SA Governor Frances Adamson’s warning to Labor ministers

The state’s political leaders have been given a stern warning from the new Governor – and government sources say that’s fair enough.

Governor Frances Adamson pictured with Premier Peter Malinauskas and Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis during a cabinet meeting at Government House on September 11 after the Queen died and before the King's proclamation. Deputy Premier Susan Close was away. Picture: State Government

South Australia’s political leaders have been warned to lift their game amid concerns some failed to understand important government policy and new laws needing official approval.

Labor’s cabinet, and their most senior advisers, were rebuked to be “broadly” across state government agendas when briefing Governor Frances Adamson at Executive Council.

Senior government sources said concerns centred on an unnamed Labor minister being “unable to satisfactorily answer questions” from Ms Adamson, formerly Australia’s chief diplomat.

Governor Frances Adamson at Government House with ministers, including Premier Peter Malinauskas, during a cabinet meeting on September 11. Picture: State Government

Ms Adamson, who earns $408,695 a-year as the state’s constitutional head, presides over council meetings at Government House with usually two ministers.

She is briefed on legislation, taxpayer appointments, proclamations, regulations or other parliamentary business, which she ratifies by royal assent.

Cabinet discusses all items except legislation, which is approved by both houses of parliament.

The Governor said in response to questions: “I’ve made clear an expectation that everyone attending should be … across the items.

“There is no problem. But I wouldn’t want there to be one. No, the point about making expectations clear is you make them clear in advance of any problems arising.

“I wanted to make it clear that I expected people to be fully briefed. There was no failure, which made me say that.”

Governor Frances Adamson pictured with Premier Peter Malinauskas and Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis during a cabinet meeting at Government House on September 11, after the Queen died and before the King’s proclamation. Picture: State Government

It is understood political chiefs of staffs were given the edict at a recent weekly meeting. It is believed cabinet was given similar warnings.

All 14 ministers, and Premier Peter Malinauskas, are council members.

“The advice was the ministers attending Executive Council should be broadly across the documents the Governor is going to sign,” one official said.

“This Governor being the former head of a federal agency, being highly intelligent, will ask questions of ministers about the document she’s going to sign.”

Another said: “You have to be top of your brief. Full credit to the Governor. It’s fantastic you have someone – effectively the head of state – who is actively involved.”

A third source added: “It’s not a bad thing to have someone who is actually asking questions in exchange for the beautiful house and the decent salary.”

Figures show Ms Adamson, the former Foreign Affairs and Trade Department secretary, has chaired 59 council meetings since the Queen approved her appointment last year as SA’s 36th Governor.

Ms Adamson, a mother-of-four who served 36 years as a public servant in Canberra and overseas including China and Britain, said the council was part of the machinery of government that “runs pretty smoothly actually”.

“The reality is, of course, these items typically come after cabinet consideration,” she said.

“All ministers, generally speaking, are involved in cabinet discussions. So they’re actually well-placed to meet that expectation.

“I think it would be fair to say that I’ve always got the answers I needed in the Executive Council.

“And if for any reason they’re not able to be provided immediately, then they’ve always been provided. So there is no issue as far as I’m concerned with the advice that I’m receiving.

“But having said that, I expect, of course, that ministers will arrive sufficiently well briefed.”

In a statement, the Premier’s spokesman said: “The new state government has a big agenda, ensuring the Governor is fully-briefed on these matters at Executive Council is a priority.”