Scorecard: How SA Government ministers performed in 2020
A year that began with devastating fires then got even harder tested SA’s government ministers like seldom before. Here’s how we rate their performance.
Opinion
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The State Government increasingly looked like a one-man show the more 2020 rolled on. Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman, Treasurer Rob Lucas and Health Minister Stephen Wade have all had good years.
But with devastating bushfires followed by the global health pandemic, Premier Steven Marshall has been front and centre – handling both issues admirably.
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The year has not been all smooth sailing, though. Losing rising star Stephan Knoll and fellow minister Tim Whetstone was a blow.
With the Treasurer on the way out, the Premier needs his support crew to lift, especially new Infrastructure and Transport Minister Corey Wingard.
Today, The Advertiser and Sunday Mail’s political team gives the Cabinet its annual scores.
STEVEN MARSHALL – 9
COVID-19 has helped lift the profile of leaders across the country, and Mr Marshall is certainly no exception.
There has been the odd misstep, but South Australia’s health response to the virus has been near-flawless.
The Premier stood firm under immense pressure from various industry groups, particularly the powerful hospitality sector, throughout the pandemic, with the consistent mantra that he would rely on “expert health advice”.
Early signs are that the economic comeback is happening, but the safety net of JobKeeper could be hiding the real impact of the coronavirus.
Earlier in the year, Mr Marshall excelled when Prime Minister Scott Morrison was being rightly criticised for his handling of the issue.
Mr Marshall was forced into a major reshuffle, following two separate travel scandals, with some within the party arguing moves on Stephan Knoll and Tim Whetstone were too swift.
He has had to deal with some other internal distractions, including removing Sam Duluk from the party and a messy process that saw John Dawkins elevated to president of the Upper House instead of Jing Lee, who was Mr Marshall’s choice.
VICKIE CHAPMAN – 7.5
Another year of significant reform for the Attorney-General, again proving she is not wasting her opportunity in government.
She has overseen the passing of reforms including, but not limited to, overhauling sentence-discount provisions, instituting a special court of appeal and strengthening equal opportunity laws.
She also delivered on a longstanding promise to remove the horribly outdated gay-panic laws and was part of the push for abortion reform.
At a practical level, Ms Chapman aided the push for open justice by removing automatic suppressions on the identity of sex offenders.
But Freedom of Information laws do not go far enough and she has effectively abandoned rate-capping, which was a key election promise.
ROB LUCAS – 7.5
As Treasurer, Mr Lucas delivered a horror Budget he described as “drowning in red ink” that the state had to have.
He did this by adopting the mantra from Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe and federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who were both urging the states to borrow big to get the economy moving.
He continues to win his wars with the unions and remains an indispensable asset to the Premier. Mr Lucas has cut water bills, possibly the Liberals’ biggest re-election selling point other than COVID-19.
He oversaw a big-spending stimulus plan that appears to be paying some dividends, but did come under some reasonable pressure for not getting it out the door early enough.
The fall of Stephan Knoll leaves no obvious replacement for Mr Lucas.
DAN VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN – 6.5
The Mineral Resources and Energy Minister was also promoted to manager of government business and the budget subcommittee of Cabinet this year.
He has had the key task of getting power bills down and has shown progress in the past two years. However, prices are still short of an election promise to reduce bills by $302 on the 2016-17 prices.
The interconnector is progressing, albeit slowly. Solar panel and battery programs have been popular and he has strengthened SA’s case to become carbon-neutral by 2030.
Mr van Holst Pellekaan had to announce the government would underwrite an urgent $10m investment in the state’s power grid, after the Australian Energy Market Operator warned a voltage disturbance near Adelaide could see half South Australia’s photovoltaic cells simultaneously switch off.
He had some challenges in the mineral portfolio, including watching BHP stall the brownfields expansion of Olympic Dam once again.
JOHN GARDNER – 7
The Education Minister is making improvements in the teaching standards and educational standards across the school system.
