ALP rising star Peter Malinauskas to nominate for safe Labor seat of Croydon

RISING Labor star Peter Malinauskas is seeking pre-selection for the stronghold of Croydon — opening the prospect of a future leadership tilt — while a television journalist wants to join the party’s ranks.

• Peter Malinauskas, the man who would be Premier
• Malinauskas emerges as replacement for Upper House spot
• High expectations for Peter Malinauskas
• Meet South Australia’s political wishmaker
• ALP veteran Michael Atkinson quitting politics

RISING Labor star Pete Malinauskas will start a long-awaited switch to the party stronghold of Croydon, opening the prospect of a future leadership tilt.

In an exclusive interview with The Advertiser, the Police Minister declared he would nominate for the inner-western Adelaide safe seat — confirming a long-expected move from the Upper House.

The move comes as the Labor Party opened nominations on Monday for 20 seats, with television reporter Jayne Stinson seeking preselection for the new seat of Badcoe, in Adelaide’s inner south-west.

Mr Malinauskas, 36, has long been earmarked as a future Labor leader, particularly since he and then-treasurer Jack Snelling in 2011 famously tapped Mike Rann to replace him as premier with Jay Weatherill.

Peter Malinauskas with his daughter Sophie. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Mr Malinauskas, a Right faction powerbroker, yesterday declared electricity a major issue but steered clear of leadership talk, insisting the party was “lock, stock” behind Mr Weatherill.

Instead, Mr Malinauskas declared he was focused on winning preselection in Croydon, where The Advertiser on Saturday exclusively revealed veteran MP and Speaker Michael Atkinson will retire at next March’s state election.

Mr Malinauskas, a member of Labor’s 25-person national executive and a former state chief of the powerful shop assistants’ union, told The Advertiser he would have happily stayed in the Upper House had Mr Atkinson decided to continue.

“That’s a pretty big decision for him to retire because I know how hard he works,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“Now that he’s made his announcement, which means the party is going to need to preselect someone else in the seat of Croydon.

“My wife and I live in this community and want to live here with our family for a long time to come, so I’ve decided I’m going to put my hand up for preselection.”

A former ALP state president, Mr Malinauskas moved into Croydon in the middle of last year, immediately prompting speculation that he would seek to engineer a move from the Upper House, which he entered in December, 2015.

Police Minister Peter Malinauskas with Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. Picture: Sam Wundke

Despite his longstanding position as a party powerbroker, Mr Malinauskas insists he will immediately start canvassing Croydon ALP members for support — candidate nominations are expected to formally open Monday and close on February 17.

Asked whether he had leadership ambitions, Mr Malinauskas firmly backed Mr Weatherill, stressing Labor had had only two leaders since late 1994.

“I think everyone is lock, stock behind Jay. Jay only became leader in 2011, so he’s been leader for five years — we don’t go changing leaders frequently,” he said.

“I think everyone is working hard to make sure Jay wins (next year’s election) and hopefully the one after that too.”

Asked the major issues in Croydon, Mr Malinauskas nominated power prices and security, carefully endorsing Cabinet colleague and Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis’s handling of the issue and accusing the Federal Government of insufficient leadership in a national electricity market.

“The main issue that I think is concerning lots of South Australians, particularly working families and small business owners, is energy,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s any secret about that. It is a highly complex issue and I think a lot of people are looking for a simple solution and the truth is they don’t exist.

“That is something that I think the electorate that I hope to represent is genuinely concerned about.”