Liberal Premier Steven Marshall’s growing popularity stems in no small part from his dogged efforts since December as South Australia was ravaged by bushfires in the Adelaide Hills and on Kangaroo Island.
Marshall immediately scrapped his holidays and has had two days off since, with the fallout from the bushfire crisis continuing as the pandemic began.
Marshall’s detractors have said in the past that he lacks spark and passion, but his performance this past three months has shown his calm and methodical approach is a virtue in a time of crisis.
A former businessman who came to politics late in life, Marshall has been a model of consistency throughout the pandemic and has been flanked with two very able operators in chief medical officer Professor Nicola Spurrier and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.
He placed great store in the scientific advice and went hard early with SA registering the highest rate of COVID-19 testing in Australia and the second-highest in the world outside the United Arab Emirates.
Mercifully for SA, with its low rate of infection, Marshall’s team has won plaudits from the public by allowing greater freedom of movement and association than exists in the eastern states, with groups of up to 10 still allowed to congregate.
He has repeatedly used the word “calmness” in his frequent media engagements and has successfully called to South Australians to harness their trademark low-key approach in dealing with the pandemic.
Albanese in danger of bombing out from public perception
Through bad management, bad luck or a combination of both, Anthony Albanese’s first term of leadership has been divided into two halves of distraction and failure that have damaged Labor’s achievements.
Western Victorian communities under threat as bushfires rage
Evacuation warnings have been issued as firefighters battle fast-moving blazes amid challenging conditions.