Key facts
- Alex Antic has been elected as the new state president of the Liberal Party in South Australia.
- Antic defeated upper house leader Nicola Centofanti by a vote of 119 to 73.
- Pollster Tony Barry described Antic as a "vote-losing machine" for the party.
- The Liberal party in South Australia was left with only five lower house seats after the March state election.
- Antic claimed pharmaceutical companies used the bird flu to push people to get the flu jab.
- One Nation's SA leader Cory Bernardi welcomed Antic's win.
Alex Antic has been elected as the new state president of the Liberal Party in South Australia, a development that has sparked concerns among party moderates about the direction of the organization and its electoral performance. Antic, a federal senator known for his right-wing views and his efforts to recruit evangelical and Pentecostal Christians into the party's operational wing, secured the presidency by defeating upper house leader Nicola Centofanti with 119 votes to 73.
His ascendancy to the party's leadership in the state has led to speculation that the federal Liberal Party might intervene due to concerns over Antic's close relationship with One Nation and his potential impact on the party's vote. Pollster Tony Barry, director of corporate affairs and communications at RedBridge, has characterized Antic as a "vote-losing machine," pointing to the Liberal Party's significant losses in both federal and state elections since his rise, including being reduced to just five lower house seats in South Australia's March election.
Moderates worry that opposition leader Ashton Hurn's efforts to revive the party's fortunes could be hampered by constant scrutiny of Antic's controversial statements on issues such as vaccinations, transgender rights, and climate change. Antic, however, celebrated his victory on X, stating it was "proof positive that getting involved in politics can achieve outcomes" and that members would regain a "voice into the machine."
While the party's organizational wing does not dictate policy, Antic could potentially influence candidate pre-selections and push for more right-wing policies. Trish Worth, a state council delegate, criticized moves to change legislation like "No Jab, No Play," noting Antic was the only Coalition senator to vote for such a change, alongside One Nation and United Australia Party senators. South Australian health minister Blair Boyer questioned Antic's intentions regarding a potential coalition with One Nation, likening the state Liberals to a "Temu version of One Nation."
One Nation's SA leader Cory Bernardi welcomed Antic's win, and Liberal senator Tony Pasin suggested that the Liberal Party and One Nation should "work together to defeat the Australian Labor Party." Pasin also indicated that Antic's views, such as his claims in the Senate that pharmaceutical companies used bird flu to promote flu shots, might receive more attention. Antic did not respond to media questions, stating on X that he intended to limit media engagement.