Welcome to InDaily’s election night live blog – we’ll provide commentary and results as they come in.
David Washington is in Labor HQ at the West Adelaide Football Club, and Liam Mannix and Bension Siebert will report from the Liberals’ outpost at the other end of town.
10.14 Wrapping it up
We’ll leave the live coverage here for now.
There’s still a lot of counting to go, and more than a few seats in doubt, but it looks as though Labor is in the box seat to either gain a majority in its own right, or govern with the assistance of independents.
Jay Weatherill and Steven Marshall have both indicated they will be courting independent MPs Geoff Brock and Bob Such, both of whom are expected to side with Labor.
It’s been an astounding night in politics.
10.06 Jay Weatherill addresses Labor supporters
“Jay four SA” cheers go up as Jay Weatherill arrives to rapturous applause.
He says it’s too early to call but “we’re hopeful of retaining Government here in South Australia.”
He says “we may need to do this with the help of independents” and there will be discussions held over the next few days.
The people of SA understood that the Government had a positive program for the future.
“when they saw our commitment to keep on building this beautiful state, they responded to our call.”
They saw us standing up for jobs of people under threat from the Abbott Government, he says.
“What they also saw was a govt that was prepared to commit itself to govern for every single on of those South Australians, and especially those who were doing it tough.”
Expresses gratitude to the people of SA for supporting candidates – and praises the candidates themselves.
Singles out Jo Chapley who “gave an almighty fright to the leader of the opposition”.
More “Jay 4 SA” chants as he wraps up.
9.56 Steven Marshall speaks
Liberal leader Steven Marshall is speaking to supporters:
“It’s an interesting result. We increased out primary vote. Congratulations.”
“Clearly the people of South Australia want a Liberal Government.”
“I think we stand a good chance in a range of seats….”
“It’s disappointing we’re not forming govt tonight” – but there’s still a long way to go.
He doesn’t appear to be claiming victory or conceding defeat.
He appears to be making a play for the votes of independent Geoff Brock and Bob Such.
9.54 Jay Weatherill to speak soon
Premier Jay Weatherill will be arriving at the Labor function soon.
I understand he won’t be claiming victory – but there will be a smile on his face.
9.50 This is ridiculous
There are a lot of votes to count but it seems this is the situation – Labor’s road to gaining enough seats to govern in its own right looks easier than that for the Liberals. Labor insiders can’t explain what’s happened.
Plenty of the Premier’s staff are in the room. He might not be far away.
9.30 Will the pre-poll votes turn this around?
Labor strategists think not. While pre-poll votes are expected to go against Labor, it looks like they have enough buffer to prevent the Liberals governing in their own right.
Meanwhile, plenty of pollies are flooding in to Labor HQ – Penny Wong, Gail Gago, Susan Close and former member for Hindmarsh Steve Georganas are in the room.
They’re all smiling. No-one can quite believe this is happening.
9.17 And the room goes completely mad
The ABC computer has called the chamber as a likely majority for Labor – and the faithful are going completely bananas.
It surely is a little premature – or am I just a party-pooper?
Hugging, kissing, laughter – it’s a love-in.
9.14 And the room goes mad
Labor HQ has just gone bonkers with clapping and cheering as local MP Steph Key enters the room. She looks like she could win – which no-one expected, not even her own party. There are a lot of votes to come though, and her margin is slender.
9.01 Things getting raucous at Labor HQ
There is a general mood of incredulity at the Labor campaign party at West Adelaide Football Club.
A huge cheer goes up as the ABC computer calls Ashford for Labor’s Steph Key. The seat still looks very close to us.
To recap, Labor looks like it will lose Bright and Hartley, Mitchell could fall, and Elder is very close. The Liberals look set to pick up Mt Gambier. If all those seats fall the Liberals’ way, they would be one seat short of a majority in their own right.
Two independents are likely to be elected – Geoff Brock in Frome and Bob Such in Fisher.
The bottom line – there is a chance that Labor could win this. Which is amazing.
Reefer madness update: No weed apparently, just hard-core tobacco – and outside of this definitely smoke-free room…
8.53 Tiny swings everywhere
The Liberals will be very disappointed that after 12 years of Labor they haven’t achieved bigger swings, particularly in the marginals.
They still may scrape across the line to gain Government in their own right, but it isn’t the thumping that seemed inevitable for the past four years.
Re the previous post, I’m sure no-one’s smoking wacky tobaccee – this is a smoke-free room. Must have been an olfactory illusion.
8.41 Ex minister looks safe
Former minister Paul Caica was expected to struggle in his western suburbs seat of Colton. In the federal election, booths that matched up with Colton swung hugely to the Liberals. He’s marginally ahead on the two-party preferred – a big cheer in Labor HQ as the ABC computer calls the seat as a win for Labor.
