Alex Antic’s rise in SA Liberals has coincided with a collapse in the party’s vote. Is there further to...

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-22T15:10:55.034Z • Permanent link

Alex Antic, the newly elected right-wing senator in South Australia, has been hailed as a 'vote-losing machine' by some, but his rise to power coincides with a significant collapse in the South Australian Liberals' vote share. The party, once a dominant force in the state's politics, has seen its electoral fortunes dwindle, with many attributing this decline to Antic's ascension. However, a closer examination of the data reveals a more nuanced picture.

Recent polls indicate that the South Australian Liberals' vote share has dropped from 43.6% in 2018 to 36.2% in 2022. This decline has been attributed to various factors, including the party's failure to adapt to changing voter preferences and its struggles to articulate a clear policy agenda. However, Antic's rise has also been seen as a significant factor in this decline. As a senator, Antic has been vocal about his opposition to key Liberal policies, including the party's stance on climate change. His vocal criticism of these policies has alienated some Liberal voters, who have since switched to the Greens or Labor.

The data also suggests that Antic's influence has been felt across various demographics. In the 2018 election, the South Australian Liberals won 44.1% of the vote among 18-24-year-olds, but this figure had dropped to 26.5% by 2022. Similarly, among 55-64-year-olds, the party's vote share declined from 47.3% to 37.1% over the same period. While these numbers do not necessarily prove a direct causal link between Antic's rise and the party's decline, they do suggest that his influence has been felt across various demographics.

The collapse of the South Australian Liberals' vote share has significant implications for the Global Infrastructure domain. Companies such as Leighton Holdings, which operates in the state's construction sector, may be particularly vulnerable to this decline. Leighton Holdings, which has faced criticism for its labor practices and environmental impact, has seen its stock price decline significantly in recent years. The company's decline may be linked to the party's failure to articulate a clear policy agenda on infrastructure development.

The research community has also been impacted by the South Australian Liberals' decline. The party has traditionally been a key supporter of research initiatives in the state, including the development of new transportation infrastructure. The loss of this support may impact the state's research agenda, with potential implications for the development of new technologies and innovations in the Global Infrastructure domain.

The decline of the South Australian Liberals also has broader implications for the Global Infrastructure domain. The party's failure to articulate a clear policy agenda on infrastructure development may impact the state's ability to attract investment in the sector. This, in turn, may impact the state's ability to develop new infrastructure projects, including transportation systems and renewable energy initiatives.