Legislative Council results in South Australia election: The winners and losers

A former top prosecutor, well-known mayor, Labor Party state president, housing industry advocate and child protection campaigner have all failed to join the Legislative Council.

The new Labor state government is unlikely to gain control of the upper house, leaving it to work with the crossbench to get legislation through.

With counting still underway across the state, two remaining Legislative Council positions could go to either Labor, the Greens, Liberal Democrats, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party or Family First.

With the Liberals already securing four spots, this gives them a total of eight seats following the retirement of long-term politicians Rob Lucas and John Dawkins, while Labor also has eight.

The most high-profile casualty was former valuer-general John Darley, with his Advance SA party attracting just over 2100 votes by 10am on Sunday.

Other candidates who failed to secure enough votes included former director of public prosecutions Stephen Pallaras QC, former state politician Annabel Digance, child protection campaigner Belinda Valentine, housing industry figure Ian Markos, independent retailing boss Colin Shearing and former Port Adelaide mayor Gary Johanson.

Stephen Pallaras QC.

Belinda Valentine.

Among those who successfully sought election to the upper house was ALP state secretary Reggie Martin, largely credited with the party’s successful election campaign.

Sitting Labor MLCs Kyam Maher, Tung Ngo and former ALP state secretary Ian Hunter were re-elected.

Greens MLC Robert Simms was re-elected, rejoining Tammy Franks as the party’s two upper house representatives. They are likely to vote with Labor on most legislation.

Sitting Liberals Michelle Lensink, Dennis Hood and Nicola Centofanti were re-elected while young Liberal candidate Laura Curran, 25, also was successful.

SA Best politicians Frank Pangallo and Connie Bonaros were not required to stand as they are halfway through their eight-year terms. Neither were Liberals Heidi Girolamo, Jing Lee, Terry Stephens and Stephen Wade, nor Labor MLCs Emily Bourke, Justin Hanson, Irene Pnevmatikos and Clare Scriven.

Long-term Labor MLC Russell Wortley’s fate was uncertain with counting continuing.

The Legislative Council consists of 22 members, with 11 facing election every four years.

Those elected in 2014 had to stand again at this election.