in contention.

The proposal, put to him by academics, would offer a male and female candidate for each party in each electorate.

“I thought it was quite an ingenious proposal. It would require a lot of work. I’m not saying I support it, but they’re the sorts of innovative solutions we should be considering,” he said.

The trio has come together twice before but their presence on public panels is only set to increase as we speed towards the March 17 state election.

This time they are joined at the Mercury Cinema in the CBD, by Greens MP Mark Parnell and the Australian Conservatives’ Robert Brokenshire.

Mr Weatherill, Mr Marshall and Mr Xenophon last faced each other at the SA Press Club on February 2.

Their first three-way debate was organised by Australian Medical Association of SA, on healthcare policy, in November.

They were due to meet again at a Property Council SA branch lunch on Friday, February 16, but Mr Weatherill has pulled out.

Domestic violence is biggest issue for women: Jay

DOMESTIC violence is the “single biggest issue” halting women’s progress in South Australia, Premier Jay Weatherill has declared.

Mr Weatherill has revealed that he is “afraid that my two little girls will grow up and perhaps get involved in relationships that will constrain their options in the future”.

Mr Weatherill was responding to questioning at a leaders debate ahead of next month’s election, organised by the SA branch of Women in Media.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said that elevating Vickie Chapman to the role of Deputy Premier would hugely progress women’s fortunes.

ICAC public hearings a possibility: Mr X

LABOR would be open to a compromise on ICAC secrecy if it needed support to form government, SA Best Leader Nick Xenophon has suggested.

Speaking at a leaders debate ahead of next month’s state election, Mr Xenophon said he would still require a commitment from Labor or the Liberals to allow some public hearings by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, as part of a deal to support either party to form government.

Labor Premier Jay Weatherill has steadfastly refused to ease restrictions which keep ICAC hearings secret.

He told the audience at the Women in Media SA debate that Liberal Leader Steven Marshall would be “mad” to do a deal with Mr Xenophon to allow some maladministration hearings to be held publicly.

But Mr Xenophon suggested Labor could change it’s tune after polling day on March 17.

“It’s amazing that when a major party just needs a few votes, a few seats (in Parliament), to get across the line, how they’re prepared to be born again reformers on certain issues,” he said.

Originally published as Weatherill, Marshall, Xenophon in state election debate held by Women in Media SA