Political fight for seat of Dunstan, held by former Premier Steven Marshall, intensifies ahead of landmark ‘community forum’
Labor’s fight to take the state’s most marginal seat has intensified ahead of a landmark forum in the former Premier’s electorate. Vote in our poll.
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Labor’s political fight to unseat Steven Marshall from the state’s most marginal seat has intensified as the state government prepares to host a landmark resident forum in the former Premier’s electorate.
Premier Peter Malinuaskas, and senior ministers, will headline the first Adelaide-based “community forum”, at Payneham, in Mr Marshall’s Dunstan seat, early next month.
As speculation rages about Mr Marshall’s parliamentary future, Department of Premier and Cabinet information reveals the forum is open to residents, or workers, in 24 suburbs in the east and northeast suburbs.
All 20 Dunstan suburbs are included, along with two in Hartley, held by Liberal Vincent Tarzia and the same number in Opposition MP Jack Batty’s Bragg seat.
Senior government sources say it is a “targeted ploy to reach” Dunstan voters before “things get ugly” in the health system amid fears of more record ambulance ramping and winter hospital pressure that was “going to be bad and the political fallout catastrophic”.
“This is a clear line in the sand for the impending battle,” one Labor official said.
“The Premier is trying to carry over the goodwill of Gather Round with The Parade featuring.”
Deputy Premier Susan Close, Health Minister Chris Picton – to help fend off what sources described as ramping question “bullets” – and Planning Minister Nick Champion will also attend.
Mr Marshall, whose Liberal administration lost government after one term, is expected to quit as an MP before the 2026 state election. Speculation rages he may resign within months, which would trigger a by-election.
He holds the seat, which covers inner east and north-east suburbs such as Norwood, Kensington and St Peters, with a margin of 0.5 per cent after he beat Labor’s Cressida O’Hanlon by 260 votes at last year’s election.
Liberal colleagues say a loyal Mr Marshall is “happy where he is right now and the biggest advantage the … party holds is that it controls the timing”.
It is believed he will leave after taking advice on any timing and the party’s “best interests” from Liberal leadership including Opposition Leader David Speirs and state director Alex May.
Government sources said setting a “positive narrative” now “is more crucial than the by-election itself”.
Despite Labor having promised before last year’s election to “fix the ramping crisis”, SA Health figures show the worst month on record in March.
Ms O’Hanlon, who is expected to attend the forum and will likely fight for Labor at any pending by-election, has sent residents letters on health including the new Women’s and Children’s hospital due in 2031.
“There is huge concern that if the by-election announcement drags, we’ll be fighting Dunstan and ramping with one arm tied behind our backs and a blindfold on,” another government source said.
“There’s a lot riding on this result and to be honest, we believe it’s ours to lose.
“We need the people of Dunstan to forget what the word ramping means. It’s a tall order and something I suspect won’t wash well.”
Former Liberal staffer Dr Anna Finizio, who now works for global accounting firm PWC, is frontrunner to be the Liberal’s candidate to replace Mr Marshall.
An Opposition spokesman said “Labor’s inauthentic tactics aren’t fooling anyone”.
“Desperate Labor is using every trick in the book to distract the people of Dunstan from Peter Malinauskas’ failure to fix ramping and address the cost of living crisis while so many … struggle to make ends meet,” he said.
“Local member Steven Marshall continues to work hard for his community, as he has done for the past decade.”
In response to questions, the premier’s spokesman lashed out at what he condemned as “reprehensible” false briefings on what was claimed to be “fictitious hospital modelling” from “our opponents”.
“Most of the claims attributed (to) anonymous sources are utterly false, entirely contradictory and dreamt up in the heads of Liberals, who are desperate to cover for their lack of interest in representing the interests of the people in Adelaide’s east,” he said.
He said “this government listens”, including at street corner meetings, while Labor reinstated Country Cabinet meetings, which the Liberals abolished.
“In a similar vein, this eastern suburbs forum will allow residents to speak directly to ministers in areas of local interest, be it the new ambulance station at Norwood, or issues regarding the environment, heritage and planning,” he said.
“We look forward to more such meetings across the state.”
Mr Marshall, 55, declined to comment. Ms O’Hanlon, 50, who owns a dispute mediation company with husband James, 49, did not return calls.
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Originally published as Political fight for seat of Dunstan, held by former Premier Steven Marshall, intensifies ahead of landmark ‘community forum’
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