Scorecard: How the SA Opposition front bench performed in 2020
It’s been hard for the Opposition to grab the spotlight in 2020 but Labor has scored some wins. Here’s how we rate the shadow ministry’s efforts.
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Life has not been easy for the Opposition in 2020. Despite starting the year with some good polling, much of the news cycle and public attention has been on the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
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But Labor has enjoyed some political victories.
PETER MALINAUSKAS – 8
The Opposition Leader started the year well with polling in March, at the halftime point in the current electoral cycle, having Labor leading the Liberals 53-47.
But six months later, the figures had completely switched with Labor trailing 53–47. The result was unsurprising, as all state and territory government leaders across the country felt a surge in popularity due to their coronavirus responses.
However, it highlights the challenging year Mr Malinauskas has had. He got the balance right between criticising errors about the government’s handling of COVID-19 and offering constructive ideas.
He has made headway with various industry groups as he tries to highlight the difference between himself and former Labor premier Jay Weatherill.
SUSAN CLOSE – 6
The deputy leader relinquished the education portfolio in a September reshuffle that highlights what many believe to be her comfort in taking a back seat.
Dr Close is regarded as a trusted, sympathetic and sincere figure but has struggled to adapt to the role of being a frontbencher. She understands the environment portfolio well, particularly water issues.
KYAM MAHER – 6.5
The legal affairs spokesman has often taken the lead over the government on law-and-order issues, with sentencing-discount laws an example.
His committee work often digs up nuggets that embarrass the government. It is understood he was central in orchestrating the John Dawkins defection, that saw the veteran Liberal secure the presidency of the Upper House despite not being the Premier’s choice.
In the last week of Parliament, Mr Maher tabled new “dying with dignity” legislation.
TOM KOUTSANTONIS – 8
If the role of an Opposition frontbencher is to antagonise the government of the day, Labor’s infrastructure and transport spokesman has had a stellar year.
He was front and centre when the Opposition was attacking the government on a major public transport overhaul that was eventually scrapped, train outsourcing, indecision on the options to finish South Road and the country members’ allowance scandal.
While former minister Stephan Knoll often came out even against Mr Koutsantonis, new minister Corey Wingard is struggling against the political pugilist.
STEPHEN MULLIGAN – 7
Like Mr Malinauskas, the treasury spokesman has had a difficult year landing blows on his political opponent due to the pandemic.
Despite this, Mr Mullighan has done a good job in holding Treasurer Rob Lucas to account, particularly when it came to how quickly stimulus funding was getting out the door to the people who needed it.
He is a sound media performer who has done a good job getting Labor messages out despite the focus on COVID-19.
ZOE BETTISON – 5
The trade, tourism and investment spokeswoman has worked well behind the scenes, particularly with visitor economy stakeholders. But she has struggled to gain traction despite the tourism industry needing so much support.
Good ideas, including a push for a better tourism voucher scheme, have been put forward, but have often been left to bigger voices to run publicly.
CHRIS PICTON – 6.5
He is prone to overreach, including cherrypicking figures to try and undermine SA Health in the early days of COVID-19. The health spokesman struggled in the early days of the pandemic, unable to strike the right balance between scaremongering and constructive criticism.
But he has managed to keep the heat on Health Minister Stephen Wade about the Women’s and Children’s Hospital build and services across the entire sector, including ambulance ramping and emergency departments.
KATRINE HILDYARD – 5
She has mainly been reactive as the child protection spokeswoman but has been proactive with a private member’s Bill to increase domestic violence penalties.
As sports and recreation spokeswoman, she raised concerns about a potential SA version of the Commonwealth sports rorts franchise after discovering 12 successful grants ended up in Liberal seats 11 times.
LEE ODENWALDER – 6
Mainly reactive, but he has had a few good hits pointing out unflattering crime statistics. Unlike last year when the former police officer was front and centre in the push to boost penalties on rock-throwing, increase powers to search for drugs and toughen sentences for paedophiles, this year has proved more difficult with so much focus on COVID-19.
NAT COOK – 5
She was a strong voice of concern after the devastating case of Annie Smith. But the human services spokeswoman would benefit from being more proactive instead of waiting for the government to stuff up.
CLARE SCRIVEN – 5
She had done a reasonable job in pointing out flaws in the skills sector before a reshuffle gave her the role of primary industries spokeswoman. Ms Scriven is still to land a blow in her new role, despite facing a new minister.
JAYNE STINSON – 6
The former journalist was promoted in the reshuffle and is starting to make an impact as Labor’s planning and local government spokeswoman. She was vocal as the previous child protection spokeswoman.
BLAIR BOYER – 6.5
Mr Boyer was parliament’s most effective backbencher and got a huge reward with promotion to education spokesman.
He is hardworking behind the scenes and dogged in his desire to get wins over the government through the media. Mr Boyer is now one to watch and likely to be an important figure at the senior levels of the party over the next decade.
ANDREA MICHAELS – 5
Ms Michaels was recently promoted with a mixed portfolio including small and family business, consumer and business affairs and housing and urban development.
The areas are not often headline-grabbing, but she needs to do more on these issues to raise her profile.
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