Seven biggest challenges faced by Premier Steven Marshall’s new Cabinet

With a Cabinet reshuffle finished, Premier Steven Marshall’s frontbench has new ministers, and others have completely different portfolios. So what will happen with South Rd?

• Three new ministers in Cabinet reshuffle
• Analysis: Taking control, Marshall rewards the loyal
• See the full Cabinet list here

New faces in the Cabinet and the juggling of several key portfolios means fresh decisions will have to be made on some controversial policies. Here are the biggest issues about to hit the in-trays of newbie ministers, and experienced players taking on a bigger workload

FINISHING SOUTH RD

On coming into government, the Liberals were confronted with a job that was half done. Labor had overseen massive investment that started to turn the state’s most important passenger and freight road route into a proper freeway. But they left the hardest stuff for the next guys, who are still working out what to do in the heavily built up bits of South Rd surrounding Anzac Hwy. New transport minister Corey Wingard has to decide soon whether to dig deep with an eye-wateringly expensive tunnel plan or widen the road at the surface and face the headache of buying back hundreds of homes and businesses to make way.

RAIL PRIVATISATION

Former transport minister Stephan Knoll wasn’t afraid to bite off some big challenges. Several were ultimately too big and dumped in the late stages of his time in the job. But one big one remains, and the Opposition will run on it all the way to the election. A privatisation of the tram operations is already underway and locked in. Trains are to follow next year, and Mr Wingard will face an almighty political fight with Labor if that privatisation stays on track.

FRUIT FLY FIGHT

The “zero tolerance” crackdown may have been one of former minister Tim Whetstone’s proudest achievements, but it has left a lot of people hit with fines fuming. As The Advertiser revealed yesterday, thousands have sought to have their penalties overturned and one especially furious Victorian man is threatening a class action, saying that people seeking to do the right thing have been unfairly pinged. New minister David Basham will face immediate calls to show leniency, as well as pressure in other quarters to also expand the scheme west.

COUNCIL RATE CAPPING REFORM

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman has proved herself capable of getting legislation through the Parliament to deliver real reform on tough policies. She also inherits another Knoll leftover, with the second bid at council rate capping and wider reforms. While rate capping is wildly popular in the public, it has few friends in the Upper House. Councils themselves hate it. She has a choice between ploughing on as planned, or taking a moment to reset.

PLANNING

While it may not be a policy area that dominates wider public debate, individual developments down the street of average voters can loom large at election time. As Ms Chapman’s Labor predecessor found out, everyone has an opinion and the NIMBY instinct can quickly turn people off supporting a government whose policies are seen to be taking away the quality of life they expected when moving in. Controversial planning reforms in the pipeline have been lambasted by everyone from neighbourhood groups to architects and councils. Doing nothing is probably not an option. Doing anything is asking for trouble.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Premier Steven Marshall earmarked exports as an essential focus for his government when elected, saying one way for SA to get richer was bringing in more money from around the world through much stronger trade. He was said by colleagues to have been frustrated by a perceived lack of progress under former minister David Ridgway. Incoming minister Stephen Patterson has scored one of the swankiest roles in this Cabinet, with plenty of travel and economic influence. He’ll be expected to live up to high demands from his leader.

LAW AND ORDER

The police, emergency services and prison systems mostly run themselves but the interactions with them can pose some significant political challenges for a minister. Outgoing speaker Vincent Tarzia will have to walk a fine line between letting police do their jobs and saying all the right things in public about how they should do so. He will also be an important public spokesman at times of disaster, like bushfires. Police Commissioner Grant Steven’s power and public profile have been significantly raised during this COVID period, which means the incoming and ambitious minister must learn quickly exactly what his place will be.