Support for new South Australian party compares with 27% for Labor and 20% for Liberals

Xenophon's SA Best party shoots to 32% lead in primary vote, poll finds

Two months after quitting the Senate for a tilt at state politics, Nick Xenophon’s new SA Best party is outpolling the government and the opposition in South Australia, a Newspoll shows.

SA Best has 32% of the primary vote, the poll published in the Australian on Tuesday shows. This compared with the Labor government on 27% and the Liberals on 20%.

Asked who would be the better premier, 46% of voters said Xenophon.

Poll puts Nick Xenophon ahead as preferred South Australian premier Read more

Some 22% opted for the incumbent, Jay Weatherill. The opposition leader, Steven Marshall, lagged on 19%.

A similar poll conducted in 2015 showed Weatherill well ahead with a 42% approval rating.

Two years ago the primary vote for the Labor government was pegged at 36%, against 38% for the Liberals.

South Australia voters are due to elect the next state government in March.

Xenophon quit the Senate in October to return to state politics.

The poll of 800 people was taken between 12 October and 17 December.

