SA Government’s new ministers sworn in: Chris Picton and Katrine Hildyard replace Leesa Vlahos and Jack Snelling

VIDEO, POLL, YOUR SAY: Peter Malinauskas is South Australia’s new Health Minister, while Chris Picton and Katrine Hildyard’s portfolios have now been confirmed after they were sworn in as new ministers.

• GONE: Leesa Vlahos quits Cabinet but will stay in Parliament
• ALSO GONE: Why Jack Snelling is quitting politics
• OAKDEN: The crisis thrust Vlahos into the spotlight
• ANALYSIS: Snelling’s decision leaves Labor with several headaches
• ANALYSIS: Rookie minister’s mistakes could cost Labor voters

PETER Malinauskas is South Australia’s new Health Minister, while Chris Picton and Katrine Hildyard have been sworn in as new ministers today.

Mr Malinauskas has been promoted from the Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services portfolios to take over from Jack Snelling as Health Minister.

He also assumed Leesa Vlahos’s position as Mental Health Minister, after both Ms Vlahos and Mr Snelling resigned as ministers on Sunday.

Mr Picton, the member for Kaurna, has been appointed as Minister for Police, Correctional Services, Emergency Services, Road Safety and Minister Assisting Mental Health.

Ms Hildyard, the member for Reynell, is the new Minister for Disabilities and Minister Assisting Recreation and Sport.

Annabel Digance, member for Elder and Nat Cook, the member for Fisher, have been made parliamentary secretaries.

Chris Picton, Katrine Hildyard and Peter Malinauskas at Government House for their swearing-in ceremony. Picture: Calum Robertson

Mr Malinauskas said the government’s health policies would largely remain the same but said he brings “a fresh set of eyes to all the key decisions”.

“I’ll be working incredibly hard over coming days and nights making sure I’m speaking to all of the professionals that work in the industry, taking into account their views to see if I can’t put my own mark in terms of improving the system in the way that it continuously needs to be done,” he said.

“It is one of the most substantial portfolios within government that deals with the people that are in need, and I feel really privileged and quite honoured that the Premier has asked me to take on this responsibility.”

Premier Jay Weatherill with new Health Minister Peter Malinauskas at his swearing-in ceremony at Government House. Picture: Calum Robertson

Mr Picton said it was an “incredible privilege” to join Cabinet.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity and something I’m hoping to do well over the next six months,” Mr Picton said.

“I’m hoping to give it a red hot go and to represent those people very well in Cabinet and to ensure we continue to improve what are already excellent police and emergency services in SA.”

Ms Hildyard, a former chief executive of community organisation Together SA, said her new portfolio fit nicely with her pre-political career.

“I’ve been deeply passionate about making sure that every South Australian is included in every aspect of community life for my entire life,” she said.

“I can’t wait to work with people with disabilities, their families and their carers to make sure they are included in community life and our economy.”

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said the Cabinet reshuffle changed nothing for voters.

“The Premier says it’s a refreshed line-up but, quite frankly, it’s nothing more than rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic,” he said.

“Nothing is going to change with this dysfunctional, tired, 15-year-old line-up. What we need is a real new government in March next year.”

While Mr Marshall praised the “good decision” to combine the Health and Mental Health portfolios, he said Mr Malinauskas had a “massive amount of work to do to clean up the mess” in the health system.

He also questioned the timing of the resignations by Mr Snelling and Ms Vlahos, before a report into possible maladministration at the Oakden aged care home is released.

“The two ministers responsible for the portfolio under investigation have jumped before the report was brought down,” Mr Marshall said. “This smells very, very wrong.”

Health Minister Jack Snelling stands alongside Premier Jay Weatherill as he announces he is quitting politics. Picture: Tom Huntley

Earlier, Labor Whip Tom Kenyon said the resignations “caught people unawares” in the party and he would welcome independent MP Frances Bedford back into the Labor Caucus if she wanted to return.

“I’ve always got along very well with Frances. If she decided through some mechanism to come back into the Labor Party I would be very pleased,” he said.

Ms Bedford fought a bitter preselection battle with Mr Snelling for the seat of Florey.

The now independent quit the party over the stoush but has not confirmed that she will contest the seat at the 2018 election.

As Labor searches for a new candidate just six months from polling day, Ms Bedford is remaining tight-lipped, confirming only: “If I’m running, I’m running as an independent.”

Ms Vlahos was absent from the Caucus meeting and Mr Kenyon said she was unwell and visiting relatives.

He said she would make “a great contribution” if re-elected for a new eight-year term in the Upper House at the election in March. Ms Vlahos is top of the Labor ticket.

Picton, Hildyard confirmed new ministers. Annabel Digance and Nat Cook parli secs @theTiser pic.twitter.com/g6Awj8NepU

— Daniel Wills (@DanWillsTiser) September 18, 2017

Results in Left gaining a Cabinet spot. Told a "good of the party" call as Right options Digance and Dana Wortley fighting marginal seats.

— Daniel Wills (@DanWillsTiser) September 17, 2017

Member for Elder Annabel Digance is now a parliamentary secretary.

Member for Fisher Nat Cook is now a parliamentary secretary.

Ms Vlahos, who became the face of the Oakden aged care scandal as Mental Health Minister, resigned on Sunday, citing “personal health’’ reasons, although she will run at next March’s election and remain in parliament in the Legislative Council.

“(Health Minister) Jack Snelling’s announcement has given me the chance to reflect on my own plans,’’ she told The Advertiser.

“Following several periods of illness in recent months, I am stepping down to allow more time for my health in the near future.”

Leesa Vlahos announced her resignation on Sunday. Picture: Mike Burton

Ms Vlahos missed several sitting days in the most recent parliamentary sitting weeks because of ill health.

Mr Snelling’s shock resignation from the ministry and parliament was reported exclusively on Advertiser.com.au late Sunday morning.

At a subsequent press conference Mr Snelling said the desire to spend more time with his wife and six children was the driving force behind his decision.

This morning, Mr Snelling said his handling of the chemotherapy dosing scandal was the biggest regret of his 20-year political career.

He told ABC Radio he regretted waiting to disclose that 10 leukaemia patients had been underdosed, and instead woke up to see it on the front page of The Advertiser.

“The reasons for that at the time were because there were I think seven individuals involved who may not necessarily see what had happened to them in a splash all over the front page of the paper,” he said.

“Now as it turned out, one of them then went to the media, but I think the decision to not proactively go out on that particular issue, certainly I think it was a mistake and then from other things that happen we certainly took a far more proactive approach in when mistakes are inevitably made, being upfront about them.”