South Australian state election, 2006

The final results for the House of Assembly seats were 28 Labor, 15 Liberal, three independents and one National. First preference and two party preferred statistics for each district are available through the South Australian House of Assembly electoral districts article.

Labor won six of eight key seats, the Liberals one of three key seats.Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/keysbyparty.htm "Key Seats by Party and Margin"] , "ABC elections SA". Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] Labor's wins included the previously marginal Liberal seats of Hartley, Light, Morialta, Mawson, Bright and Newland. The Liberals regained Peter Lewis' seat of Hammond.

National Karlene Maywald and Independents Bob Such, Rory McEwen and Kris Hanna were all re-elected. Hanna was elected at the 2002 election as a Labor candidate; this counted as a loss for Labor, giving Labor a net gain of five seats.

Labor, the Liberals and the Greens ran in all 47 seats, the Democrats ran in all but Giles which resulted in a contested seat vote of three percent, Family First ran in all but Ramsay and Croydon with a contested seat vote of 6.1 percent, with the Nationals running in Chaffey, Flinders, Finniss, and MacKillop, with a subsequent contested seat vote of 24.8 percent. Dignity for Disabled ran in ten seats, No Rodeo in seven seats, and One Nation in six seats. [ [http://www.upperhouse.info/SA/SA2006.aspx South Australia 2006 Election Results] , Upperhouse.info, Retrieved on 14 January 2007.]

Jack Snelling became speaker of the House of Assembly.

Key Liberal seats

The outer southern suburbs district of Mawson was first won by former Liberal Police Minister Robert Brokenshire in the 1993 state election. He was defeated by Labor candidate and former radio presenter Leon Bignell who received a 5.7 percent two party preferred swing. [ Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/maws.htm South Australian Election 2006: Mawson Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

The other outer suburbs district that fell to Labor was Bright, which was held since 1989 by former Liberal energy minister Wayne Matthew. Matthew decided to retire at this election; subsequently the seat was contested for the Liberals by Legislative Council member Angus Redford. Redford faced a tougher fight than expected [ [http://www.pollbludger.com/sa2006/bright.htm South Australian House of Assembly Election 2006: Bright] , PollBludger.com. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] and was defeated by Labor candidate Chloe Fox who received a huge 14.4 percent swing on a two party preferred basis, the largest in the state. [ Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/brig.htm South Australian Election 2006: Bright Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

The inner southern suburbs district of Unley was won in 2002 by outspoken Liberal Mark Brindal who failed to win Liberal preselection for the seat in the lead up to the 2006 election and attempted to gain backing to contest the marginal Labor seat of Adelaide, but was shrouded in a controversy concerning a sexual relationship that Brindal had with a mentally ill man. [Curtis, Christopher. [http://www.gay.com/news/election/article.html?2005/08/11/4 "Australian lawmaker quits over gay affair"] , Gay.com Australia, 11 August 2005. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] The Liberal candidate was businessman David Pisoni, while the Labor candidate was Unley Mayor Michael Keenan, who received a 7.9 percent two party preferred swing, narrowly missing out on picking up the seat by 1.1 percent. [ Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/unle.htm South Australian Election 2006: Unley Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

The inner north eastern suburbs district of Hartley had been won by Joe Scalzi in 1993 and held by a very narrow margin in each election since. The district has a very high proportion of Italian migrants and the ability to speak Italian is considered by many commentators as vital to win the seat [Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/hart.htm South Australian Election 2006: District of Hartley] , "ABC News online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] and was a factor in Labor's preselection of political staffer Grace Portolesi. Portolesi defeated Scalzi with a 5.9 percent two party preferred swing. [ Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/hart.htm South Australian Election 2006: Hartley Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

The neighbouring district of Morialta was held before this election by former Liberal Tourism Minister Joan Hall since 1993. She was defeated by Labor candidate Lindsay Simmons. Simmons received a 12 percent two party preferred swing, with Labor winning the seat for the first time since 1975. [ Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/mori.htm South Australian Election 2006: Morialta Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

