Tom Koutsantonis takes six major portfolios, including Treasury and Finance, in SA Premier Jay Weatherill’s new Cabinet
TOM Koutsantonis has become Premier Jay Weatherill’s economic Mr Fix-It, taking six major ministerial portfolios including Treasury and Finance.
TOM Koutsantonis has become Premier Jay Weatherill’s economic Mr Fix-It, taking six major ministerial portfolios including Treasury and Finance.
Mr Koutsantonis — one of Labor’s most visible spokesmen during the election campaign — is one of the big winners in Mr Weatherill’s new cabinet announced this afternoon.
Mr Koutsantonis has been appointed Treasurer, Finance Minister, State Development Minister, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Automotive Transformation Minister and Small Business Minister.
The member for West Torrens was responsible for transport, infrastructure, housing, urban development, mineral resources and energy in the previous government.
His influence within the party has steadily increased since he was appointed to the ministry in 2009.
However, his early ministerial career hit a speedbump when he was forced to resign as road safety minister after the Sunday Mail revealed he had amassed 58 traffic offences and over $10,000 in fines, prompting the nickname “Turbo Tom”.
The reshuffle also includes four new faces.
Independent MP Geoff Brock has been appointed Minister for Regional Development and Local Government.
Zoe Bettison has been appointed Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Social Housing, Multicultural Affairs, Ageing, Youth, Volunteers and Veterans’ Affairs.
Susan Close is Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade and Minister for the Public Sector.
First-term MP Stephen Mullighan is Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, and Minister assisting in Housing and Urban Development and Planning.
Most other senior members of Cabinet retained their existing portfolios.
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THE FULL MINISTRY
The Hon. JAY WILSON WEATHERILL, LLB, BEc, GDLP, MP
Premier
Member of Executive Council
The Hon. JOHN ROBERT RAU, LLB, MP
Deputy Premier
Attorney-General
Minister for Justice Reform
Minister for Planning
Minister for Housing and Urban Development
Minister for Industrial Relations
Member of Executive Council
The Hon. GAIL ELIZABETH GAGO, BSc (Hons), DipAppSc (Nursing), MLC
Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills
Minister for Science and Information Economy
Minister for the Status of Women
Minister for Business Services and Consumers
Member of Executive Council
The Hon. JOHN (JACK) JAMES SNELLING, BA, JP, MP
Minister for Health
Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Minister for the Arts
Minister for Defence Industries
Minister for Health Industries
Member of Executive Council
The Hon. JENNIFER MARY RANKINE, MP
Minister for Education and Child Development
Member of Executive Council
The Hon. TOM KOUTSANTONIS, MP
Treasurer
Minister for Finance
Minister for State Development
Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy
Minister for Small Business
Minister for Automotive Transformation
Member of Executive Council
The Hon. IAN KEITH HUNTER, BSc (Hons), MLC
Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation
Minister for Water and the River Murray
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation
Member of Executive Council
The Hon. ANTONIO PICCOLO, BEc, MEdMgt, CPA, JP, MP
Minister for Disabilities
Minister for Police
Minister for Correctional Services
Minister for Emergency Services
Minister for Road Safety
Member of Executive Council
The Hon. LEON WILLIAM KENNEDY BIGNELL, MP
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
Minister for Forests
Minister for Tourism
Minister for Recreation and Sport
Minister for Racing
Member of Executive Council
The Hon. GEOFFREY GRAEME BROCK, JP, MP
Minister for Regional Development
Minister for Local Government
Member of Executive Council
The Hon. ZOE LEE BETTISON, BA, MBA, MP
Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion
Minister for Social Housing
Minister for Multicultural Affairs
Minister for Ageing
Minister for Youth
Minister for Volunteers
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Member of Executive Council
The Hon. SUSAN ELIZABETH CLOSE, BA (Hons), PhD, MP
Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade
Minister for the Public Sector
Member of Executive Council
The Hon. STEPHEN CAMPBELL MULLIGHAN, BA, MP
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure
Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning
Minister Assisting the Minister for Housing and Urban Development
Member of Executive Council
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Labor’s caucus met for the first time since the election this morning to decide which MPs would be elevated to ministers to replace those who lost their seat.
Mr Weatherill walked in to a standing ovation, saying “it’s good to be here”.
He congratulated his colleagues old and new on being “able to fight back from a long way behind to essentially a stalemate”.
“We’ve achieved a remarkable victory and while we’ve run a fantastic campaign here’s one thing that made it all possible and that’s every single one of you,” Mr Weatherill said.
“While we had a fantastic air campaign, down in the trenches there was a hand-to-hand war and I know that you’ve gone seat by seat, neighbourhood by neighbourhood, door to door and spoken to as many people as you can ... and that’s how we got there. This is a historic victory.”
Mr Weatherill will lose his long-time chief-of-staff Simon Blewett, who will be replaced by Dan Romeo from the Right faction, who had been John Rau’s chief-of-staff.
Mr Mullighan, who was only just elected as the member for Lee at this election, said that the three new ministers had been given a significant opportunity.
“It’s a significant responsibility that we take very seriously and we’re looking forward to working hard for the benefit of SA,” he said.
Ms Bettison said there had been some discussion about which portfolio she would receive.
“I’ve always been keen to put my hand forward — obviously to be elevated to the ministry is what most people want when they come into politics,” she said.
The reshuffle has been forced by the loss of three former ministers at the election — Michael O’Brien, Chloe Fox and Grace Portolesi — as well as the surprise resignation of Tom Kenyon.
Mr Brock has been gifted a ministry for reinstalling the Labor government on Sunday and will have control of the junior regional development and councils portfolios.
MORE: GEOFF BROCK SAYS HE COPPED DEATH THREATS
MORE: TOM KENYON QUITS CABINET FOR FAMILY TIME
Mr Mullighan, 34, has long been seen as a possible future Labor leader. He will follow in Mr Weatherill’s footsteps by joining Cabinet immediately after being elected to Parliament.
Dr Close, a former public servant, was elected in the 2012 Port Adelaide by-election and was quickly elevated to a post as parliamentary secretary to Mr Weatherill.
Speaker Michael Atkinson is expected to continue and Mr Kenyon will become Labor whip.
Leesa Vlahos, overlooked for a ministry last year, will remain a parliamentary secretary.
Opposition Leader Steven Marshall will consider a reshuffle after Labor’s Cabinet is unveiled.
He said there was “no doubt” Labor’s minority government lacked a mandate and cast doubt it would run for a full four-year term.
“It remains to be seen,” he said.
“The people of South Australia voted for change, and they haven’t got change.
“That will put incredible scrutiny with a minority on the floor.”