State Liberal leader Vincent Tarzia steps down from leadership

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Just three months out from South Australia’s state election the liberal party is now without a leader. Vincent Tarzia has sensationally quit the top job saying he wants to spend more time with his young family.

Transcript

00:00Just over a year ago, Vincent Tarzia stepped up as leader with a bold claim.

00:08The Liberal Party will win the state election in 2026.

00:13But only three months out, he's quit, leaving after a fortnight of speculation and a bruising 15 months at the helm.

00:21Today I've made the decision to step down as leader of the Liberal Party.

00:26Dire internal polling numbers leaked last week added to the pressure, but Tarzia insists he wasn't pushed.

00:32Nobody has said to me that I should step down. This is a decision that I have made of my own accordingly.

00:36Tarzia's shocked colleagues told this morning.

00:38Yeah, disappointed. I thought he worked really hard, tried really hard.

00:42Unfortunately, forces made him have to leave.

00:49Tarzia's supporters argue he didn't do much wrong during his time as leader

00:53and say his replacement will have an easier transition into leadership than he did.

00:57But whether that replacement can stop the disunity that stogged so many Liberal leaders in the past is another question entirely.

01:05His most likely replacement, Shadow Health Minister Ashton Hearn, coy on her intentions today.

01:10In a statement, she thanked Vincent Tarzia and says she'll spend the coming days speaking with colleagues ahead of a party room meeting.

01:16Her likely candidacy already backed by a former Liberal leader.

01:20It might have come earlier to her than she hoped for.

01:23But with the right team around her, and she's the right person to assemble that team, I think she can do pretty well.

01:29And one of Ms Hearn's potential rivals is already ruling himself out.

01:32I'm the deputy leader of the Liberal Party. I'll continue in that role.

01:36Vincent Tarzia isn't bowing out altogether. He'll contest his seat of Hartley next year and insist he won't be sniping from the sidelines.

01:43I'm not going to complain about the Liberal Party. I'm not going to be one of these former leaders that wrecked the place.

01:49We've got no interest in that whatsoever.

01:51A joint party room meeting will elect his replacement on Monday.

01:54Thank you. We'll see you around the place. I'm off to lunch.

01:58I'm off to lunch.

02:09I'm off to lunch.

02:15We'll see you around the next week.

02:19I'm off to lunch.

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