Former SA deputy premier gets top Small Business Commissioner

The Labor government has broken ranks to award a former political foe and roadhouse owner one of the state’s top business jobs.

Former Premier Steven Marshall (right) with Dan van Holst Pellekaan after he was voted in as deputy premier by the state Liberal Party. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

The Labor government has broken ranks to award a former political foe and Spud’s Roadhouse owner one of the state’s top business jobs.

Former Liberal deputy premier Dan van Holst Pellekaan has won the plum job of Small Business Commissioner, supporting the state’s more than 150,000 operators.

The former Liberal MP was a cabinet minister with former Premier Steven Marshall but lost his seat of Stuart in the state’s north in 2022 to independent MP Geoff Brock.

He was a Mount Remarkable council member and lived in the remote country town of Wilmington working on tourism projects, having previously been a professional basketball player and BP executive.

Small business Minister Andrea Michaels said Mr van Holst Pellekaan would start work on August 11 on a three-year term, bringing his experience as a small business owner in the retail and hospitality industry to the role.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan was Energy and Mining Minister in the Marshall cabinet and took over as Deputy Premier from former Attorney-General Vickie Chapman.

He and two investment partners bought Spud’s Roadhouse at Pimba, 170km north of Port Augusta near Woomera in early 1999, and Mr van Holst Pellekaan lived there for seven years.

Dan van Holst Pellekaan at Spuds roadhouse at Pimba in November, 2000. Picture: Leon Mead

He went onto build the business to include other roadhouses at Glendambo, Marla and Innamincka.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan was also a professional basketballer in Tasmania playing four seasons with the Tassie Devils.

Ms Michaels said after serving as a Liberal MP from 2010 and 2022 along with a long history working with small businesses, Mr van Holst Pellekaan brought plenty of experience to the job.

Tassie Devils basketballer Dan van Holst Pellekaan (lying down) back in his playing days. Picture: Mercury archive

Former Energy Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan at AGL's Torrens Island Power Station. Picture AGL

His background in governance – across both state and local government – and in advising small, medium and large businesses would support his job in investigating complaints on behalf of small businesses over commercial dealings with other businesses, plus state and local government.

The state’s 150,000 small businesses contribute more than $49 billion to the state’s economy and employ 300,000 South Australians, equating to about 40 per cent of the SA workforce.

“Having been a small business owner myself, I truly appreciate the importance of receiving advice and support from someone who really understands what it’s like to own a business and has a genuine understanding of the issues and pressures that come with it,” Ms Michaels said.