The factional powerbrokers of SA politics
True political power doesn’t always have a public face. With suggestions cracks may be reappearing in the Liberal Party and Labor no stranger to power games, we take a look at the major factional players of SA politics.
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A mess over the filling of the plum parliamentary roles of President and Speaker sparked new claims of internal unrest in the Liberals. Labor too has had its fair share of power games. We pull back the curtain on the major factional players on both sides to explain who holds true power behind the public gaze in SA.
THE LIBERAL PARTY
The Liberal Party is like herding cats. There are now three major active factions. But there is also a bunch of people who consider themselves to be unaligned, even if their social views on issues like abortion and euthanasia tend hard in one direction. It makes their power games complex, and often messy.
Steven Marshall (Moderate)
The now-premier would be unlikely to ever call himself a factional player, and came to the leadership uncontested after the exit of predecessor Isobel Redmond in 2013. But his key staff and confidantes are almost all moderate blue bloods. In the minds of conservatives, he’s a paid-up moderate, and that alone is enough to ensure some friction. But Mr Marshall was also elected along with a class of MPs who weren’t in the party room for the worst of old factional fights. Relative newcomers like Corey Wingard, Dan van Holst Pellekaan and David Speirs have all demonstrated personal loyalty to him even if they are not factionally-aligned.
Christopher Pyne (Moderate)
A political animal, the former federal defence minister divides opinion like no one else in the Liberal Party or possibly even SA politics generally. Those who have done battle with him say Mr Pyne can never be trusted, but those on his side have often found themselves in the winner’s circle as his rat cunning and number crunching built a personal empire. For a period over the past decade, whether someone supported or despised Mr Pyne was the easily the best guide of their factional allegiance. But his influence has gone far beyond Adelaide, as Mr Pyne was in the thick of the recent spate of federal Liberal leadership changes. His new life in lobbying ensures an invisible hand remains active throughout politics and business.
Simon Birmingham (Moderate)
Arguably the most influential and powerful person in SA today. He is the state’s top-ranking federal MP and Cabinet Minister, and has taken over many of the moderates’ factional organising duties since Mr Pyne’s exit from parliament. He’s an adviser to Mr Marshall, and Senator Brimingham’s wife Courtney Morcombe is the premier’s chief of staff. Senator Birmingham is seen even by factional opponents as an honest broker. His strategic planning has helped ensure that the moderates are almost unchallenged in SA’s top federal and local ministerial posts after seeing off rivals including former Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi.
James Stevens (Moderate)
His election to Federal Parliament last year, replacing Mr Pyne in the blue-ribbon seat eastern suburbs seat of Sturt is probably the first time you heard this name. But James Stevens has been a factional player from an early age in the Young Liberals, and earmarked for big things. In 2010, he ran the local campaign in Norwood for an unknown called Steven Marshall before becoming his chief of staff in opposition. Also worked for Mr Pyne in Canberra. Mr Stevens is also seen as the mastermind of the party’s drought-breaking 2018 win, with its heavy emphasis on data. Is currently stuck behind Senators Birmingham and Anne Ruston, fellow moderates, for elevation to the federal ministry but seen as an inevitable future promotion.
Vickie Chapman (Moderate)
The last woman standing in a multi-generational feud between the Evans and Chapman clans, and still carries some of the baggage from it. Was at the centre of the revolving door leadership battles of a decade ago, and the anger still burns among opponents from the time and their contemporary followers. Longevity and survival instincts mean she has strong bonds across the moderate faction that made her the highest-ranking woman in SA political history.
Rob Lucas (Unaligned)
A social conservative, but fiercely free of factional ties, the treasurer can have as much influence as an entire army of foot soldiers when he chooses to. He supported Ms Redmond, along with the organised Right that unusually became her powerbase, and now just as staunchly backs the moderate-aligned Mr Marshall. Has been a mentor to a laundry list of staff who went on to bigger things, including former federal Minister Jamie Briggs and SA Property Council boss Daniel Gannon. His experience, including a front-row seat for the Brown-Olsen wars, means colleagues listen intently when he has something to say. Mr Lucas is the most powerful of the MPs and back room operators who refuse to pick a side.
Dan Cregan (Centre Right)
A first-term MP who has already managed to get himself noticed with the small start-up faction known as the centre right. A breakaway from the more aggressive conservatives, it seeks to act as a broker between the two biggest players. Mr Cregan’s public support for Senator Andrew McLachlan, who is unaligned but had the moderates already on-side, was seen as an important factor in his preselection this year. Other MPs said to be aligned to the group include former party president Steve Murray and the outspoken Nick McBride.
Stephan Knoll (Right)
A strong conservative on social issues who has helped organised votes in parliament to thwart radical change on issues including abortion and euthanasia, he had been seen as a possible future leader until the expenses scandal stalled his progression. Came up in the party with now-independent MP Sam Duluk, who also had high expectations put on him until a drunken night at a Parliament House Christmas party. Has frustrated some in the conservative movement for not being aggressive enough with moderates, and is not formally in the centre right group, but has ties to both and will need their support if he were to make a comeback.
Tony Pasin (Conservative)
A firebrand of the federal and state right who was a backer of Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s charge for the prime ministership and is highly-active in seeking to get people of a similar mind elected to party positions and parliament. His take-no-prisoners style was a contributor to the split with the now-centre right and he has been willing to speak out publicly against State Government positions that affect his large country electorate. Building a bigger profile in Canberra, and one of the more likely SA conservatives to make it to the ministry.
