Coalition denies Xenophon paranoia

Is the Nick Xenophon factor causing fear and loathing on the Liberal campaign trail?

Not according to the unflappable Julie Bishop, who was asked on Tuesday whether she was paranoid about Senator Xenophon stealing Liberal seats in South Australia.

"I don't do paranoia," the foreign minister replied.

Ms Bishop was in the southern Adelaide seat of Boothby to support Liberal candidate Nicolle Flint, who was preselected following the retirement of long-serving member Andrew Southcott.

She is facing a three-way contest against Labor and the Nick Xenophon Team, which is expected to poll strongly in Boothby.

Ms Bishop said South Australian voters had a simple choice: back the coalition's economic plan to build much-needed jobs or throw away their vote by springing for an independent.

"A vote for an independent is a waste of a vote," she said.

"Independents can promise everything for everybody but they deliver nothing.

"They're never called upon to balance the budget. They're never called upon to deliver tax cuts ... to implement a border protection policy."

Senator Xenophon has said protecting Australian jobs and preventing predatory gambling will lead his party's campaign.

Up to four Senate spots could fall his way if he can replicate the 25 per cent vote his ticket received in SA in 2013.