The State Liberals have finally confirmed the appointment of their new state director, an appointment that continues two persistent themes of the week – the need to forge close ties with the defence sector, and the new hegemony of Christopher Pyne’s moderate faction in the SA branch.

Sascha Meldrum’s confirmation in the role vacated by Geoff Greene after the Liberals’ disastrous state election defeat and subsequent narrow loss in the Fisher by-election finally fills a permanent leadership void in the rudderless state office as the party prepares a battleplan for its 2018 campaign.

But while Greene was aligned with the Liberal right, Meldrum has close ties with the party’s moderates.

Asked if her appointment suggested the ‘wets’ were now calling the shots in SA, with Pyne and Simon Birmingham the big movers in this week’s federal reshuffle, recently-elected state president Steve Murray told InDaily: “I have absolutely no comment whatsoever to make on that!”

However, he insisted “she’ll be a major asset to the party”.

Meldrum steps into the role after five years employed by Raytheon Australia as Public Affairs Director for the Air Warfare Destroyer project – credentials that will prove valuable as the political stoush over the next generation of submarines continues to rage.

She has previously managed her own public relations firm, and worked as a media adviser in the Olsen and Kerin Liberal Governments, and to one-time Federal Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill.

“I am excited by the opportunity to lead and influence an energetic and highly- capable Liberal team to success,” Meldrum said in a statement.

“I plan to draw on my experience in Government and the corporate sector to ensure the state secretariat adopts best practice and a professional approach to all services it provides to its members and volunteers.”

She said SA was in “desperate need of a Marshall Liberal Government focussed on jobs, business investment and reducing the cost of living for all”.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall welcomed the appointment, saying Meldrum would bring “a wealth of experience from across the public and private sector to the SA Liberal team”.

The appointment comes as nominations close today for the federal seat of Boothby, after incumbent Andrew Southcott’s decision to quit politics at the forthcoming election.

Murray said there has been “a considerable amount” of interest from prospective candidates, particularly in the past “week to ten days”.