SA blames Liberals' losses on arrogance

The Liberal Party is being "slaughtered" around the nation because of its arrogance, South Australia's Premier Jay Weatherill says.

He described as "breathtaking" the arrogance of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, outgoing Queensland premier Campbell Newman and current SA Opposition Leader Steven Marshall.

"It doesn't matter how many messages they get from the electoral system, they just dismiss it in their classic born-to-rule fashion," he told reporters on Monday.

"You have got Tony Abbott who has broken just about every single solemn promise, with a straight face he just turns up and just blows it away and expects there's not going to be a response."

The SA Liberals suffered a swing against the party in Saturday's SA by-election in the Adelaide Hills seat of Davenport.

But they still won the seat, which the Liberals have held since its creation in 1970.

The premier also cited Mr Marshall's comment about the recent Fisher by-election in SA, which Labor won on preferences by nine votes.

Mr Marshall said some of the electorate did not understand the preference system.

"That arrogance is why the Liberal Party is being slaughtered all around the country," Mr Weatherill said.

Asked if he would like to see Mr Abbott keep his job, the premier said he would work with whoever was prime minster.