Hope evaporates early as Labor looks set for historic Adelaide clean sweep | Paul Starick

Boothby is solidly in Labor hands. Sturt is gone. The Liberals’ worst case scenario in South Australia is now a reality, writes Paul Starick.

A stunning sea change has been confirmed in South Australia as a red wave swept over Adelaide and Labor won all seven federal seats.

The former blue-ribbon electorate of Boothby, in southwestern Adelaide, became a Labor stronghold as Louise Miller-Frost charged to almost 65 per cent of two-party preferred vote, with a swing of 10 per cent.

The Liberals were battered in the eastern suburbs too, where Sturt MP James Stevens was being trounced by Labor’s Claire Clutterham with a swing in her favour of 8.6 per cent.

By 9pm, Labor had secured 57.52 per cent of two-party preferred support in Sturt, compared to the Liberals 42.48 per cent.

The metropolitan Adelaide wipeout reflected a stunning capitulation by the Liberals nationally, which threatens to consign the party to the electoral wilderness.

Federal Election in the seat of Boothby, Louise Miller-Frost Election Night Event. Picture: Tim Joy

The scale of the Adelaide wipeout was apparent early in Boothby, then Sturt unravelled quickly for the Liberals too.

Just before 7pm, Labor strategists were effectively calling Boothby in their favour, citing promising booth results in areas including South Brighton and Warradale.

By 7.30pm, the Liberals had effectively conceded Boothby and Labor was gaining in confidence in Sturt.

Liberal candidate Nicolle Flint at Colonel Light Gardens Primary School. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Early on, Labor was almost in disbelief about the prospect of snaring Sturt. Then, by 8pm, ALP strategists were agog when the party claimed victory in the Burnside booth.

The outsized influence of Premier Peter Malinauskas on Labor’s state-based campaign and the diminution of the Liberal brand nationally complicate the task for a depleted Opposition at a state election next March.

The Liberal brand has been damaged by a haphazard federal campaign and Labor’s relentless, personal demonising of Peter Dutton – to the extent that he lost his own seat of Dickson, in outer Brisbane.

Key trends were apparent in Boothby and Sturt respectively, both cruelling the Liberal brand.

Ms Flint was renowned as a fierce competitor but some internal critics labelled her abrasive and too conservative. A former incumbent, she managed just under 30 per cent of the primary vote.

In Sturt, Mr Stevens achieved just 32 per cent of the primary vote, compared to Labor’s 34 per cent and the Greens 18 per cent - confirming the minor party’s role in shaping elections.

The Liberal brand in SA is severely damaged and, at this election, it has been cruelled across the nation.

Originally published as Hope evaporates early as Labor looks set for historic Adelaide clean sweep | Paul Starick