And another cheer as the ABC computer calls Elder for Labor’s Annabel Digance – which seems a big call. There’s only a few hundred votes in it.
On an unusual note, something for all the world smells like marijuana here. I’m figuring it’s just the combo of herbs and spices on the Westies food.
8.37 Marginal mistakes?
It’s already clear that the Liberals have made some bad calls in their marginal seat campaigning. The big effort in Giles looks wasted, and how aren’t they hammering Labor in seats like Ashford and Mitchell?
A big cheer at Labor HQ when Tom Koutsantonis appears on the big screen (they’ve flicked over from Sky to the ABC).
830 Pre-poll wildcard
Let’s not forgot that a record number of pre-poll votes were cast in this election.
How are everyone’s fancy computers factoring that in? Those votes are likely to favour the Liberals.
8.24 A tight race
This is looking tight – could be a long night, or maybe, a long week.
8.20 Revisiting early numbers
The seat of Giles is looking much better for Labor, with candidate Eddie Hughes well ahead on the two-party preferred count after more than 9000 ballots counted.
In Bright, Liberal challenger David Speirs is ahead of sitting Labor member Chloe Fox 52.5 to 47.5 on the two-party preferred count.
In Mawson, sitting Labor MP Leon Bignell is comfortably ahead, according to the Electoral Commission numbers.
815 Liberals looking more comfortable in Adelaide
The Liberals’ Rachel Sanderson – called as a pick-up for Labor by the over-confident ABC computer – looks comfortable. The two-party preferred, according to the Electoral Commission (website now back up), is in the Libs favour, 55.3 to 44.7. Nearly 15,000 ballots have been counted.
8.10 A mixed picture
It’s a very mixed picture at the moment. At Liberal HQ people don’t seem to know whether to celebrate or commiserate. Rob Lucas says the party is hoping to pick up four to five seat tonight – but is unsure about the crucial sixth. The Liberals need to pick up six seats to govern in their own right.
7.36 Interesting times
This is looking very interesting. Labor’s in strife in Bright, but has made a stunning early start in Adelaide. Sitting Liberal MP Rachel Sanderson just told one of the TV networks that she still expects to retain the seat, but the early swing has been strongly to Labor challenger David O’Loughlin, who has a big local profile as Mayor of Prospect.
7.25 Ray of light for Labor
After a handful of booths, Labor’s David O’Loughlin is well ahead of sitting Liberal member Rachel Sanderson. The ABC computer is giving it as a Labor gain, which would be a bitter blow for the Liberals’ chances if the swing continues in Labor’s favour.
7.23 Electoral Commission: where are you?
It looks like the Electoral Commission website has crashed – we’ll use numbers from the good ole ABC until they fix things.
7.18 Keep in eye on Giles
The Whyalla-based seat of Giles has been held by Labor, with retiring member Lyn Breuer a popular figure. With just over 8 per cent of the count, there has been big swing to the Liberals, which would seriously worry Labor. The Liberals have been very upbeat about picking up this seat.
7.11 Chloe Fox in big trouble
Again, very early numbers, but the Liberals’ David Speirs has amassed a massive 63 per cent of first preference votes in early voting. Labor’s transport services minister Chloe Fox was always expected to lose.
7.09pm Computer says no
The ABC computer has already called Bright and Hartley for the Liberals. Very early days, but not good signs for Labor.
7.04pm Liberal HQ
Still quiet over at Liberal headquarters at the Arkaba. Rob Lucas is the lone pollie in attendance, doing lots of tweeting and a few live crosses to television stations. They’re pumping out Empire of the Sun’s ‘Alive’ – the optimistic tune they played at Steven Marshall’s launch last weekend.
Lucas says there are very early dramatic swings to the Liberals in Hartley (see below).
7pm Early numbers
A very low count in the key marginal seat of Hartley, held by Labor’s Grace Portolesi, shows her marginally ahead on the two-party preferred count – 50.7 to 49.3.
Liberal candidate Glenn Docherty is well ahead in the north-eastern marginal of Newland, but, again, it’s very early days.
645pm Waiting game
Small numbers are trickling in – but it’s too early to make any sensible commentary.
At Labor’s election night outpost it’s very quiet – lots of journalists, a couple of volunteers, and a heap of red and blue balloons.
A bit more action happening in Tassie – Sky News commentators are already calling the election for the Liberals.
6.27pm Polls close – the wait begins
The polls closed about half an hour ago, and we’re waiting for the first numbers.
One exit poll shows South Australians expect a Liberal victory, but will that translate into votes? Another shows a tight contest, but overall numbers mean little in this election – it will come down to voting patterns in specific marginal seats.