In the outer north-east, the district of Newland had been won by Liberal Dorothy Kotz since 1989, but after her decision to retire, the Liberal Party preselected police officer and local councillor Mark Osterstock. He was defeated by Labor candidate Tom Kenyon, who won the seat with a 12.5 percent two party preferred swing. [ Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/newl.htm South Australian Election 2006: Newland Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

In Light, which contains Gawler and the outer northern suburbs, was recontested by sitting Liberal member and former Education Minister Malcolm Buckby. He was defeated by Labor candidate and Gawler Mayor Tony Piccolo, who received a 4.9 percent two party preferred swing. This seat fell to Labor for the first time since 1944. [ Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/ligh.htm South Australian Election 2006: Light Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

The rural and outback district of Stuart was first won in 1997 by Liberal Graham Gunn, a former Speaker and Australia's longest currently serving parliamentarian [ [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/news/stories/1598468.htm?elections/sa/2006/ "Stuart count goes down to the wire"] , "ABC elections SA", 22 March 2006. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] (the longest being Billy Hughes at 51 years). As in 2002, he was challenged by Labor ministerial adviser Justin Jarvis. Unlike the Adelaide metropolitan area and the neighbouring seat of Giles, there was only a small swing of 0.7 percent to Labor, subsequently Gunn managed to hang on with a margin of 0.6 percent. [ Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/stua.htm South Australian Election 2006: Stuart Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

Key Labor seats

The inner eastern suburbs district of Norwood, held for Labor by former Norwood mayor Vini Ciccarello, was expected to be a tough contest, particularly after the Liberal preselection of former Adelaide Crows footballer Nigel Smart. Ciccarello retained the seat picking up a 3.7 percent swing on the two party preferred vote. [ Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/norw.htm South Australian Election 2006: Norwood Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

The other Labor seat considered under possible threat was the neighbouring inner city district of Adelaide where high profile Education Minister and former Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith was challenged by Liberal Diana Carroll. Lomax-Smith comprehensively defeated Carroll with a 9.2 percent swing to Labor on the two-party preferred vote. [ Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/adel.htm South Australian Election 2006: Adelaide Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

Key Independent seats

The southern suburbs district of Mitchell was won at the 2002 election by Kris Hanna, who was a Labor member. After the election, Hanna left Labor to join the Greens and subsequently left the Greens to become an independent on 8 February 2006. Hanna faced a tough contest to hold his seat against a challenge by Labor's Rosemary Clancy. Despite expectations before the election of a safe Labor win, Hanna defeated the Labor candidate by 0.6 percent of the vote with the aid of Liberal preferences. [ [http://www.pollbludger.com/sa2006/mitchell.htm South Australian House of Assembly Election 2006: Mitchell] , PollBludger.com. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.]

The district of Fisher, located in Adelaide's south, was held by independent MP Dr Bob Such. Late in the campaign, there was some speculation that Fisher may have been a closer contest than commentators initially expected,Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/fish.htm South Australian Election 2006: Fisher Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] but Such comfortably defeated both Labor candidate Amanda Rishworth and Liberal candidate Andy Minnis with an independent candidate election best 45.2 percent of the primary vote, picking up a 4.6 percent two party preferred swing. The election outcome saw Such facing the Labor candidate on the two party preferred vote as opposed to the Liberal candidate in 2002.

The Riverland based district of Chaffey is the only seat in South Australia held by a Nationals SA member. River Murray Minister Karlene Maywald won comfortably against a challenge by Liberal Anna Baric. Maywald received a 3.2 percent swing on the two party preferred vote.Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/chaf.htm South Australian Election 2006: Chaffey Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

The Murray Bridge based district of Hammond was won in 2002 by independent MP Peter Lewis who cut a deal after the 2002 election which delivered government to Labor. Facing almost certain defeat in Hammond, he declined to recontest the district and failed in his attempt to win a seat in the Legislative Council. [ [http://www.pollbludger.com/sa2006/hammond.htm South Australia House of Assembly Election 2006: Hammond] , PollBludger.com. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.]

