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Rightwing Senator Alex Antic Elected SA Liberals President as Party Vote Collapses

Critics warn move pushes the party further from the centre after Antic's faction brings in evangelical and Pentecostal Christian members

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources2 outlets
Rightwing Liberal senator Alex Antic has been elected state president of the South Australian Liberals, a move that comes as the party's vote has collapsed in the state. Antic, once described as a 'vote-losing machine', said he would give 'back some voice' to party members, many of whom are part of 'Alex's Army' — evangelical and Pentecostal Christians he recruited into the operational wing of the party.

The election of Senator Alex Antic as state president of the South Australian Liberal Party marks a significant shift to the right for the state division. Antic, a federal senator known for his rogue conservative positions, has built a power base among evangelical and Pentecostal Christians, referred to as 'Alex's Army'. His ascension to the state presidency has coincided with a collapse in the Liberal Party's vote in South Australia, raising questions about whether the party can recover or has further to fall.

Antic said he would give 'back some voice' to party members, indicating a push for greater grassroots influence. However, critics have long viewed Antic as a divisive figure, with some within the party previously branding him a 'vote-losing machine'.

The development takes the SA Liberals further from the political centre, a position that has historically been key to the party's electoral success in the state.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Antic's presidency could reshape the SA Liberals' electoral strategy and appeal, potentially alienating moderate voters.
  • The party's vote collapse in South Australia suggests internal factional battles are costing it at the ballot box.
  • The rise of 'Alex's Army' signals a long-term shift toward religious conservative influence within the party's organisational wing.

Background

The South Australian Liberals have struggled electorally in recent years, with the party losing ground to Labor and minor parties. Internal factional tensions have long been a feature of the state division, with moderate and conservative wings jostling for control. Alex Antic emerged as a key figure on the hard right, recruiting evangelical and Pentecostal Christians into the party's membership base.

Key Perspectives

Senator Alex Antic and his supporters: Argue his leadership gives a voice to grassroots members and represents a necessary correction toward conservative principles. Moderate Liberals and critics: Warn that Antic's agenda pushes the party away from the broad-based centre that has historically won elections in South Australia. Electoral analysts: Point to the party's declining vote share as evidence that the rightward shift is costing the Liberals support among swing voters.

What to Watch

  • Whether Antic uses the presidency to preselect more conservative candidates for state and federal seats.
  • The response from federal Liberal leadership, which may seek to distance itself from the SA division.
  • The next South Australian state election as a key test of whether the party can recover its electoral standing.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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