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South Australian Liberal Leader Ashton Hurn Campaigns in Safe Seat Amid State Election

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South Australian Election: Hurn Focuses on Safe Seat Amidst Wider Liberal Concerns

The upcoming South Australian state election is expected to see Labor make gains. However, Liberal Party leader Ashton Hurn's seat of Schubert, held by an 11.9 percent margin, is considered secure for the Liberals. Labor has not identified Schubert as a target seat, with Premier Peter Malinauskas noting:

"Labor's prospects there are less likely."

Labor's candidate for Schubert is 21-year-old James Rothe.

Schubert: A Secure Seat, A Leader's Focus

Despite the seat's safety, Ms. Hurn has been spending considerable time in her Barossa Valley electorate. This has drawn attention from Labor, as time spent in Schubert is time not allocated to other electorates where Liberal seats are under threat.

Key Announcements in Barossa

Recently, Ms. Hurn made two significant announcements in the region:

  • A $350 million commitment for a new Barossa hospital.
  • A $300 million loan program for the wine industry and farmers, announced at the Declaration of the Vintage event.

Ms. Hurn defended these announcements, stating their statewide significance for regional services and support for farmers experiencing drought. She also expressed pride in representing her region.

Liberal Seats Under Pressure

Several other prominent Liberal members are reportedly concerned about their own seats, including:

  • Sam Telfer (Flinders)
  • Stephen Patterson (Morphett)
  • Josh Teague (Heysen)
  • David Basham (Finniss)
  • Penny Pratt (Ngadjuri)
  • Adrian Pederick (Hammond)
  • Vincent Tarzia (Hartley)
  • Jack Batty (Bragg)

Political Survival or Statewide Vision?

Labor minister Blair Boyer criticized the Liberal Party's focus, suggesting:

"Announcements were aimed at political survival rather than a broader statewide vision."

An SA Liberal Party spokesperson countered this, referencing the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan's identification of the need for new hospitals. The spokesperson defended the Barossa hospital project as beneficial to the entire health system.

The state election campaign has 30 days remaining.