The key seats in South Australia that could determine the federal election

South Australia’s federal election battle is again dominated by the state’s two most marginal seats as the major parties both claim Sturt and Boothby are too close to call.

South Australia’s federal election battle is again dominated by the state’s two most marginal seats as the major parties both claim Sturt and Boothby are too close to call.

Both electorates: Sturt — held by the Liberal’s James Stevens with a tiny 0.5 per cent margin — and Boothby — held by Labor’s Louise Miller-Frost with 3.3 per cent — have been showered with promises from getting trucks off main roads to funding sporting clubs.

The Liberals plan to splash $840m on the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass giving heavy vehicles an alternative route around the Adelaide Hills and funnelling trucks away from Portrush Road and Cross Roads.

Labor has its own $525m plan to make roads safer as it tries to wrestle Sturt’s leafy suburbs like Toorak Gardens and Beaumont, stretching through Norwood, Magill, Campbelltown, Dernancourt and Highbury, from Mr Stevens.

Nipping at his electoral heels are Labor’s Claire Clutterham, the Greens’ Katie McCusker and Teal Independent Dr Verity Cooper.

The last federal election win came down to around a 500 vote difference and it is believed the same tight race will happen on May 3.

SA Labor state secretary Aemon Bourke is saying “every vote counts at this election”.

The Liberal Party have thrown in one wildcard electorate to this predictable campaign as it focuses on the safe Labor seat of Spence in the northern suburbs.

SA candidates, from left. James Stevens, Nicolle Flint and Louise Miller-Frost. Pictures: News Corp

Armed with a plan to persuade disaffected young men to switch allegiances from Labor’s Matt Burnell with his 13 per cent margin, conservative Daniel Wild had been working the doors.

However, it would be a miracle win that is looking increasingly unlikely.

Both parties also have been telling a swathe of sporting clubs they will hand over new funding if they are elected in both seats.

The Labor Party also has focused on health and renewable power as it throws resources and high-profile MPs at stopping the Liberal’s Nicolle Flint from reclaiming Boothby.

When Ms Miller-Frost won Boothby in the last election, it was the first time the seat stretching from the coastal suburbs of Seacliff and Glenelg to Blackwood in the hills, left Liberal hands in 73 years.

Originally published as The key seats in South Australia that could determine the federal election