‘I’ll never live that down’: SA’s premier on tricky photo shoots – and trickier votes

Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we’re told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they’re given. This week, he talks to Peter Malinauskas. The 44-year-old entered South Australia’s parliament in 2015, became the state’s Labor leader in 2018 and was elected premier in 2022. He’s married with four children.

Peter Malinauskas: “I’m a good Catholic in that I don’t mind a few beers. But I’m a bad Catholic in that I don’t go to church every week.”Credit: Duy Dash

RELIGION

Let’s talk religion. You were raised Catholic? Yeah, I identify as Catholic. Mum’s side of the family is all Irish-Catholic. Dad’s side is Lithuanian and Hungarian, also very Catholic. So I grew up in a Catholic environment, went to a Catholic school, and we went to Mass most Sundays. It’s interesting: I don’t talk about my faith very often, but it is important to me.

Why don’t you discuss it? Is it a private thing? It’s not as though I’m secretive about it. When people ask me, I’m upfront. But it is personal and I don’t blur my faith and my work.

You once said, “I’m not a very good Catholic.” For you, what constitutes a good – or bad – Catholic? Well, I’m a good Catholic in that I don’t mind having a few beers when I get the chance [laughs]. But I’m a bad Catholic in that I don’t go to church every week, and I don’t agree with everything the Church espouses. Whenever you see a scandal around any institution, you can’t help but have it erode your impression of them; the Church would be no exception. At the same time, I distinguish between the institution of the Church and some of its gross failings, using the set of values that most Christians share around the idea of looking after others more than looking after oneself.

You clearly have strong convictions. When was the last time you changed your mind? When I voted in favour of gay marriage, I didn’t find that difficult. On euthanasia, I really struggled. I ended up voting in favour of giving people that choice, subject to all the safeguards you’d expect. I don’t particularly like the idea of someone taking their own life. Over time, though, I spoke to a lot of people and ended up forming the judgment that I did. But even now, when I think about it, I struggle. For me, the right thing [on this issue] has never been crystal clear.

Doubt can be seen as a liability for a politician. Do you doubt yourself often? Yes and no. What the electorate wants from politicians more than anything else is authenticity and honesty. There’s no shortage of positions that I hold with a clear sense of conviction, but when it comes to difficult social questions, being honest about the fact that you’re struggling doesn’t hurt.

DEATH

How would you like to die, ideally? In my sleep, when I’m old and the family’s healthy and Port [Adelaide] has won a few more AFL premierships.

Any funeral requests? There are a few songs I don’t mind. I’m a massive Midnight Oil fan – a bit of a cliché for someone on my side of politics – and there are some Oils songs I find calming, that I listen to when I’m feeling tense.

Is anyone banned from your funeral? Let me take that on notice.

What’s going on your tombstone? Here lies Pete, husband of Annabel, father of Sophie, Jack, Eliza and George, and Division Eight Reserves Premiership player for the Adelaide Uni “Scum”.

Wow, holding on to that one, hey? Absolutely. That was a disproportionately important moment in my life.

MONEY

Did you grow up poor, middle-class or well-off? Dad worked at the South Australian Housing Trust as a managerial-level public servant and Mum was a librarian. It was a happy, middle-class upbringing with loving parents. We didn’t have a flashy house or fancy holidays, but we never really wanted for anything, either. I feel pretty fortunate in that regard.

Fast-forward to now and how much does the premier of South Australia get paid? That’s a good question. The premier gets a 100 per cent loading on a backbencher’s salary. Backbenchers get about 210 grand, so double that [Malinauskas earns just over $415,000]. It’s a healthy salary that I feel grateful for. You don’t do these jobs for the money, but I wouldn’t say we’re underpaid.

What indulgences do other people spend their money on that you can’t understand? The honest answer isn’t necessarily the most popular answer, but I’m not a massive car guy. I couldn’t see myself ever spending a huge amount of money on a car.

What kind of car do you have? A Kia Carnival – I’ve got four kids! Would I like to have a nice car? Sure, but I’ve got one. It’s probably the best car I’ve ever had. It has an aisle down the middle separating the four kids; it’s reduced fighting by at least a third.

What constitutes money well spent? I love getting the lawn right. And I love mucking around at Bunnings.

Malinauskas during the 2022 South Australian election campaign.Credit: Nine News

We’ve all seen the shirtless photos. What does it cost you to get a rig like yours? [Laughs] It’s all relative, isn’t it? Look, I try to go to the gym a few times a week. A gym membership is money well spent. But I’m also doing a bit more running these days. It’s just easier and you can do it anytime. I’ve never been a good swimmer, but you can literally walk out the door anywhere and run.

So the truth comes out: you had an opportunistic photo shoot in a swimming pool, but you don’t even like swimming! Oh no, I like swimming: I’m just not very good at it! [Laughs] Yeah, I’ll never live that down.

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