PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has used a visit to Adelaide to bolster support for MPs under threat from the Nick Xenophon Team, before today launching a reinvigorated campaign in the state.

Mr Turnbull yesterday agreed with Industry Minister and South Australia’s most senior Liberal, Christopher Pyne, who has consistently urged people to vote for Labor over minor parties or independents such as Senator Nick Xenophon.

“Those South Australians who are considering voting for Nick Xenophon and his party should bear in mind that the only way to secure a continuation of stable Coalition government and the delivery of our clear economic plan for jobs and growth is to vote for the Coalition,” he said.

He also hit out at Senator Xenophon’s opposition to free trade deals.

“A key element of our economic plan as you know are the big trade export deals we’ve done,” he said.

“They’ve been so valuable to Australian businesses right around the country but particularly here in SA where the wine industry in particular is enjoying substantial growth into the Chinese market, made possible by the free trade agreement.”

Mr Turnbull was speaking from SAAB at Technology Park, where he toured a virtual warship control room and tried “augmented reality” goggles.

media_camera POINTED VISION: The PM and Christopher Pyne at Saab Industries in Mawson Lakes yesterday. Picture: LYNDON MECHIELSEN

Earlier he toured Stirling, in disgraced former minister Jamie Briggs’s electorate of Mayo.

Polling released this week showed both Mr Briggs, who was stood down after “inappropriate” behaviour with a staffer in a Hong Kong bar, and Mr Pyne, a key member of Mr Turnbull’s Cabinet, both face a threat from Senator Xenophon’s team.

The poll, conducted for activist group GetUp! found NXT candidates are running second to the incumbents. However, preference deals could deliver the two seats to Labor or NXT.

NXT is also broadly expected to win at least three Senate seats, which could mean it holds or shares the balance of power.

Both major parties have ramped up their attacks on the team and particularly its popular leader.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten yesterday said he was a “late starter compared to Labor” in terms of talking about local procurement but refused to go further.

“It’s up to the Australian electorate who they vote for.”

“I think the fact that Malcolm Turnbull’s standing alongside Jamie Briggs on what was formerly a safe seat in Mayo shows how concerned the Liberals are,” he said.

“Obviously he’s seen the smoke signals calling for the rescue of Jamie Briggs.”

During his visit, Mr Turnbull also defended his absence from a ceremony to repatriate the bodies of 33 Vietnam veterans from Asia to Australia.

“The ceremony was designed to be, and was, for the families. It was their loved ones’ remains that were being repatriated. That was the centre of attention,” he said.

Originally published as PM, Pyne want us to back who?