Former SafeWork SA boss Martyn Campbell named as SA’s Consumer Affairs Commissioner
The new consumer affairs watchdog boss has been appointed — and will take the helm of a $16m vape shake-up, mega rental reforms and casino investigation.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A former SafeWork SA boss has landed a new top government job, taking the reins of the state’s consumer affairs watchdog.
Martyn Campbell was announced as the new Consumer Affairs Commissioner on Tuesday, following the resignation of Dini Soulio earlier in the year to take up the role of Chief Executive of SuperSA.
Mr Campbell spent six years at SafeWork before handing in his resignation in 2022, just a month before the findings of an independent review into the agency’s operations was handed down.
He has previously worked as a detective inspector with both UK and SA Police, workplace ombudsman, assistant commissioner at the Australian Taxation Office and as a regulatory com
pliance consultant.
He takes over Consumer and Business Affairs ahead of a major $16 million crackdown on the licensing and enforcement of the sale of tobacco and vape products.
From July 1, CBS will take over the licensing functions from SA Health, responsible for assessing new licence applications, investigating reports of illegal sales, and ensuring licensees abide with the law.
During Mr Campbell’s time at SafeWork, the organisation faced public criticism for its handling of a number of high-profile cases — including the infamous 2018 Adelaide Crows pre-season camp.
In 2018, he told The Advertiser he felt anger, humiliation and embarrassment over blunders that led to him apologising to grieving families, admitting the organisation had been a “toothless tiger” in the past.
Consumer Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels extended her congratulations to Mr Campbell, backing him in to front the new CBS-led task force.
“He is taking the helm at an important time for the organisation as the state government continues to make a number of important reforms including … the independent investigation into the SkyCity Casino and overseeing the introduction of the most significant reforms to South Australia’s rental laws in a generation,” Mr Michaels said.
“I look forward to working with him.”
Gupta is gone: Mali breaks silence on dramatic Whyalla move
The SA Premier says Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance had its chance to pay its debt but now it's no longer operating the Whyalla facility.
SA government places Whyalla steelworks into administration
KordaMentha will be brought in to run the Whyalla steelworks after the South Australian government passed emergency legislation to put the operations into administration.