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Tony Piccolo, sitting MLA for Light since 2006, to run in Ngadjuri in 2026:
https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/media-releases/news-items/tony-piccolo-to-run-for-ngadjuri
Feels like SA Labor is jumping the gun a little bit. Just because the electorate’s much more marginal than last election doesn’t necessarily mean Labor’s going to win it. And Piccolo’s vote base is mostly in Gawler which is in Light and they risk losing that seat too if they move Piccolo to a newer, less friendly electorate.
Agree Tommo, although I think Light is safe even without Piccolos personal vote. The seat is now solely Gawler whereas in previous elections (especially in 2006 when Piccolo won it for the first time) it contained some surrounding rural areas.
The margin is currently over 10% and considered a safe seat unlike previous elections where it was marginal.
Tony is doing the right thing by labor
Why is Piccolo moving here? His base in Gawler (strong for Labor) is a far cry from the Clare Valley here in Ngadjuri. In addition the seat is still notionally-Liberal and I doubt it would flip even with a pretty terrible state party.
I’d say to try and overcome the small liberal margin and win them an extra seat. This could backfire and cost them a 20year mp.
James, reading the announcement from Piccolo I understand he is contesting the seat because he grew up in that area (similar to ex Wakefield and Spence MP Nick champion who was born in Kapunda). Although how much residual support he can still get is unknown and I think he should just stay put in Light.
Surely the odds of Labor winning Ngadjuri with Piccolo are much greater than the odds of Labor losing Light without him, thus from the perspective of Labor winning seats, his decision is a net positive. Maybe he has plans if he loses. He’s been around a long time. Perhaps he sees it as that he’ll either be a hero or get to retire.
I think this might be close. Labor’s position in the polls since the 2022 state election has improved. Unfortunately for the libs sa is dominated by seats in Adelaide which labor overwhelmingly controls. And the libs have lost half a dozen seats to inds in the regions. Theoretically there could be more inds the liberals at the next election. Would they then be the opposition or?
John – even if the independents happen to outnumber the Liberals if they lose badly, it could be similar to NT post the 2016 landslide where the CLP still formed the Opposition even though they had only 2 seats compared to 5 independents.
@yoh right i suppose because the inds arent a party and are just 6 indivisuals. as opposed to the 2 people from on epraty
@Yoh An – makes sense, but I still feel he has that name base in Light that I’m sceptical him contesting here will pay off. Yes SA Labor is doing good in polls right now but there’s no guarantee that by 2026 they will be doing enough to gain new seats, especially in Ngadjuri which is a pretty conservative seat.