Labor likely to use numbers to bring Dan Cregan back as Speaker

Dan Cregan is likely to be reappointed as Speaker when state parliament resumes, and has fired a broadside at his former Liberal colleagues, saying they are in “outer Siberia.”

Independent MP Dan Cregan claimed the Liberals are stuck in “outer Siberia”, as speculation swirled over whether Labor will back him to stay on as Speaker.

As Labor claimed at least 27 seats in the election, the party will choose the Speaker when parliament resumes.

Mr Cregan would not speculate about whether he would nominate himself to continue in the role.

Premier Peter Malinauskas would not comment – but Liberal insiders expect Labor to use its numbers to reinstall Mr Cregan.

House Speaker Dan Cregan is likely to remain in the job. Picture: Emma Brasier

The maverick Kavel MP became Speaker last year in a sensational midnight coup, humiliating his former party.

As the Liberal government was plunged into minority last year, the swollen crossbench became more powerful than ever as independents used the balance of power to secure investments for their electorates. Their influence has now wilted as Labor holds an overwhelming majority.

But Mr Cregan made the point that independent MPs were still more powerful than Liberals.

“If a Liberal member had been elected in Kavel, they would be in outer Siberia right now with no uniform way of having any effective relationship with the government by contrast,” Mr Cregan said.

Mr Cregan with former Premier Stephen Marshall. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

“I will be focusing on holding the government to account and ensuring they build a new hospital for the Hills and invest in additional ambulance services.”

Excluding Geoff Brock, who has become a Labor cabinet minister, there were just three independent MPs elected to parliament – Troy Bell, Fraser Ellis and Mr Cregan.

Narungga MP Mr Ellis, a former Liberal, vowed not to get in the way of Labor pushing through election commitments. “Regional health is one thing I am particularly passionate about … and unfortunately while Labor did show a commitment to regional health in the South East and Mid North, they seemed to skip past the Yorke Peninsula,” Mr Ellis said.

Premier Peter Malinauskas, who spent time with Mr Bell in Mount Gambier this week, made a commitment to not ignore independents.

Troy Bell is one of only three independents elected to parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

“My government will continue to work closely with independent MPs,” he said.

“I know political orthodoxy would suggest with a clear Labor majority this is unnecessary, but I am not working with independent MPs because I need to, I am doing it because I want to.

“Working with independents will help make our state a better place.”

Former government primary industry minister David Basham looks likely to narrowly beat independent candidate Lou Nicholson for the seat of Finniss.