Independent Minister Dan Cregan to quit politics attributing the decision to ‘family reasons’

The state government will need to reshuffle its cabinet again as one of its ministers has announced he is quitting politics to care for a family member.

Independent Police Minister Dan Cregan to quit politics. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Liberal defector turned independent Police Minister Dan Cregan will quit politics, forcing Premier Peter Malinauskas into another cabinet reshuffle.

In a surprise decision attributed to “family reasons”, Mr Cregan will leave the state Labor ministry after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

He will continue in his Adelaide Hills seat of Kavel until the next state election, in March, 2026, and is expected to endorse an independent candidate to replace him.

It is understood Mr Cregan, 40, intends to spend time helping care for a close family member who has recently suffered a stroke.

In a joint statement to The Advertiser with Mr Malinauskas, Mr Cregan said he had loved his role as Kavel MP since being elected in 2018 but “pressing family matters make this the correct decision at this time”.

“Most political careers are doomed to go on for longer than they should and this is the right time for me,” Mr Cregan said.

Mr Malinauskas will announce a cabinet reshuffle “in due course”.

It is likely that Mr Cregan will be replaced in cabinet by Emily Bourke, now the Assistant Minister to the Premier and Assistant Minister for Autism.

This allows the Premier to rejig his ministerial team just ahead of the election countdown starting a year out from polling day.

Mr Malinauskas hailed Mr Cregan’s collaboration in implementing a “world-leading” ban on political donations and his “relentless advocacy” for the Adelaide Hills.

“I’m sad to lose him,” the Premier said.

“But I absolutely understand that family is, rightly, his first priority.

“Dan will leave cabinet with a legacy to be proud of.”

Mr Cregan worked for Sydney law firm Allens before winning Kavel in 2018 as a Liberal.

His shock defection from the Liberal Party as a first-term backbencher in October, 2021, to stand as an independent, was revealed exclusively by The Advertiser.

At the time, Mr Cregan said his considered objective was to negotiate for significant local investment in Kavel, which includes Mt Barker, Woodside and Nairne.

A late-night parliamentary coup just four days later resulted in him being installed as Speaker, in a newly created independent role he held until April, 2024.

Mr Cregan in 2022 was re-elected in Kavel, which had been held by the Liberals since its inception in 1970, making it the state’s safest seat with a margin of more than 25 per cent.

In another career twist, Mr Cregan last April joined the Malinauskas cabinet as an independent minister, holding portfolios of police, emergency services, correctional services and special minister of state.

In an apparent attempt to explain his Liberal defection and embrace of the Labor Cabinet, Mr Cregan on Monday said he had been “determined to fix underinvestment in the Hills”.

“I came to see that the only way to do this was to play hardball,” he said.

“We now have a new hospital, aquatic centre, sports hub, ambulance station, Service SA centre and major road and public transport upgrades, either delivered or underway.”