South Australians sometimes dwell on what is not happening rather than what is going well in the state, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has told a Liberal Party conference in Adelaide.

He then repeated his pledge that, regardless of the competitive evaluation result for tenders on the nation's submarine project, there will be more jobs locally.

"Now I have to say that whatever happens with the evaluation process for submarines that is now underway, there will be more submarine jobs in Adelaide in the years to come," he said.

"There will be more subs, the work will be centred here in Adelaide, therefore there will be more submarine jobs in Adelaide in the years to come."

Earlier this month Mr Abbott announced the state would build a fleet of Navy ships worth $39 billion, which would result in 2,500 surface building jobs.

South Australian Liberal leader Steven Marshall told the conference the state party would continue to advocate for the defence contract to build submarines.

He feared the state was heading for double digit unemployment figures under the Labor Government.

Mr Abbott urged South Australians to focus on local businesses which were creating jobs, like Lobethal Abattoir Thomas Food International.

Tony Abbott visits an abattoir at Lobethal in the Adelaide Hills. ( ABC News: Tom Fedorowytsch )

He visited the company yesterday.

"I know from time to time here in South Australia we focus on the things that aren't happening but I want to talk to you about the things that are happening," Mr Abbott said.

The Prime Minister also talked about the Commonwealth's commitment to infrastructure, including progressing a plan to link major transport routes in Adelaide's north.

"I am talking [and] Assistant Infrastructure Minister and Roads Minister Jamie Briggs is talking to those that we need to talk to to work on the Northern Connector."

Earlier today, Mr Abbott said the Australian economy was growing and "behind the headlines" in South Australia there were businesses creating employment opportunities.

"Bankruptcies are at record lows. Car sales are at record highs. Company registrations are happening in record numbers," he said.

"Export growth in the March quarter was the highest in 15 years. Services exports in the March quarter were the highest in eight years.

"Housing growth in the March quarter was the highest in six years.

"Our economy is going well and it's going well in substantial measure because this is a government which is open for business."

Mr Abbott also joked about the state Liberals winning the popular vote at the last election.

"I have to say Steven, my hope is to do as well in the next Federal Election as you did in the last state election, because if I can get 53 per cent of the two-party preferred vote we will increase our majority in Canberra," he said.

'Destiny in our own hands'

Mr Marshall told the conference the State Government needed to take "corrective action" to address the state's economy.

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"They [need] to take that corrective action right now, not sit on their hands and hope it goes away," he said.

"Destiny is in our own hands and we need to take corrective action straight away."

Mr Marshall reaffirmed his call for South Australia to develop long-term, detailed infrastructure plans for roads and rail, and to boost exports.

"We're not going to get rich by selling lattes to each other," he said.

"We need to sell more goods and services across our borders, interstate and overseas, and bring somebody else's money here into South Australia."

The Opposition Leader committed to working hard every single day up to the next state election, in March 2018, and to win office and become a Liberal reformist government.

Abbott has 'insulted' South Australians

Shadow federal treasurer Chris Bowen said South Australia would be a "battleground" at the next election.

"Tony Abbott's clearly very worried about his political fortunes in South Australia, we're very worried about the economic fortunes of South Australia," he said.

"This is a government which goaded the car industry to leave, clearly breached an election commitment, a crystal clear election commitment to build the submarines in Australia - clearly they're not going to do that.

"Everything they've said about frigates and shipbuilding applies equally to submarines.

"They've insulted the people of South Australia. The people of South Australia need support, they don't need photo ops and trips through by Tony Abbott, they need real action."

Mr Bowen said the Liberal Party would need to continue to defend its actions.

"Tony Abbott is welcome in South Australia as much as he likes to defend his actions on the car industry and submarines," he said.

"The more we see of Tony Abbott in South Australia, the more we'll be talking about the way he's insulted the South Australian people and damaged the South Australian economy."