Hammond was won comfortably by Liberal Adrian Pederick.Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/hamm.htm South Australian Election 2006: Hammond Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

The district of Mount Gambier (which also includes much of South Australia's south east) was a close contest between independent and Agriculture Minister Rory McEwen and Liberal Peter Gandolfi. McEwen prevailed despite a 20.4 percent swing against him on the two party preferred vote.Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/moun.htm South Australian Election 2006: Mount Gambier Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

Post-election pendulum

The following pendulum [Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/newpendulumindex.htm South Australian Election 2006: Post-Election Pendulum] , "ABC News online". Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] is known as the Mackerras Pendulum, invented by psephologist Malcolm Mackerras. The pendulum works by lining up all of the seats held in the House of Assembly according to the percentage point margin they are held by on a two party preferred basis. This is also known as the swing required for the seat to change hands. Given a uniform swing to the opposition or government parties, the number of seats that change hands can be predicted. Marginal 0–5.99 percent, Fairly Safe 6–10 percent, Safe >10 percent.

In the South Australian Legislative Council, Labor won 4 seats, the Liberals won 3 seats, both No Pokies member Nick Xenophon and his running mate Ann Bressington were elected and Family First and the Greens won a seat each. Almost 40 percent of voters deserted the major parties for Nick Xenophon and the minor parties; this percentage had been steadily increasing over time. [ [http://arts.anu.edu.au/democraticaudit/papers/20060411_and_mann_elec_sa.pdf Democratic Audit of Australia: Implications for democracy in the Festival State (PDF),] Australian National University, April, 2006, page 3 graph. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/results/lcdistribution.htm South Australian Election 2006: Legislative Council: 2006] , "ABC News Online", Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

Labor received a 3.7 percent swing, electing four councillors as in the previous election. Carmel Zollo, Bob Sneath, Russell Wortley and Ian Hunter were all elected, with 4.39 quotas Bob Sneath was elected president of the Legislative Council.

On the other hand, the Liberal vote collapsed with a 14.1 percent swing against the Liberal Party. Having received five councillors in 2002, at this election the Liberal Party had just three councillors elected. Rob Lucas, John Dawkins and Michelle Lensink were elected on 3.12 quotas.

Before the election, No Pokies member Nick Xenophon was popular with the media and in opinion polls, [ [http://upperhouse.info/Extras/Pictures.aspx Political Picture Gallery] , Upperhouse.info, Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] but he faced a tough campaign as a result of both major parties preferencing in favour of other independents and the minor parties. [ [http://www.seo.sa.gov.au/election2006/candidates/voting-tickets.php 2006 Legislative Council Candidates — Voting Tickets] , State Electoral Office, South Australia, Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] No Pokies received 20.5 percent of the vote, yielding 2.46 quotas, which translated into seats for both Xenophon and his running mate Ann Bressington. Having been elected at the 1997 election with 2.9 percent of the vote and other independent candidates at the 2002 election on 1.3 percent of the vote (Xenophon being a sitting member at that election), Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/lc2002.htm South Australian Election 2006: Detailed Legislative Council Result 2002] , "ABC News Online", Retrieved on 15 April 2008.] the No Pokies ticket received a swing of 19.2 percent.

The Family First Party's first member, Andrew Evans MLC, was elected in 2002. Family First won 5 percent of the upper house vote with only a small swing of 0.98 percent, with candidate Dennis Hood being elected on preferences.

The SA Greens won 4.3 percent of the upper house vote meaning a swing of 1.5 percent, narrowly securing Mark Parnell for the last upper house seat on preferences. This is the first time The Greens have won a seat in South Australia. Having secured second spot on the ticket at this election, Sarah Hanson-Young was successful in gaining the first spot on the ticket at the 2007 federal election, which saw the Greens secure their first federal upper house seat in South Australia.

The Australian Democrats fell to just one seat in the Legislative Council held by Sandra Kanck, after Kate Reynolds was defeated in her bid for re-election after being appointed in 2003. The Democrats gained only 1.8 percent of the upper house vote after a 5.5 percent swing against them. Kanck has since announced that she will not recontest her seat at the next election, placing serious clouds over the future of the party in the state. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1635728.htm "Last sitting SA Democrat to quit"] , "ABC News Online", 11 May 2006. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.]

Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party gained 0.8 percent of the upper house vote and won none of the six lower house seats they contested. Their highest vote was 4.1 percent in the district of Hammond, followed by 2.7 percent in Goyder,Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/goyd.htm South Australian Election 2006: Goyder Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.] and the other four hovering around 1 percent.

Dignity for Disabled ran for the first time and won 0.6 percent of the upper house vote; they won none of the 10 lower house seats they contested. Their best results were Wright as well as Bright, with 2.4 percent in each (506 and 492 votes respectively).Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/wrig.htm South Australian Election 2006: Wright Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.] Green, Antony. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/brig.htm South Australian Election 2006: Bright Electorate Profile] , "ABC News Online", 20 April 2006. Retrieved on 15 April 2008.]

Labor-turned-independent Terry Cameron and Liberal-turned-independent Peter Lewis both failed in their bids for re-election.

Legacy

After the election, Rob Kerin vacated the position of opposition leader. The party selected conservative Iain Evans (son of former politician Stan Evans) for the role, with moderate Vickie Chapman (daughter of former politician Ted Chapman) as deputy leader. The only other contestant had been Isobel Redmond, who ran because she was concerned by some speculation that the Evans deal may have been stitched up by federal Liberal counterparts Christopher Pyne and Nick Minchin. Preferred premier ratings in July 2006 showed Rann on 71 percent with Evans on 15 percent. Only 27 percent of Liberal Party supporters saw Evans as the preferred premier. [ [http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2006/4049/ In South Australia: 71% Say Rann Better Premier,] Roy Morgan Research, 8 July 2006. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] Continuing low support for the new Liberal leadership saw Martin Hamilton-Smith replace Evans in April 2007, however this move saw Liberal support decline further to a three-year low according to an Advertiser poll conducted a month after the leadership change. Over half of polling respondents were unable to name the leader of the Liberal Party. [ [http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21656350-910,00.html Libs' worst poll in three years] AdelaideNow News.com.au 2 May 2007. Retrieved on 19 May 2007.] This contradicted Newspolls quarterly polling [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,22048398-1702,00.html Support for Labor, Rann slips] The Australian 10 July 2007. Retrieved on 10 July 2007.] indicating the Rann Labor government slipping to a two-party preferred figure of 57 percent down four percent, with a preferred premier rating of 52 percent down 14 percent for Rann and a first-time rating of 21 percent for Martin Hamilton-Smith. Poll results also show Rann's satisfaction rating was below 60 percent for the first time since coming to office at 58 percent, with Hamilton-Smith receiving a 33 percent satisfaction rate.

Previously unknown quantity Ann Bressington, elected on the back of Nick Xenophon's No Pokies popularity, has proposed mainly conservative policies such as raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21, [Allison, Lisa. "Raise drink age to 21", "The Advertiser", 31 August 2006, p.24.] zero tolerance of illicit drugs, mandatory twice-annual drug tests of every South Australian school student over the age of 14 regardless of whether parents give their consent, [Klening, Xanthe. "MP's move to drug test all teens", "The Advertiser", 17 August 2006, p.5. ] [ [http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/sa/content/2006/s1719796.htm "Should all school students be drug tested?"] "ABC Stateline", 18 August 2006. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] and making the sale of "drug-taking equipment" illegal. ["Ban the bong, say MP's", "The Advertiser", 6 June 2006.] [Allison, Lisa. "Cocaine kits on sale in city shop window", "The Advertiser", 11 August 2006, p.7.] However, she remains undecided on voluntary euthanasia, calling it "a personal struggle". [ [http://www2.parliament.sa.gov.au/hansard_data/2006/LC/WH310806.lc.htm Hansard 31/08/2006] , "Parliament of South Australia", 31 August 2006. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.]

