SA oppn leader to meet with Turnbull

South Australian opposition leader Steven Marshall will head to Canberra to meet with Prime Minister-designate Malcolm Turnbull in the wake of Tony Abbott's ouster.

Mr Marshall says the incoming leader understands the importance of a local submarine-building program to help ease the state's jobs crisis.

"He is, I think, going to be a great prime minister," Mr Marshall told reporters on Tuesday.

"I get along extraordinarily well with Malcolm Turnbull, I have for almost a decade ... I think that stands us in good stead going forward".

Asked earlier on ABC radio whether the new Liberal leadership was a godsend for SA Liberals, Mr Marshall said he "wouldn't say that".

"He (Tony Abbott) was a hardworking prime minister. He delivered on many fronts," he said.