Nicolle Flint (Conservative)
Along with Mr Pasin and Senator Alex Antic, was one of three conservatives to sign a letter to the party executive raising concerns about Mr Marshall’s pick for Upper House president in a move that was seen as a factional shot by colleagues. Has repeatedly won the marginal federal seat of Boothby against strong Labor attacks, and the thanks of Prime Minister Scott Morrison in doing so. Active in supporting conservative candidates in senate and other races.
THE LABOR PARTY
SA Labor has two tribes, a dominant right and minority left faction, who battle internally for influence but also have a history of splitting the spoils to prevent open warfare. These are the key players who wield power over who gets everything from staff jobs to the leadership.
Peter Malinauskas (Right faction)
Was marked for big things ever since becoming a young head of the powerful shoppies’ union. Surprised many by joining state, instead of federal, parliament in 2015. Was quickly elevated to the ministry and then party leadership. Groomed by factional elders including former Attorney-General Michael Atkinson, Mr Malinauskas had so much authority by age 30 that he was dispatched to tell former premier Mike Rann that his days as premier were over, and the left’s Jay Weatherill would be stepping in. As Labor leader since 2018, sources say he takes a less obvious role in the toughest factional games but retains just as much influence and power. His time on Labor’s national executive also cemented strong links beyond SA’s borders.
Don Farrell (Right faction)
The “Godfather” has a place all his own as an almost spiritual leader of the Labor right. He’s credited with bringing together a once loose collection of unions and sub-factions together in the powerful “Unity” block that has ruled over state conventions and had the power to pick leaders, premiers, cabinet ministers and MPs. His guarantee kept the factionally-unaligned Mr Rann in the leadership role for two terms after the State Bank loss, and delivered the premiership to Mr Weatherill. Noted as anarch pragmatist who puts Labor victories over short-term factional wins. Now a senator, with influence across the national Right.
Tom Koutsantonis (Right faction)
Like his leader and Senator Farrell, comes from a background in the highly-influential shoppies’ union. His long career in parliament began with a long period in exile on the backbench amid animosities over his factional activism. His entry to the Cabinet in 2009 had a rocky start with the speeding fines affair, but strong support from his Right colleagues helped him survive, before going on to eventually become Treasurer for four years ahead of the 2018 election loss. Is now in the inner sanctum of Mr Malinauskas’ leadership team. Despite a long-running rivalry with Mr Weatherill, senior Labor sources say their differences were put aside under his leadership to focus on the common Liberal enemy.
Reggie Martin (Right faction)
As Labor Party state secretary, is the chief backroom official responsible for election tactics and strategy and one of the longest-serving in that role. Widely tipped for a top position on the party’s Upper House ticket at the next election and set to become an MP in 2022. Highly regarded for his work in securing the unwinnable election victory in 2014 and saving the furniture in 2018 as the tide went out on an ageing Labor government. Seeks to retain a reputation as an honest broker in the party’s most senior official position, but is seen as a trusted sounding board and tactician for many of the right faction leaders around him.
Josh Peak (Right faction)
Now has the reins at the shop assistant’s union, a position that brings power through all of the party infrastructure. As the biggest union in the largest Labor faction, the SDA has a solid block of votes at party convention and is able to bend policy to its will, including a staunch opposition to full deregulation of shopping hours, and a say in the preselection of MPs. While he did not take over as convener of the right after becoming secretary, party sources say he is taking an increasing role in negotiations with the Left over important deals.
Mark Butler (Left faction)
A former convener of the Left, with responsibilities for negotiating deals over the carve-up of seats and ministerial roles, gained a reputation as fierce combatant. Is now the most senior SA member of the Lower House in Federal Parliament, where supporters think he could still one day be a chance to get into a key leadership position. Already shadow minister for climate change and energy, has influence over some of the key portfolio issues affecting SA. A confidante and friend of MrWeatherill, Mr Butler was seen as one of the prime movers behind his elevation who helped grease the wheels for a Left takeover of the Labor machine.
Penny Wong (Left faction)
A leading progressive who was at the heart of former prime minister Julia Gillard’s team, Senator Wong maintains major influence through Labor’s Left. Her activism on gay marriage and other issues is seen as galvanising the more enthusiastic elements of Labor’s base and bringing in new members. Behind the scenes work from supporters was powerful enough to have a senate preselection with Senator Farrell overturned, and her placed in the prime top spot on the ticket in 2013. That ultimately saw her elected, and him without a job, amid a surge in support for the Nick Xenophon team. While some say she is can be remote from the daily factional games, sources say Senator Wong’s rarely loses the fights that she picks.
Kyam Maher (Left faction)
Labor’s leader in the Upper House and a former state secretary who has achieved position and power both behind the scenes and in key frontbench positions. A supporter of Mr Weatherill and also a former convener of the faction who has gone head-to-head with the Right in a bid to ensure the Left gets its share of the spoils. Along with Labor Deputy Leader Susan Close, is among the top-ranking Left MPs in state parliament and has the ability to choose who will be given the right to run in safe and marginal seats on the way to join them as politicians.
Karen Grogan (Left faction)
Exited the Council of Social Service in 2009 before spending several years as chief of staff to Mr Butler and then onto a senior role at the United Voice union. Once the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union, it is the Left equivalent of the SDA as the biggest worker group in its political block. Has become factional convener, following the super-secretive David Gray, to become the key powerbroker in battles over the party spoils