Labor MP Paul Caica to quit politics, Health Minister Jack Snelling to swap electorate for Florey

EXCLUSIVE: A former Labor minister joins the list of MPs retiring at the next election, as one of the Government’s most prominent ministers looks to swap electorates.

Labor MP Paul Caica, with his wife Annabel at Henley Beach, is retiring from politics. Picture: Greg Higgs

• Labor MPs Michael Atkinson, Jennifer Rankine and Steph Key to quit
• Peter Malinauskas makes his move
• TV journalist Jayne Stinson nominates for Labor preselection

FORMER water minister Paul Caica will join the list of MPs retiring at the next state election, as Labor prepares for a party game of musical chairs in which two ministers could shift seats.

The Advertiser can also reveal Health Minister Jack Snelling plans to transfer from his northern suburbs seat of Playford and into Florey, where Labor MP Frances Bedford is tipped to retire.

Both seats are considered safe for Labor, but have been radically reshaped by a boundaries redraw that pushes Mr Snelling’s Ingle Farm home into the new-look Florey.

Florey also takes in suburbs near Modbury Hospital, where Transforming Health reforms have been controversial.

“Given the majority of my electorate, where I’ve served for the last 20 years and where I live, is going to be in the seat of Florey, it’s something I’m considering,” Mr Snelling said.

“There is, however, a sitting Member for Florey. A lot will depend on Frances Bedford’s intentions.”

There is strong speculation within Labor that Ms Bedford will retire.

However, she surprised senior party figures in 2014 by renominating for the election despite expectations of an exit.

Senior Labor sources on Tuesday said former party secretary Michael Brown, previously denied in his attempts to join the Upper House, would take Mr Snelling’s spot in the safe seat of Playford.

In other moves, first-term MP for Napier John Gee will transfer to another northern suburbs seat, Taylor, which is currently held by Disabilities Minister Leesa Vlahos.

Ms Vlahos will move to the Upper House in 2018, replacing Police Minister Peter Malinauskas as he shifts downstairs.

Mr Caica was a minister from 2006 to 2013 and his against-the-odds win in the marginal Henley Beach seat of Colton was key to helping Labor form minority government after the last election.

He said securing a deal to save the River Murray in 2012 was a major career achievement, as was leading the process which resulted in the declaration of new marine parks across SA.

“I probably knew at the end of the 2014 election that this would be my last term,” Mr Caica said.

“I’d like to think that I leave politics with my integrity still intact and I’ve shown over a period of time that I’m a person who can get things done, because that’s what politics is about.

“The Murray deal was one of the proudest moments of my political life.”

Mr Caica said he was also “very proud” to have backed a package of social reforms which passed Parliament late last year, and hoped euthanasia would eventually be legalised in SA.

Premier Jay Weatherill said Mr Caica was “one of the nice guys of SA politics” and “never misses an opportunity to say a kind word to anybody that he meets”.

Labor sources said it was unclear who would stand in the Golden Grove seat of King.

Senior Labor staffer Blair Boyer has nominated in nearby Wright, which includes Wynn Vale.

Labor’s Justin Hanson, son of Australian Workers’ Union SA President Wayne Hanson, is expected to imminently join the Upper House after Gerry Kandelaars retired for family reasons.

Labor’s seat swapping comes after Liberal MPs Sam Duluk, David Speirs and Corey Wingard have all announced their plans to change electorates due to the radical boundaries redraw.

Mr Weatherill on Tuesday also said he would not govern with the support of Nick Xenophon in a possible hung parliament, saying Labor was focused on taking power in its own right.

Where Labor’s likely to land

Jack Snelling: From Playford (Mawson Lakes) to Florey (Modbury North).

Leesa Vlahos: From Taylor (Edinburgh) to the Upper House.

John Gee: From Napier (Davoren Park) to Taylor (Buckland Park).

Peter Malinauskas: From Upper House to Croydon.

Lee Odenwalder: Remains in Little Para (renamed Elizabeth).

Michael Brown: Candidate for Playford (Mawson Lakes).

Blair Boyer: Candidate for Wright (Wynn Vale).

Jayne Stinson: Candidate for Badcoe (Edwardstown).

Justin Hanson: Joins Upper House.

Paul Caica: Retires in Colton (Henley Beach).

Frances Bedford: Tipped to retire in Florey (Modbury).

Michael Atkinson: Retires in Croydon.

Jennifer Rankine: Retires in Wright (Golden Grove).

Steph Key: Retires in Ashford.

Gerry Kandelaars: Retires from Upper House.

Gail Gago: Retires from Upper House.