Former health minister Stephen Wade to retire, opening upper house spot for Liberals

Former top-ranking Liberal minister Stephen Wade will quit politics, presenting the Opposition leader with a huge challenge.

Former health minister Stephen Wade, who helped steer South Australia through the darkest days of the Covid pandemic and reopened the Repat health precinct, will retire before parliament resumes on February 7.

His eight-year term as a Member of the Legislative Council expires in 2026 and the vacancy opens a lucrative opportunity for ambitious Liberal Party members.

It also presents Liberal leader David Speirs with a challenge to honour his goal of increasing the number of Liberal female MPs, which has sparked creation of a task force to increase women’s engagement with the party.

At the last election when the Liberals had six Legislative Council candidates, five were women including two who were not elected.

These included Kathleen Bourne – a former adviser to Mr Wade, who is also a moderate and would be acceptable to the moderate-dominated Liberal state executive.

She had previously run unsuccessfully for the federal seats of Wakefield in 2016 and Kingston last year.

Former Liberal health minister Stephen Wade will resign from parliament. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Liberal Party member Kathleen Bourne. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Under the state constitution a casual vacancy in the Legislative Council is filled by a member of the same party after endorsement by a joint sitting of parliament, without the need for a by-election.

Mr Wade, 62, has been a MLC since May 2006, served as Health and Wellbeing Minister between March 22, 2018, and March 24, 2022, and is now on the backbench.

Initial challenges included rebuilding the health system rocked by Labor’s Transforming Health program, major upgrades at most metropolitan hospitals and decentralising authority with the introduction of local health network boards.

However, these priorities were overtaken by the Covid pandemic in early 2020.

With then-premier Steven Marshall, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier, Mr Wade formed part of the “fab four” whose management of Covid resulted in relatively minimal lockdowns and deaths.

“It has been a privilege to serve the people of South Australia in the parliament for almost 17

years,” Mr Wade said.

“It was an extraordinary honour to serve as Health Minister and Chair of the national Health

Minister’s Meeting during a once-in-a-century pandemic.

Stephen Wade and wife Professor Tracey Wade bushwalking in the Adelaide Hills. Picture supplied by Mr Wade

Picture supplied by Mr Wade.

“I am deeply grateful to my wife, Tracey, former Premier Steven Marshall, and the Liberal

Party whose support made this service possible.

“I am looking forward to exploring new opportunities to serve in the years ahead. Thank you

to everyone who shared this journey with me.”

Mr Speirs commended Mr Wade on a career built on hard work and dedication to the community.

“Stephen is renowned as a hard worker – during the pandemic especially, his 4am messages to colleagues were legendary,” he said.

“There is no doubt his role in the former Liberal Government’s handling of Covid-19

was key to South Australia safely navigating the pandemic, in comparison to other

jurisdictions.

“I thank him for his incredible service and am appreciative of his commitment to be part of

the Opposition team as a mentor to the next generation of Liberal Party MPs.”