Infrastructure upgrades to get Year 7 into high schools are progressing well, but the pressure will be on to finish them by the end of 2021.
Mr Gardner introduced a popular mobile phone ban for primary schools and an optional ban for high schools.
He will face a headache with the universities facing huge black holes in their budgets.
MICHELLE LENSINK – 5
The Human Services Minister needed to handle the case of Annie Smith much better.
The 54-year-old with cerebral palsy died in April after being left to sit in a cane chair 24 hours a day for what police allege could have been a year.
Many departments and agencies, across state and commonwealth boundaries, were responsible for shortfalls but Ms Lensink needed to take greater ownership. She has done some good work in housing reforms.
DAVID PISONI – 6
As Innovation and Skills Minister, Mr Pisoni has plenty of opportunity for good news stories in interesting areas such as film and defence.
There have been some good signs in the Vocational Education and Training sector – particularly in the jobs of the future such as IT and the space industry. The designated migration agreements, that were set to transfer the skills shortage landscape have been a disaster and are subject to an overhaul.
He will have a huge job on his hands to reach the government’s apprentice and trainee target of 20,800 extra places over four years.
STEPHEN WADE – 8.5
As Health Minister, he has had much of his year focused on the COVID-19 response which has been, in the main, exceptional. He has often taken a back seat to the Premier, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, and chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier as the public face of the health response but worked hard regardless.
Progress on the Women’s and Children’s Hospital remains a problem and ramping continues to be an issue.
RACHEL SANDERSON – 4
Child protection is one of the most difficult portfolios. But Ms Sanderson needs to do better at dealing with the inevitable crises that come up, such as recent revelations that two men got two 13-year-old girls, in state care, pregnant.
Just last week, Ms Sanderson revealed there were more cases of children in state care who had fallen pregnant, or are involved in current court cases, that she was unaware of until recently.
COREY WINGARD – 4
He was handed one of the most important jobs in Cabinet when promoted to Infrastructure and Transport Minister.
The outsourcing of Adelaide’s train contract – a key political target for the Opposition – is off the rails.
He has also had to announce $100m budget blowouts on the Gawler line project and the Hove level crossing, while the Treasurer took credit for tunnels on South Road – and saving Thebarton Theatre.
Like Ms Sanderson, he appears to be let down by a challenging environment in the department but it is incumbent on him to fix that.
He was impressive during the bushfires earlier in the year, although the Premier took the lead.
DAVID SPEIRS – 6.5
He was overlooked in the reshuffle despite being accomplished in parliament and a safe pair of hands.
There were suggestions that it was due to his temperament and lack of interest in doing some media. Mr Speirs progressed nation-leading single use plastic reforms and released a comprehensive climate- change strategy.
He also oversaw a major decentralisation program in the Environment and Water Department that was hardly noticed. He also struggled with the sell on sand-carting in Adelaide’s western suburb beaches.
VINCENT TARZIA – 5
It’s too soon to tell how the former speaker will adapt to his new role as Police Minister. His first major test came when a prisoner escaped from the privatised Adelaide Remand Centre – through a window using a rope made out of clothes – before casually walking down Philip St between Hindley St and Currie St.
In parliament, Mr Tarzia handled the situation well. Long regarded as very ambitious and one to watch, he will need to strike the right balance.
DAVID BASHAM – 5
Stepped into the Primary Industries and Regional Development portfolio without any issues but is yet to make his mark.
His predecessor, Tim Whetstone, was a solid performer and the Liberals talked a big game about the regions before taking government so it is important Mr Basham makes progress in 2021.
STEPHEN PATTERSON – 5
Was given the Trade and Investment portfolio after the resignation of David Ridgway.
This has been near-impossible to measure in 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis hitting the international student sector hard and China’s trade threats.
Mr Patterson could expect kudos if he finds ways to overcome these challenges.
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