Rogue Liberal senator Alex Antic has been elected as president of the South Australian Liberal party, securing 119 votes to 73 against current upper house leader Nicola Centofanti. Antic, a federal MP with strong ties to Pentecostal Christian groups, has gained considerable influence in the state branch, which has long been a site of tension between more conservative and moderate factions. His election has sparked concerns about possible ideological shifts within the party, especially due to his close ties with the One Nation party. Antic’s victory has led to speculation that the federal Liberal party may consider taking control of the state branch, citing concerns about his alignment with One Nation and the potential impact on the party's electoral performance. Pollster Tony Barry has criticized Antic, calling him a "vote-losing machine," and pointing to the Liberal party's recent struggles in both federal and state elections, including the loss of just five lower house seats in South Australia’s March election. Moderates within the party worry that opposition leader Ashton Hurn’s efforts to improve the party’s standing may be hindered if she is repeatedly questioned about Antic’s views on contentious issues such as vaccinations, trans rights, and climate change. Antic has claimed that his win shows the strength of grassroots political action, promising to give party members a greater voice in its operations. However, the party's organisational wing, which handles administrative matters, cannot directly influence policy but can offer guidance to the parliamentary wing on long-term strategies. Antic may push for changes to the party's constitution, pre-select candidates aligned with his views, or pressure sitting MPs to adopt more right-leaning policies. Trish Worth, a state council delegate, criticized Antic’s recent efforts to change the No Jab, No Play legislation, which he was the only Coalition senator to support, along with four One Nation senators and a United Australia Party member. State health minister Blair Boyer urged Antic to clarify if he would seek a coalition with One Nation, comparing the South Australian Liberals to "the Temu version of One Nation – just as extreme, just as dangerous, just less genuine." One Nation's SA leader, Cory Bernardi, welcomed Antic's win and expressed anticipation for a "constructive relationship." Liberal senator Anne Ruston wished Antic well in his dual roles as president and senator. Antic's close colleague, Tony Pasin, suggested that the Liberal party and One Nation should "work together to defeat the Australian Labor party," implying that Antic's statements on issues like vaccination could face scrutiny. Pasin agreed with Antic's claim that pharmaceutical companies might be using bird flu as a pretext to promote flu jabs, though he clarified that the flu vaccine does not protect against bird flu. Pasin suggested the party should focus on winning elections rather than worrying about the consequences of Antic's election. Antic did not respond to questions by the deadline and indicated on X that he had "no intention" of engaging much with the media.