South Australian election: Rude moment pub-goer interrupts losing Premier’s concession speech

The heartfelt concession speech by outgoing South Australian Premier Steven Marshall was rudely interrupted when a pub-goers appeared to give ABC viewers the middle finger.

Eagle-eyed Twitter users pointed out that a red-haired woman at the pub where the Liberal leader was making his address from after losing Saturday’s state election, made the crude gesture in the background.

But others online argued the woman seen giggling alongside a blue-haired patron, was merely merely scratching her face. 

‘Flame-haired woman in the background giving Marshall the bird throughout his concession speech. Priceless. Why is he doing it at the pub?!’ a Twitter user wrote.

Another said: ‘The pub smoking room was an interesting backdrop choice. This woman spent most of the speech giving the middle finger and the fella on the left kept dozing off.’ 

In South Australia’s election Labor surged to victory in the with a 41-year-old father of three known for showing off his ripped physique on social media set to become the new premier. 

Peter Malinauskas, who was previously the state’s health minister in 2017, will take over from Liberal leader Steven Marshall who is at risk of losing his own seat after a massive swing away from the government in Saturday’s vote.

The crushing victory is a major set back for Scott Morrison ahead of the federal election expected to be come in May, with pre-election polling mirroring South Australia predicting the Coalition will be given the boot by voters.    

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas (pictured with his wife Annabel) is set to become Premier

Peter Malinauskas fronts the cameras as he places his vote in the ballot box

Mr Malinauskas paid tribute to the outgoing state leader calling him “utterly generous, gracious and a man with ‘class’. 

‘I think sometimes on election nights when governments change hands, that the successful party can confuse the elation of electoral success with an inflated sense of achievement,’ the election winner said.

‘Naturally, people of South Australia and Labor are right to feel satisfied tonight. But true satisfaction for us comes in realising our ambition, ideal of delivering a fairer, better society and more opportunity for those who need it most.’ 

Labor’s key to victory was secured by an early swing across marginal seats in metropolitan Adelaide.  

With 24 of the 47 seats now called, Labor’s primary vote is up close to eight per cent in the metropolitan area and slightly less on a statewide basis.

The party appears to be attracting many voters who supported Nick Xenophon’s SA-BEST party at the last election. 

Labor has surged to victory in the South Australian state election with a 41-year-old father of three known for showing off his ripped physique on social media set to become the new premier. Pictured: Liberal Party Premier Steven Marshall with former PM John Howard ahead of the vote

Premier Steven Marshall is at risk of losing his own seat of Dunstan as Labor steamroll the Liberals

Labor soared ahead in the key marginals of King, Newland, Adelaide and Elder, the four seats considered most likely to fall if the opposition was to win.

According to early figures, statewide Labor had 40.2 per cent of the primary vote, to 35.4 for the governing Liberals. 

Key independents Dan Cregan in the Adelaide Hills, Geoff Brock, who shifted to the seat of Stuart in the mid-north, and Troy Bell in Mt Gambier were on track to be re-elected.

Early figures also had Premier Steven Marshall in trouble in his own seat of Dunstan though he was still just ahead.

Putting on a brave face, the first Premier to lose his seat since the onset of the Covid pandemic was graceful and upbeat during his concession speech. 

‘It has been an honour and privilege to serve the people of South Australia,’ he told supporters.   

The hunky dad caused a stir earlier this month when he shared a topless snap of him holding daughter Eliza at a swimming pool

The crushing victory is a major set back for Scott Morrison (pictured) ahead of the federal election expected to be come in May, with pre-election polling mirroring South Australia predicting the Coalition will be given the boot by voters