New jobs for Mullighan, Cregan, Champion in Labor’s first reshuffle

There’ll be new jobs for Stephen Mullighan, Dan Cregan, Nick Champion and others in the first shake-up of Peter Malinauskas’ ministry, revealed today.

A new housing “super portfolio” has been created to focus on fixing the state’s housing crisis – and several other key portfolio responsibilities have been switched – as part of Premier Peter Malinauskas’ first cabinet reshuffle.

Incoming minister Dan Cregan will take on the role of Police Minister and the newly-created Special Minister of State, which will hand him responsibility for electoral matters and political donations reform.

Liberal-turned-independent Mr Cregan was elevated to cabinet last week following the resignation of minister Geoff Brock for health reasons, which triggered the sweeping cabinet reshuffle.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan will take over the defence and space industries portfolio, which had formerly been held by Deputy Premier Susan Close.

Dr Close will lose oversight of SA Water but add a new responsibility to her portfolio, becoming the new Workforce and Population Strategy Minister.

Premier Peter Malinauskas and Treasurer Stephen Mullighan, who will pick up the state’s defence and space industries portfolio. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Roy VanDerVegt

Independent Adelaide Hills MP Dan Cregan is joining the Labor Cabinet. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Current planning minister Nick Champion will take on an expanded role in charge of the new housing super portfolio, which will cover all aspects of housing, housing infrastructure, urban development and planning, and include the oversight of SA Water.

His other portfolio, trade and investment, will be taken up by outgoing police minister Joe Szakacs, who will also pick up Mr Brock’s former portfolios of veterans’ affairs and local government.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis will assume responsibility for Mr Brock’s other portfolio, regional roads.

Human Services Minister Nat Cook has handed over responsibility for Housing SA to Mr Champion but added the portfolio of Seniors and Ageing Well Minister, while Assistant Minister Rhiannon Pearce will take on the role of Assistant Minister for Junior Sport Participation.

Ministers, including Premier Peter Malinauskas, during a cabinet meeting at Government House. Picture: State Government

Mr Malinauskas said South Australia was at a “critical juncture” with a huge pipeline of work on the way, which has the capacity to deliver the state a more complex economy, better jobs and higher wages.

“This cabinet reshuffle is designed to help us capitalise on these massive opportunities –from delivering AUKUS to capitalising on the global decarbonisation effort,” he said.

He reiterated that the cabinet reshuffle had happened “through circumstance” following Mr Brock’s resignation.

“We haven’t chased this change,” he said.

“We saw an opportunity here to make a few changes that recalibrates the government to focus on the long-term opportunities we’ve got before us.”

Mr Malinauskas said he gave no consideration to opposition calls for Health Minister Chris Picton to be sacked given the state’s record ramping levels.

Originally published as New jobs for Mullighan, Cregan, Champion in Labor’s first reshuffle