South Australian Labor premier Peter Malinauskas appoints ministers to cabinet portfolios
The final four members of the Malinauskas cabinet have been sworn in after ending Covid-19 isolations.
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The final four members of the Malinauskas cabinet have been sworn in after ending Covid-19 and close contact isolations that caused them to miss last week’s ceremony.
Katrine Hildyard, Nat Cook, Andrea Michaels and Kyam Maher had all begun their work as ministers last week under special commissions but on Friday took oaths or affirmations to finalise the process.
On Friday Mr Maher, who last week had Covid-19, became the first initiated Aboriginal man to be appointed as the Attorney-General of South Australia.
Mr Maher said it was an honour to be appointed, and then to also be sworn in as Aboriginal Affairs Minister.
“It was a very special moment, and I know there is a lot of expectation and work to be done over the next few years,’’ he said.
Ms Hildyard, who had also missed last week’s ceremony with Covid, said Friday’s smaller event was no less special.
“I felt really humbled and emotional but excited,’’ she said.
“I am determined to do things with and for people that will make a positive difference.”
Ms Hildyard is the Child Protection Minister and Minister for Women, Ms Cook is Minister for Human Services and Ms Michaels is Minister for Small and Family Business.
Eight of the 15-strong ministry – nine men and six women – was sworn in at Government House by Governor Frances Adamson last Thursday morning.
At an earlier ceremony, Peter Malinauskas was sworn in as Premier, Susan Close as Deputy Premier and Stephen Mullighan as Treasurer.
‘Not a Labor minister’: Brock vows to stay independent
The new Labor cabinet appointed by Premier Peter Malinauskas has been announced.
The 15-strong ministry - of nine men and six women - was sworn in at Government House by Governor Frances Adamson on Thursday morning.
Two surprise additions to the team were former federal Labor politician Nick Champion and independent Geoff Brock.
Mr Brock formerly served under the Weatherill Government after his support allowed Labor to return to power as a minority government in 2014.
WATCH A REPLAY OF THE CEREMONY
The Malinauskas Government holds power without Mr Brock’s support, but his inclusion shores up parliamentary support and adds regional clout to the ministry.
Upon accepting the position, Mr Brock said it was with the endorsement that he was not a Labor minister.
“I am an independent minister. I’m a member of the cabinet. I’m a member of the government, and I will extend my votes accordingly to how I see it.” he said.
“I will support organisations, but certainly I’m here to represent the Upper Spencer Gulf and regional South Australia.”
Mr Malinauskas said a deal was not struck with Mr Brock prior to the votes being counted on Saturday night.
Mr Brock resumes as local government minister, a role he previously held in the Weatherill government.
He held back tears as he was sworn in on Thursday.
“I’m just a passionate person and I feel for the people come in my office,” he said.
“I go on a journey with them and what you see is what you’re going to get from me going forward.”
He joins Clare Scriven as the two members of the cabinet who come from regional centres.
“Our regions are fundamentally important, they rely on services just as much as everybody else, have economic opportunity to present to the state just as much as everywhere else,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“They deserve to be represented around our cabinet table.”
The Premier’s new cabinet will have 15 members as opposed to Mr Marshall’s former frontbench, which consisted of 14 ministers.
Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said it was expected to cost the government an extra $630,000 per year.
“We’ve redistributed about three quarters of the cost of the 15th minister as savings across all of the other ministers,” he said.
After making the switch from federal to state politics, Mr Champion has been appointed housing and planning minister in his first term.
The other appointments were widely expected and largely based on Mr Malinauskas’ Opposition frontbench.
Four new ministers – Katrine Hildyard, Nat Cook, Andrea Michaels and Kyam Maher — will be sworn in at a later date because they were in isolation.
They have been commissioned to undertake their roles as ministers immediately.
Mr Maher became the first initiated Aboriginal man to be appointed as the Attorney-General of South Australia.
Eight of the 17 members on the frontbench will be female with Rhiannon Pearce and Emily Bourke sworn in as assistant ministers.
“What you’ll see is that it’s very diverse, progressive and it is modern,” Mr Malinauskas said.
Peter Malinauskas
Premier
Mr Malinauskas was the state secretary of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association before entering the Legislative Council in 2015.
He then moved to the Legislative Assembly, replacing former Attorney-General Michael Atkinson as the Labor MP for Croydon.
Mr Malinauskas was minister for police and correctional services in the Weatherill government before becoming health minister.
He became the state leader of the Labor Party following the 2018 election.
Susan Close
Deputy Premier
Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
Minister for Defence and Space Industries
Minister for Climate, Environment and Water
A former public servant, Dr Close was an environment activist before joining state parliament, helping to establish the Port River dolphin sanctuary.
