With the polling for South Australia’s elections closing at 6.30pm today (Saturday, 19 March), a YouGov poll for The Advertiser in Adelaide is pointing to a Labor victory which means at least four of the nine Greek-Australian candidates contesting the election may be on the winning side.
The Greek-Australians candidates contesting the elections are former SA Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis, Paul Alexandrides, Olivia Savvas, Andrea Michaels, John Alexander Photakis, Lazaras Panayiotou, Steve Pallaras, Ian Markos and Tom Antonio.
The poll conducted from a sample of 835 respondents between 7 and 13 March, puts Labor ahead with a 56-44 lead which suggests an eight percent swing to Labor since 2018 when the Liberals under Steve Marshall won with margin of 51.9 to 48.1.
The Conversation reported that compared to an earlier poll conducted three weeks before the Liberals had lost ground to the opposition.
The result is important nationally for a number of reasons. The result could have a bearing on the federal elections that are planned for May, as well as for Victoria and New South Wales. It will also be the first election in the post-COVID pandemic era and will reflect what issues drive voters in the pandemic-recovery era.
The South Australian economy is the most prosperous in the country and Adelaide has been voted the world’s most liveable city on the Economist Global Liveability Index, says the Sydney Morning Herald. Despite this, the polls favour Mr Malinauskas to take over as premier from Steve Marshall.
Mr Malinauskas said the state’s 4.8 percent unemployment rate, the highest in Australia, ran against claims of prosperity. He also attacked the state’s health system citing in particular the slow response times of ambulances to call outs.
During the COVID pandemic, he deliberately supported public health measures and refrained from criticising state government measures. He supported the re-opening of the state borders but on the condition that the health system would cope. As it turned out, the reopening in November last year coincided with the rise of the Omicron virus and the state’s health system struggled with more people dying than had been predicted. While Mr Marshall said the re-opening was a success, his opponent has called it a “catastrophe”.
While in opposition, Mr Koutsantonis held the shadow portfolios for Treasurer, State Development, Mining and Energy. He served as a state minister for a number of portfolios including as Treasurer, between 2009 and 2018 when Mr Marshall came to power.
Andrea Michales is state member of parliament for Enfield and is the Shadow Minister for Small and Family Business, Consumer and Business Affairs, Planning and Urban Development, and Housing.
Paul Alexandrides is contesting the seat of Colton for Labor. Olivia Savvas is a local councilor who hopes to represent Newland for Labor.
Standing for Greens SA are John Alexander Photakis for Devonport and Lazaras Panayiotou for Torrens.
The candidate to lead the SA Best party in the Legilsative Council (Upper House) is Greek Australian businessman Ian Markos. The party hopes to secure the balance of power in the Upper House with current MLCs Connie Bonaros and Frank Panagallo
Tom Antonio standing for Giles, and John Alexander Photakis for Devonport hope to represent SA Best party the lower House of Assembly.
Also contesting a seat in the Legislative Council is former director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Pallaras will stand for the party he launched Real Change SA.
