BOTH Stephan Knoll and Tony Piccolo face tough battles to impress voters across key areas in the Schubert electorate ahead of the 2022 State Election.
Mr Piccolo, the current member for Light, announced last week he would challenge the former transport minister in Schubert, following a draft redraw which saw Gawler become part of the Barossa-based electorate.
The changes are still out for public consultation and will be officially confirmed in November, but both Mr Piccolo and Mr Knoll are already gearing up for a lengthy campaign.
The draft redraw turned Schubert from a safe Liberal seat into a vulnerable electorate, requiring a 5.4 per cent swing Labor’s way to switch hands, based on the Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission’s modelling.
Labor considers Schubert vulnerable in 2022, but to win Mr Piccolo will have to draw voters to his side in the Barossa – an area considered Liberal heartland.
A Labor MP has never held Schubert – or its predecessor Custance – since the seat was established in 1985.
At the 2018 State Election Mr Knoll defeated Labor’s David Haebich comfortably, with 48 per cent of first preference votes and 64 per cent to 36 per cent on a two-candidate preferred basis.
Polling results from 2018 show Mr Knoll won a sizable majority of votes in key population areas, such as Nuriootpa, where he was victorious 66.5 per cent to 33.5 per cent on a two candidate preferred basis.
In Tanunda he also won comfortably 70.9 per cent to 29.1 per cent and in his home town of Angaston Mr Knoll cruised to victory.
Speaking to The Bunyip, Mr Knoll confirmed he intended to run for Schubert in 2022 and predicted Mr Piccolo would “struggle to regain trust” from Barossa voters.
“The boundaries for the next State Election are still in draft, but it is my intention to run for the seat of Schubert in 2022,” he said.
“The Marshall Liberal Government has a strong record delivering for the people of both Gawler and the Barossa.
“I think Tony Piccolo is going to struggle to regain trust amongst emergency services volunteers in the Barossa, off the back of his poor performance as minister during one of this state’s worst bushfire emergencies in recent times.”
Mr Piccolo has already started campaigning in the Barossa, including meeting with Chateau Tanunda owner John Geber to discuss the controversial disused Barossa Rail Line.
He planned to “continue to do what I have done in the past and make time to listen to people”.
“I will listen to learn and act, and not just respond,” he said. “It is important that my actions reflect the aspirations and priorities of the community I serve and represent.
“Some of the issues that affect the people of Schubert are similar to other areas; where they are unique, I will use the time ahead of me to gain a better understanding of them.”
The former Gawler mayor is expected to carry his home town strongly in 2022, after receiving 52.8 per cent of first preference votes in Light at the last election.
He polled particularly well in Willaston and Gawler West on a two-party-preferred basis, and while he still a majority of votes in Gawler South and Gawler East, it was by a tighter margin against Liberal challenger Karen McColl.
Mr Knoll pointed to increased funding for an upgrade to the Tulloch and Main North Road intersection at Evanston and the delivery of the Gawler Rail Line Electrification project coming under the current State Government’s watch as reasons he could sway Gawler electors to vote Liberal in 2022.