Ashton Hurn to run for SA Liberal leadership following Tarzia departure
Opposition health spokesperson Ashton Hurn has confirmed her candidacy. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
In short:
South Australian Liberal MPs will choose a successor to Vincent Tarzia, who unexpectedly stepped down from the leadership on Friday.
The opposition's health spokesperson Ashton Hurn had emerged as a frontrunner and has now confirmed her candidacy.
What's next?
The Liberals will hold a party room meeting on Monday morning to formally appoint a new leader.
South Australian Liberal frontbencher Ashton Hurn will run for her party's leadership, following the shock resignation of Vincent Tarzia just months out from the next state election.
The opposition's health spokesperson and member for the seat of Schubert had emerged as a frontrunner for the role, and has now confirmed her candidacy.
The Liberals will hold a party room meeting on Monday morning to formally choose a successor to Mr Tarzia who stepped down from the top job on Friday.
"Having been encouraged by my colleagues over the weekend, I have decided to put myself forward as a candidate to lead the Liberal Party to the next state election," Ms Hurn said in a statement.
"I'll respect the party room process and address the media after the meeting."
Ben Hood has expressed support for Ms Hurn. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
Over the past 48 hours, Ms Hurn has received public support from several of her parliamentary colleagues, including upper house Liberal MP Ben Hood.
"I spoke briefly with Ashton [on Friday] and expressed my support to her should she choose to take the leadership," Mr Hood said on Saturday.
"I think she would be a tremendous leader."
Similar sentiments were shared by Liberal upper house MP Nicola Centofanti, who said she thought Ms Hurn "would be an excellent leader if she decided to put her hand up".
"If that were to be the case, it's something that I would support wholeheartedly," she said.
Nicola Centofanti has backed Ms Hurn. (ABC Riverland: Will Hunter)
Ms Hurn is so far the only Liberal MP to announce she will seek the leadership.
Prior to Ms Hurn's announcement of her candidacy, high-profile SA Liberal recruit Frank Pangallo described her as a "very good candidate" who would be good for the party.
"I'm there to support the leaders of the Liberal Party and also the directions they want to take the party. If it's Ashton Hurn, I certainly look forward to it," he said.
Pangallo admits interest in deputy's role
On Saturday, Mr Pangallo said he would back the "entire leadership team", regardless of who that happened to be.
But he also admitted he sought advice about becoming deputy leader of the party, despite the incumbent in that role saying the position is not vacant.
Mr Pangallo is an upper house MP and former independent whose Liberal candidacy for the Labor-held lower house seat of Waite was unveiled in August at a press conference with Mr Tarzia.
Upper house MP Frank Pangallo was unveiled as the Liberal candidate for the seat of Waite in August. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
Asked on Saturday whether he wanted to become deputy Liberal leader, Mr Pangallo laughed before replying: "If I could I probably would, but I don't think I can be".
Mr Pangallo said "the protocol of the Liberal Party" precluded such a move, but he confirmed he had sought advice on the prospect.
"If the opportunity was there I would certainly consider it — but a long way to go, a long way to go," he said.
"I'm not in there just to sit on the backbench and twiddle my thumbs.
"I have to be re-elected and win the seat of Waite, so if I do that who knows what could happen afterwards?"
Frank Pangallo stood alongside Vincent Tarzia when the former's Liberal candidacy was unveiled. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
The deputy leadership is held by shadow attorney-general Josh Teague, who on Friday made it clear the deputy's position was not vacant.
Mr Teague said, according to party rules, an upper house MP could not become deputy leader.
While Mr Teague himself previously sought the top job, he said he would not be running for the leadership on Monday, and that he was happy to stay in his current role.
"I'm the deputy leader of the Liberal Party, I'll continue in that role, there is no vacancy in that role," he said.
Josh Teague says he will continue as deputy Liberal leader. (ABC News)
The following day, Mr Pangallo said he was "not even sure whether Josh is even intending to run".
"If Josh puts his hand up to run as deputy leader I'll support him," he said.
When it was pointed out that Mr Teague had already made clear his intention to remain in the deputy leader's role, Mr Pangallo said he would "certainly have my support".
'Got served a faecal sandwich'
Mr Tarzia quit the leadership on Friday, less than 16 months into the role and barely three months out from the upcoming March state election — a move that left Mr Pangallo "deeply disappointed and shocked".
"He was really hitting the right strides and starting to make an impact, and, unfortunately, he got served a faecal sandwich when he took over, and it was very difficult for him," Mr Pangallo said.
"I was sorry to see him go."
Vincent Tarzia announced his departure from the leadership on Friday. (ABC News: Simon Goodes)
Premier Peter Malinauskas was asked on Sunday about Mr Pangallo's comments on the deputy leadership.
"There's clearly a number of people interested in positions of leadership in the Liberal Party. Frank Pangallo's one of them,"he said.
"That's for the Liberal Party to decide."