The South Australian Premier has publicly admitted he’s on a strict diet after he saw photos of his rival in his board shorts.
Steven Marshall and the SA Labor Leader Peter Malinauskas faced off during the SA Press Club leaders debate on Thursday afternoon, telling constitutes why their parties and policies were better that the other just nine days out from polling day for the state election.
But, it was the final question that had South Australians giggling.
ABC Radio Adelaide host and political journalist Stacey Lee, who mediated the debate, quizzed both leaders on what type of bread they ate and how much is cost to buy the loaf.
She said the type of bread a person ate said a lot about them.
Mr Malinauskas said he enjoyed munching on Wonder White wholemeal that he bought from the service station.
But the Premier insinuated it was his opponent’s fit physique that prompted him to cut carbs.
“This is a little bit humiliating but I don’t eat bread. I’m on a KETO diet,” Mr Marshall said.
“I looked at the paper the other day and I knew I had to do something so I’m not on the carbs.
“I've not been a bread person for years but I have gone down and checked and I think you can get a South Australian loaf for about $2.”
Just last month the Labor Leader stripped down to his board shorts and jumped into a public pool with his daughter Eliza during a media call.
At the time, he was annouxjmtzywncing an election promise to build a new $80 million Adelaide Aquatic Centre if he won the March 19 election.
Mr Malinauskas addressed members of the media alongside the ALP candidate for Adelaide Lucy Hood who also got in the pool her son.
The stunt left many residents talking, but not necessarily about Labor’s election promise.
In response to the images that quickly circulated, Mr Marshall joked about cutting carbs.
“Look, it’s great when people look after themselves and stay healthy, but he’s clearly got a bit more time on his hands than I have,” he told ABC Radio in February.
“There’s no Putin-style campaigning from me I can guarantee. I’m just focused on the key issues of South Australia but, yes, I did have to hang my head in shame when that photo went up.
“I thought to myself this morning, ‘Right, that’s it, no more carbs’.”
During the leaders debate — which was held at the Hilton Hotel in Adelaide CBD — both party leaders discussed pressing issues, like the long standing problem of ambulance ramping.
Mr Marshall argued his government could end ramping “once and for all” but said it took time to unpack “the mess” his government inherited from Labor that happened before the Liberals got into power.
Countering his comments, Mr Malinauskas said his party’s policy was not about winning votes of South Australians but “its about saving lives” and promised to fix the problem within his first term, if Labor win.
Both politicians were asked if they would do deals with independants in order to form government if there was a hung parliament — something South Australians have been used to.
While they both said they wanted a majority, neither directly answered the question.
The premier also took aim at Mr Malinauskas, again asking him to explain how his party would pay for his policies that so far totalled $2.7 billion.
Mr Marshall also denied that his government’s election spending promises had added up to $2.25 billion and were instead less than $300 million.
The opposition leader was quick to point out that the Liberals committed an extra $500 million for health in just one election promise made during the campaign.
