SA would get moving again under Libs: PM

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says a Liberal government in South Australia would get the state moving again, and claims that it would be a federal puppet are just cheap smearing.

"(Opposition leader Steve Marshall) and I want to work for the betterment of this great state," he told the Liberals' election campaign launch in Adelaide on Sunday.

The prime minister introduced the premier-hopeful to the cheering crowd, saying he would have a constructive approach with him as opposed to having to deal with Labor premier Jay Weatherill's combative stance.

Mr Marshall is campaigning on a platform of energy and water bill cuts, a major new port on the Eyre Peninsular, stronger regions, more jobs and fewer taxes.

It was time for a fresh start with the Liberals, who would grow the economy, drive employment and keep young people in South Australia, he told the party faithful.

Adding his weight to the cause, former long-serving federal minister Alexander Downer said he was optimistic that on Sunday the sun would rise on a Liberal SA government and the "dark night of Labor will be over".

The three speakers stood on the stage of the Norwood town hall, with rows of enthusiastic young party members behind them, while Empire of the Sun's Alive boomed out to get everyone in the mood.

Mr Abbott said Mr Marshall, a former businessman, was ready to be premier, had a plan for the state and would work with the federal government which had already committed to major road infrastructure projects.

South Australia would get moving again under a Liberal government, he said.

Mr Abbott later told journalists Mr Weatherill's claim that Mr Marshall would just be a puppet of the federal government was "cheap smearing".

He wanted to work constructively with premiers and the public was sick of Labor leaders trying to pick a fight with Canberra, he said.

The prime minister was asked if it was healthy for Australia to have a liberal federal government with all liberal state governments, if SA and Tasmania change power on March 15.

"What's healthy is to have premiers and a prime minister working together to address the problems of our nation," he said.

Mr Marshall announced a new promise to abolish the Save the River Murray Levy, which he said would save 570,000 households up to $42 a year on their water bills beginning in 2016-17.

"It is paid by households in their water bills, yet has no actual effect on the health of the Murray River," he said.

A Liberal government would still maintain spending on the River, he added.

His government also would increase payments to more than 200,000 energy and water concession recipients by six per cent by 2016-17.

"South Australia's cost of living is increasing as a direct result of 12 long years of Mr Weatherill and Labor," he said.

A Liberal government would also immediately start work on a plan for a new port on Eyre Peninsula, to be referred to Infrastructure SA and developed with the private sector.

South Australia was not fulfilling its potential under the tired dysfunctional Labor government which had "run out of ideas about how to get our economy going in the right direction".

His plan would create jobs, cut red tape for business, cut payroll tax, land tax and scrap labor's planned car park tax, and invest in the state's regions.