Peter Malinauskas poised to become SA Labor leader as Tom Koutsantonis rules himself out
FORMER health minister Peter Malinauskas has nominated for the leadership of the SA Labor Party.
SA 2018
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FORMER health minister Peter Malinauskas has nominated for the leadership of the SA Labor Party.
It comes after speculation he would do so, especially after former premier Jay Weatherill stepped down following Labor’s election loss.
Yesterday he was poised to be elected on April 9 as leader after former treasurer Tom Koutsantonis ruled out a bid for the top job.
“After much reflection and discussion with my family, I have decided to nominate for the position of leader of the South Australian Parliamentary Labor Party,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“I will spend the coming days having discussions with my parliamentary colleagues.
“I would like to thank Jay Weatherill for his incredible service to the people of South Australia and the Labor Party.
“Out of respect for the Caucus process, I will not be making public comment in the immediate future.”
Mr Koutsantonis on Wednesday told The Advertiser he would not be a candidate while Mr Malinauskas, long earmarked as a future leader, was contesting.
“He is too good not to see in the leadership and is our best chance of victory,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
“He is a rare talent and deserving of the position.”
Susan Close has nominated for deputy leader, and said she would support Mr Malinauskas as leader.
“He would be a worthy successor to Jay Weatherill and is the right person to lead us to regain government,” Dr Close said.
Mr Malinauskas, who moved from the upper house to the western Adelaide stronghold of Croydon at Saturday’s state election, did not respond to requests for comment.
The 37-year-old former shop assistants’ union chief was installed in the upper house in December, 2015 and ushered into Labor’s Cabinet in January, 2016,
Mr Malinauskas, a member of Labor’s 25-person national executive, in 2011 infamously moved to replace Mike Rann as premier with Jay Weatherill.
The Labor caucus will meet on April 9 to elect the leader.
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