Labor leader Peter Malinauskas says the significance of his victory is not lost on him after South Australians dumped the first term Liberal government.
Addressing the Labor faithful, the Premier-elect thanked people for giving him a chance to deliver on his vision for the state.
“It is not lost on me the significances of the privilege and the size of the responsibility that you have invested in me, in my team, which means for all of my MPs tonight,” Mr Malinauskas.
“We have a big job to do.
“Naturally, people of South Australia and Labor are right to feel satisfied tonight. But, true satisfaction for us comes in realising our ambition, ideal of delivering a fairer, better society and more opportunity for those who need it most.”
In an upbeat speech following his defeat Mr Marshall, xjmtzywwho was just the second Liberal leader in half a century to survive a full term and face re-election, conceded the “people had spoken”.
“It's been an honour and a privilege and a pleasure to serve as the Premier of South Australia,” the outgoing Premier said.
“When I look around the rest of the world at the moment, there's a lot of turmoil, in fact there’s a lot of tumultuous and volatile situations in Australia too, but I feel grateful that we live in a democracy where everybody gets their vote.
“Today the people of South Australia have spoken, they’ve elected a new government but it doesn't take away from the work we have done in South Australia over the last four years.”
Mr Malinauskas said his opponent was a “class act” in his concession.
The Liberal Party has suffered swings across the state, including in key battleground Elder where Labor candidate Nadia Clancy experienced a swing in her favour of more than 10 per cent.
Mr Marshall is also looking likely to be in strife in his own seat of Dunstan.
“The Premier has got a bit of a fight on his hands,” Mr Green said.
But he remains confident he will be returned.
“To the people of Dunstan who have elected me now in 2010, 2014 and 2018 and 2022, I say thank you very much,” he said.
In the state’s lower house, 24 seats are required for either party to form a majority government.
It is the first time since the pandemic began that punters decide to vote against an incumbent government.
The result is sure to install some fear within federal Liberal ranks with a federal election just around the corner.
South Australian senator Anne Ruston said there were clearly some “take home messages” for the Morrison Government.
But the result didn’t seem to worry Prime Minister Scott Morrison all too much.
He was featured on Fox’s NRL coverage hurling his beloved Cronulla Sharks scarf around like a lasso after his team’s last minute victory over Parramatta.
“The PM is up and about!” said Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane said.
