uth Australian political leaders, Premier Peter Malinauskas and Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn, conclude 2025 reflecting on a year of significant challenges and strategic positioning as a state election looms. While the Labor government grappled with a series of crises and internal shifts, the Liberal opposition navigated continued leadership instability and consistently poor polling, setting a stark contrast for the upcoming electoral battle. Both leaders acknowledge the intense scrutiny and rigorous campaign ahead, with the prospect of an anxious Christmas for many politicians.

Premier Malinauskas’s government faced considerable pressure throughout 2025, responding to multiple industrial crises in key regional centres like Whyalla and Port Pirie. These economic challenges were compounded by environmental concerns, including a widespread drought impacting agricultural regions and a detrimental algal bloom off the coast. The collapse of a major disability employment provider in Adelaide further necessitated substantial government intervention, collectively costing hundreds of millions of dollars to safeguard jobs and industries.

Beyond these external pressures, the Labor ministry underwent unexpected changes in September with the sudden retirements of Deputy Premier Susan Close and Treasurer Stephen Mullighan. This forced an unscheduled cabinet reshuffle, introducing a more inexperienced ministerial team. The government also drew criticism for shelving its flagship hydrogen power plant project in Whyalla after nearly $300 million had been committed, though officials maintain much of this will be recouped through asset sales. Malinauskas candidly identified the persistent issue of ambulance ramping hours as his government’s primary regret, an unfulfilled key election promise.

Despite these setbacks, Premier Malinauskas highlighted several achievements for the year. He pointed to the successful national implementation of the under-16 social media ban, a policy initiative originating in South Australia, as a significant public health triumph. The government’s “extraordinary intervention” at the Whyalla steelworks, which saw the state take control from Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance in February, also featured prominently as a strategic move now progressing towards a new ownership in 2026.

In stark contrast, 2025 proved another “dismal year” for the South Australian Liberal Party, according to political analysts. The party endured its fourth leadership change in as many years, culminating in Ashton Hurn’s ascension. This internal turbulence was mirrored by consistently poor electoral polling, which routinely projected the Liberals winning only a handful of seats out of 47, underscoring the formidable task facing the new opposition leader.

Ashton Hurn, however, has firmly shifted her focus to the future, expressing a determination to offer the people of South Australia a viable choice in the upcoming election. During her tenure as shadow health minister, she introduced “exciting policies” aimed at attracting nurses and midwives to the state, signaling a proactive approach to critical public services. Hurn has indicated plans to unveil a comprehensive “100-day plan” and the remainder of the Liberal Party’s policy platform in the lead-up to the election.

The fiscal landscape presents a significant hurdle for both parties in formulating their election platforms. Economic projections indicate a daunting state debt nearing $48.5 billion by the end of the decade, coupled with escalating interest costs. This financial constraint leaves limited scope for popular new spending initiatives, compelling leaders to make difficult budgetary decisions ahead of the polls, as noted by economists from the University of Adelaide.

As the festive season approaches, political observers suggest Premier Malinauskas will likely strategise on how to lead a campaign that avoids any perception of hubris, despite his government’s ascendant position. Meanwhile, Ashton Hurn faces the critical challenge of reshaping the narrative around the Liberal Party, seeking to make a tangible impact and regain ground against the backdrop of seemingly preordained electoral difficulties, making Christmas a period of intense contemplation for both leaders.

Read Original

Keywords: South Australian politics, Peter Malinauskas, Ashton Hurn, SA state election, 2025 political review, Labor government challenges, Liberal party leadership, Ambulance ramping South Australia