Xenophon a threat to SA parties: Bernardi

The leader of the Australian Conservatives Cory Bernardi believes Nick Xenophon poses a "real threat" to the Liberal and Labor parties in South Australia, describing them as a "couple of duds".

Senator Bernardi said the people of his home state of South Australia are desperate for an alternative and Senator Xenophon stepping down from federal politics to pursue his state ambitions may fill that void.

"People recognise 16 years of Labor haven't delivered the results they were hoping for and they recognise the Liberal opposition ... are just not up to it. They haven't got a plan or a vision for this state. No one knows what they stand for after 16 years of opposition," he told Sky News on Sunday.