The Liberal Party has suffered a humiliating result in the South Australian state election, with Labor projected to record its biggest win in the state’s history and One Nation polling second with more than 20% of the vote.
With counting still underway on Saturday night the Liberals were on track to win just four seats, were on single digits in 15 seats, and in some parts of Adelaide were polling fourth or fifth. They previously held 13 seats. Labor are predicted to win 30 seats, one more than their current 29, with 13 yet to be called.
But Liberal leader Ashton Hurn said in her concession speech that pundits who predicted her party would be completely wiped out had been “proven wrong”.
“We have done a fantastic job across South Australia. I am a proud Liberal. I love this party. I love what we stand for,” she said, while also admitting “lessons must be learned” and saying voters had sent a “clear message”.
“There is still hope for the Liberal future here in South Australia.” Liberal Party leader Ashton Hurn has conceded defeat, admitting “lessons must be learned” but has held on to her seat of Schubert. https://t.co/vlHZKYRQCf pic.twitter.com/QBnZ7f6rTP
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) March 21, 2026
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson told a large crowd of supporters she expected her party to win up to three upper house seats, with state leader Cory Bernardi, who described the result as an “earthquake”, certain to be elected.
“I’m smiling because today an earthquake has rattled the foundations of uni-party politics in South Australia,” Mr Bernardi said.
“I promise you there is more to come. One Nation will have the strongest voice in the South Australian parliament that it has ever had.”
Ms Hanson’s party benefited from a massive swing of about 18%, and could pick up the seat of Hammond on preferences from Liberal MP Adrian Pederick.
Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas began his victory speech by stating he was “humbled to be standing here tonight on the lands of the Kaurna people” and went on to say he was ready to work with Ms Hurn, Ms Bernardi and other party leaders.
Liberal Alex Antic reacts as a sea of red sweeps across South Australia: “They are not listening to be and should start. I have been talking about the solution here and that is to really return to the Menzies style of the Liberal Party.” https://t.co/vlHZKYRQCf pic.twitter.com/LI1XRhVr8R
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) March 21, 2026
Federal liberal senator for South Australia Alex Antic told 7News the party needed to start listening to him, and return to its core values.
“It’s time for the Liberal Party at both federal and state level to start behaving like the Liberal Party, quite frankly, and this is the party of freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of association, and people expect that,” he said.
“This nonsense that by leaning to the left we’ll capture seats that we don’t have has been proven wrong more times than I’ve had hot dinners.
“They’re not listening to me, and they should start. Anyone who wants to understand what happened here can go back to the Antic library in my social media and look it up, I’ve been saying this for five years.”
Earlier on Saturday voting was plagued by technical glitches with the electronic voter roll, resulting at long lines at polling places across the state.
Former senator Rex Patrick said he saw some frustrated residents in North Adelaide give up on the long queue and go home without voting, saying it was a “shame that people get mucked around”.
Header image: Left, Ms Hanson, right, Ms Hurn, making their speeches on Saturday night (7News).
