Radio National Breakfast 'We've got to rebuild,' Liberal party takes stock after South Australian election
Mar 22, 2026
Leah Blyth, Liberal Senator for South Australia and Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Infrastructure, reflects on the South Australian result and calls for rebuilding. She discusses leadership instability, a One Nation swing and voter anger. She urges discipline, unity and clearer national-focus messages while critiquing state government failings on housing, health and cost of living.
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Result Better Than The Worst Projections
- The South Australian Liberal result was worse than hoped but better than feared, ending up with four seats instead of zero to three projected earlier.
- Leah Blyth ties the outcome to a last-minute leadership change and short campaigning window under Ashton Hearn.
Leadership Instability Drove Voter Rejection
- Multiple leadership problems and scandals undermined voter confidence, including a leader convicted of drug supply and frequent leader turnover.
- Blyth describes a 'rolling door' of leaders (four leaders) and lack of unity and discipline as key factors.
Too Little Time To Sell New Policies
- Policy rollout was too late to matter: Ashton Hearn had decisive policies but only 100 days to present them to voters.
- Blyth invokes John Howard's maxim: you can't 'fatten the pig on market day' to explain short campaigning limits.