By Abe Maddison in Adelaide

South Australia’s Liberals have a “mountain to climb” and only 103 days in which to do it, new leader Ashton Hurn says.

And she is acutely aware of the short runway before the March state election – referencing it 10 times during her first major media conference as leader.

Ms Hurn, 34, is the party’s third leader in less than 18 months and is now one of five women leaders of the Liberal Party at federal, state or territory level.

She had consulted newly-elevated NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane, noting she was also from the Barossa Valley and “a fellow Nuriootpa High graduate”.

“I spoke to her about some of the challenges that she’s faced, but this sense of hope and optimism that we have about what we can do in these roles,” she said.

She also sought the counsel of her brother, former West Coast Eagles AFL premiership skipper Shannon Hurn.

“Probably not the first person you’d go to for political advice, but one of the first, certainly when it comes to leadership,” she said.

“He led the West Coast Eagles to premiership victory in 2018 and his advice was, ‘it’s not over till it’s over’.

“And that’s my message to (Premier) Peter Malinauskas, that it’s not over until it’s over.”

Ms Hurn was unanimously elected leader by the partyroom on Monday, after Vincent Tarzia quit the role on Friday.

She was “genuinely shocked” by Mr Tarzia’s resignation “but I respect his decision, and I’ve got no reason to second-guess that”.

Mr Tarzia, who was elected leader in August 2024, faced weeks of speculation the party was pushing for Ms Hurn to take over.

Polls suggest the Liberals face an electoral drubbing with Mr Malinauskas among the nation’s most popular leaders.

Mr Tarzia is the third state Liberal to lose the leadership in as many weeks.

Brad Battin was replaced as Victoria’s opposition leader by Jess Wilson in mid-November, while Ms Sloane took over from Mark Speakman in NSW days later.

Ms Hurn also joins federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro as the five female Liberal leaders – understood to be a record for the conservative party.

“I’ve got great admiration for Jess Wilson in Victoria. I think she has hit the ground running,” she said.

“Likewise, with Kellie Sloane, who I think is a really caring, compassionate leader of the Liberal Party in New South Wales.

“Of course, we’re all in really unique situations …Kellie and Jess obviously have the luxury of a little bit of time”.

Ms Hurn, who is the member for Schubert, was born, raised and educated in the Barossa Valley.

She introduced herself as a mum and the daughter of a farmer.

“I’m a public school-educated person, the first in my family to go to uni, love, love my sport and love to roll up my sleeves to get things done.”

Deputy leader Josh Teague was re-elected, despite Liberal and former independent upper house MP Frank Pangallo earlier indicating he planned to nominate for the role.