Liberals’ CFS hero pick for Morialta as polling shows a crushing defeat by Labor if state election held now

A CFS “local hero” has won preselection for a Liberal state seat as latest polling shows if voting was held now, the party would be crushed to a single-digit result.

CFS volunteer and Liberal Party candidate for Morialta Scott Kennedy helping stop a fire at Black Hill Conservation Reserve in 2019. Picture: AAP/Mark Brake

New independent polling shows Labor crushing the state Liberal Party if an election was held now, as the opposition picks an awarded firefighter to replace one of its longest-serving MPs.

Extraordinary results in a DemosAU poll conducted from February 18 to February 23 show the Liberal Party’s new leader Vincent Tarzia is struggling to win traction, with the poll predicting a 3 per cent swing to Labor on the last election results in 2022.

Liberal Party members on Wednesday night endorsed moderate and local Country Fire Service volunteer Scott Kennedy to fight for the seat of Morialta in the election next year - the seat is currently held by retiring John Gardner who has represented the area since 2010.

The news comes as Labor on Thursday announces long-term MP Tony Piccolo will shift into the new electorate of Ngadjuri to fight sitting Liberal member Penny Pratt in the next election.

MP Tony Piccolo will shift into the new electorate of Ngadjuri. Picture: Supplied

DemosAU head of research George Hasanakos said the predicted swing would create a bigger victory than Labor’s 2006 landslide win, amassing the party more than 30 seats and leaving the Liberal Party with a devastating single-digit result.

“The state Liberal vote has not yet got off the mat after its disastrous 2024 where they lost two seats to the government in by-elections and suffered the David Speirs scandal with the implosion of his leadership,” Mr Hasanakos said.

“Premier Malinauskas’ popularity remains high with a 28 per cent lead as preferred premier and a majority of South Australians believing the state is heading in the right direction.

“The latter is a remarkable result given that incumbents globally are being battered by cost-of-living pressures.”

The poll encompassed a sample of 1004 voters online with each asked who they would vote for, who would make a better Premier - Mr Malinauskas or Mr Tarzia - and whether they believed SA was headed in the right direction.

Leader of the Opposition Vincent Tarzia prepares to tackle the Black by-election loss earlier this year, pictured with Heidi Girolamo MLC and John Gardner MP (right). Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Mr Kennedy, a data analytics professional, won the vote to be the Morialta candidate 69 to 23.

He lives in Athelstone with his wife Madeleine and a rescue dog called Navy.

His work serving on the CFS chief officer’s advisory council and chairing the CFS youth advisory council earned him a ministerial commendation and a National Emergency Medal.

“Having worked closely with John Gardner MP on key local issues, I know what it takes to get results,” Mr Kennedy said.

“I will fight to lower the cost of living, improve access to affordable housing, and fix our local roads. My focus is on making Morialta an even better place to live and raise a family.”

Mr Gardner was education minister in the former Marshall state government and has announced he would resign at the next state election saying it was the right time after 16 years in state parliament.

The removal of a melanoma encouraged him to reconsider priorities including spending more time with his children, Mr Gardner said.

Mr Tarzia described Mr Kennedy as “a true local hero, literally putting his life on the line for his community and I look forward to welcoming him to the team”.

The Liberal Party has been reduced to just 13 seats in the Lower House after losing two by-elections – including in Mr Speirs former seat of Black – to Labor.

Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission created the new electorate of Ngadjuri, replacing Frome.

Originally published as Liberals’ CFS hero pick for Morialta as polling shows a crushing defeat by Labor if state election held now