She was the minister for education and child development, higher education and skills in the Weatherill and deputy opposition leader following the 2018 election.
Stephen Mullighan
Treasurer
The son of late Supreme Court judge Ted Mullighan, Mr Mullighan worked for Deloittes before becoming an adviser in the Weatherill government.
He worked for former Attorney-General John Rau and treasurer Kevin Foley and was deputy chief of staff to former premier Jay Weatherill.
Mr Mullighan was transport and infrastructure minister before becoming Labor treasury spokesman following Labor’s 2018 election loss.
Kyam Maher
Attorney-General
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector
A qualified lawyer, Mr Mayer worked in the Crown Solicitor’s Office before becoming chief of staff to former Labor regional affairs, Aboriginal affairs and correctional services minister Terry Roberts in 2002.
He was Labor Party state secretary before entering the Legislative Council in 2012.
Tom Koutsantonis
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Minister for Energy and Mining
Mr Koutsantonis was raised by Greek migrants in Adelaide’s western suburbs.
He worked as a taxi driver, small business owner and operated his parents’ chicken shop before becoming an industrial officer with the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association.
Mr Koutsantonis was appointed road safety minister following the resignation of independent Rory McEwen from the Rann Government cabinet in 2009.
He then was promoted to transport and infrastructure minister and later became treasurer and minister for finance and state development in the Weatherill government.
Chris Picton
Minister for Health and Wellbeing
Mr Picton worked in public policy before joining former Labor health minister John Hill as an adviser and his chief of staff.
He was appointed police, correctional services, emergency services and road safety minister in 2017.
Mr Picton has been Labor health spokesman since 2018.
Zoe Bettison
Minister for Tourism
Minister for Multicultural Affairs
Ms Bettison worked for rail operator Great Southern Rail and lobbyists Hawker Britton before her election to state parliament in 2012 in the seat of Ramsey, replacing former Labor premier Mike Rann.
She was an organiser with the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association and Northern Territory ALP state secretary before entering state parliament.
Ms Bettison was communities and social inclusion, social housing, multicultural affairs, ageing, youth, veteran affairs and volunteers minister in the Weatherill Labor government.
Katrine Hildyard
Minister for Child Protection
Minister for Women and Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence
Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing
Ms Hildyard worked for former Labor senator Nick Bolkus and the Australian Services Union before entering state parliament in 2014.
A parliamentary secretary to Mr Weatherill and ALP state president, she was appointed disabilities minister in 2017.
Nat Cook
Minister for Human Services
Ms Cook entered parliament in 2014 when she won a by-election to replace long serving Liberal and independent MP Bob Such.
An anti-violence campaigner following the death of her son, Ms Cook was parliamentary secretary for housing and urban development in the Weatherill government.
Clare Scriven
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development
Minister for Forest Industries
Raised in Mt Gambier, Ms Scriven was Australian Forests Products Association state manager.
She became a member of the Legislative Council in 2018.
Blair Boyer
Minister for Education, Training and Skills
Mr Boyer was a senior adviser to former Labor premier Jay Weatherill and chief of staff to former Labor human services minister Jennifer Rankine.
Joe Szakacs
Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services
Mr Szakacs was SA Unions secretary for six years before taking the seat of Cheltenham in a 2019 by-election.
A qualified lawyer, he also worked for Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and Fire Fighters’ Union.
Mr Szakacs was a champion swimmer, representing Australia at international competitions.
Nick Champion
Minister for Trade and Investment
Minister for Housing and Urban Development
Minister for Planning
Mr Champion is a former union official who switched from federal parliament to successfully contest the northern suburbs seat of Taylor in last weekend’s election.
He and Peter Malinauskas both worked for the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association.
Mr Champion is a former ALP state president and adviser in the government of former Labor premier Mike Rann.
Andrea Michaels
Minister for Small and Family Business
Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs
Minister for Arts
A practising lawyer, Ms Michaels was elected to the seat of Enfield during a by-election in 2019 following the resignation of former Labor deputy premier, planning minister and Attorney-General John Rau in December 2018.
Ms Michaels was appointed as the Labor spokeswoman for small and family business, consumer and business affairs, planning and urban development, and housing in 2020.
Geoff Brock
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Regional Roads
Minister for Veterans Affairs
Mr Brock was working in the Port Pirie smelter when he became a local councillor in 1989, later being elected mayor.
He entered state parliament in 2009 by-election for the seat of Frome in a shock result, holding the seat as an independent until last weekend, when he successfully contested the seat of Stuart, beating Liberal Dan van Holst Pellekaan.
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