Setting a precedent, Sandra Kanck's pro-euthanasia speech which contained suicide methods was censored from the internet version of Hansard in August 2006 as a result of an upper house motion, with Labor, Family First, Nick Xenophon and Ann Bressington voting for, and the Liberals and SA Greens member Mark Parnell voting against. [Owen, Michael. "MPs turn up heat on Kanck 'damage'", "The Advertiser", 2 September 2006, p.10.] Despite this, the speech was published on a non-Australian website. [ [http://www.peacefulpillhandbook.com/VEsuicidespeech.pdf Speech to SA Legislative Council by Sandra Kanck MLC. 30th Aug 2006-08-31 (PDF),] Exit International US, Retrieved on 4 January 2007.]

The state's budget was released on 21 September 2006. [ [http://www.treasury.sa.gov.au/dtf/budget/publications_and_downloads/previous_budgets/state_budget_2006_07.jsp State Budget 2006–2007,] Government of South Australia, Department of Treasury and Finance, Media Releases 10 November 2006. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] It included 1,600 public service job axings despite an election pledge of only 400, however none of the redundancies will be forced. It also included increases in some fees and charges such as victims of crime levies and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) charges. There were increases in funding for health, schools, police and prisons, and the Department of Public Prosecutions. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Public-service-jobs-axed-in-SA-budget/2006/09/21/1158431835425.html "Public service jobs axed in SA budget",] "Sydney Morning Herald", 21 September 2006. Retrieved on 4 January 2007. ] [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200609/s1745090.htm "SA to announce Budget funding boost for DPP",] "ABC News Online", 20 September 2006. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] [Foley, Kevin. [http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/news.php?id=636 BUDGET: $411m new prisons – safer communities,] Government of South Australia, 21 September 2006. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.] The 2007–2008 budget released on 13 June 2007 saw additional spending on Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, Health, Families and Communities, and Justice portfolios such as transport initiatives including revitalisation of the rail network, commencement of the $1.7 billion Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Hospital to replace the Royal Adelaide Hospital, funding for mental health reform including the delivery of health services, and funding for new commitments to law and order policies. [ [http://www.treasury.sa.gov.au/dtf/budget/publications_and_downloads/current_budget.jsp State Budget 2007–2008,] Government of South Australia, Department of Treasury and Finance. Retrieved on 2 July 2007.]

No Pokies MP Nick Xenophon resigned from parliament in early October 2007 in a successful attempt to win a seat in the Australian Senate at the 2007 federal election, which according to the South Australian result, he retained 72 percent of his 2006 vote, on 14.78 percent. His replacement is his third candidate on the 2006 ticket, former Valuer-General John Darley, and was appointed by a joint sitting on 21 November 2007, where second candidate and upper house MP Ann Bressington also took the opportunity to slam Nick Xenophon, accusing him of lacking integrity and suitability for federal parliament. [Henderson, Nick. [http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22796625-5006301,00.html Nick Xenophon's running mate unleashes extraordinary attack] . "The Advertiser". 2 November 2007. Retrieved on 13 December 2007.] [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/21/2096834.htm?section=justin MPs stunned by Xenophon blast.] "ABC News" 21 November 2007. Retrieved on 13 December 2007.] Xenophon was successful in being elected.

A record-breaking 13-hour Parnell-Bressington filibuster occurred in May 2008 in crossbench opposition to WorkCover cuts being passed by the major parties due to the increasing underfunded liability in the workers' compensation scheme.

References

External links

* [http://www.seo.sa.gov.au/archive/2002/pdfs/election_results_outcomes.pdf Official 2002 election results]
* [http://www.seo.sa.gov.au/election2006/pdf/Results_and_Outcomes_Booklet3.pdf Official 2006 election results]
* [http://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/ Parliament of South Australia]
* [http://www.seo.sa.gov.au/archive/2006/index.htm State Electoral Office - 2006 election]
* [http://abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/ ABC election guide - South Australia 2006 election]
* [http://elections.uwa.edu.au/ State and federal election results since 1890]
* [http://www.pollbludger.com/ Poll Bludger federal and state election guides]
* [http://www.upperhouse.info/ Upperhouse.info federal and state election guides]