Steven Marshall photographed in ritzy Penfolds marquee at Melbourne Cup while parliament was sitting in SA

The state government has fired up at Steven Marshall after the ex premier was snapped kicking up his heels at a lavish Melbourne Cup event while parliament was sitting.

The state government has taken aim at former premier Steven Marshall for attending an exclusive Melbourne Cup event while parliament was sitting on Tuesday.

Mr Marshall was photographed on the top deck at Penfolds marquee at Flemington Racecourse, along with Treasury Wine director Garry Hounsell and BHP chairman Ken MacKenzie.

Steven Marshall attending the Penfolds marquee at the Melbourne Cup in Flemington on Tuesday, 1 November 2022. Picture. Luis Enrique Ascui

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said Mr Marshall had a choice to make.

“Steven Marshall needs to choose between taking a taxpayer-funded salary or going to races,” he said.

“A lot of people have seen him go overseas and miss parliament on a number of days, and they’ve stayed quiet because he’s the former premier.

“The people of Dunstan deserve a representative in the parliament. He’s got to decide now: Is he staying or is he going?”

Occasionally MPs need to travel to conduct the states business. However, Steven Marshall & David Speirs need to decide if the people of Dunstan deserve an MP who will turn up to Parliament or a horse race. If Steven Marshall doesn’t want to be in Parliament then he should leave. pic.twitter.com/pN25zCpqtK

— Tom Koutsantonis MP (@TKoutsantonisMP) November 2, 2022

It is believed Mr Marshall was designated some days ago as a pair with a Labor MP – a convention which enables both to miss parliamentary votes.

He then accepted the invitation to attend the Melbourne Cup and kept the appointment when the pair arrangement was subsequently revoked. The trip was self-funded.

Mr Marshall has adopted an informal role pitching for business for the state, an arrangement that has been endorsed by Premier Peter Malinauskas.

It is understood Mr Marshall has been working closely with the Labor state government on job attraction, leveraging his significant global contacts.

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Asked to comment about this on September 13, Mr Malinauskas said: “I appreciate the former Premier’s efforts in attempting to lure investment into South Australia.

“This is a good use of his profile and contacts as a former Premier. I will continue to support his endeavours in the interests of our state.”

An opposition spokesman said the government’s criticism of Mr Marshall was “rank hypocrisy”.

“Leon Bignell, who isn’t even a minister, skipped parliament for an entire week to jet around Europe at the taxpayers’ expense,” he said.

“And who could forget that Peter Malinauskas himself bailed on parliament to attend a glitzy party in Canberra.

“Steven Marshall continues to promote South Australia and Labor should be celebrating the work he is doing to help attract international and interstate investment in our state.”

In September, the state opposition criticised Premier Peter Malinauskas for flying out to Canberra while parliament was sitting to attend the federal press gallery’s glamorous Midwinter Ball fundraiser.

At the time, an opposition spokesman said it raised questions about Mr Malinauskas’ priorities.

“Ditching parliament and his own council merger legislation for a black tie party in Canberra is a shocking look and South Australians would rightfully be angry,” he said.