Analysis: Winners and losers in SA Labor Government’s first Cabinet reshuffle | Paul Starick

Ambulance ramping has been formally shelved as the Malinauskas government’s major priority in a substantial ministerial reshuffle. See the winners and losers.

Ambulance ramping has been formally shelved as the Malinauskas government’s top priority in a substantial ministerial reshuffle that focuses on growing housing, population and the economy.

In substantial portfolio changes at the highest levels, Premier Peter Malinauskas has recast his government with a clear eye on an election within less than two years.

An as-yet dramatically unfulfilled promise to fix ambulance ramping catapulted Labor to power in 2022.

The next election, in March, 2026, is now positioned as a test of whether the Malinauskas government has fixed the housing crisis and eased skills shortages while growing the economy and population.

The Cabinet has been dramatically repurposed, with substantial changes to the responsibilities of the Deputy Premier and Treasurer, at the highest level.

Deputy Premier Susan Close has a new role as Workforce and Population Strategy Minister. Picture: Keryn Stevens

South Australian Treasurer Stephen Mullighan. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Mariuz

In a sensible move, Deputy Premier Susan Close has been stripped of the defence and space portfolios, which have been handed to Treasurer Stephen Mullighan.

As deputy leader, Dr Close has a substantial say in portfolio allocation, which involves balancing factions and gender.

Dr Close’s new role of Workforce and Population Strategy Minister more accurately describes what she had been doing in defence.

The challenge of building a skilled workforce for the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine construction is immense and her education background has been useful planning higher and vocational education developments.

A pacifist, she seemed ill at ease with appearing at Osborne Naval Shipyard for high-stakes talks about warships and submarines – Mr Malinauskas revels in that spotlight.

With this in mind, Mr Mullighan will have to do a lot of the grunt work as the rubber hits the road at Osborne, now the joint submarine builders have been announced and construction of the shipyard starts.

Dr Close has lost portfolio responsibilities, including SA Water to a super Housing portfolio, but her internal influence has been maintained.

Mr Mullighan has been handed more work, in vital defence and space sectors, but is unlikely to reap much public reward – Mr Malinauskas will keep that limelight.

None have fared better than housing minister Nick Champion. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Former Liberal MP turned Independant Dan Cregan now finds himself a minister in a Labor Cabinet. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Housing Minister Nick Champion, an old mate of the Premier’s, is the biggest winner. He also has the biggest challenge – fixing the seemingly intractable issue of boosting supply of affordable homes across the state.

Former speaker and independent MP Dan Cregan is another big winner. He rockets into cabinet with emergency services and a newly created Special Minister of State portfolio, charged with using his legal background to solve the problematic promise to ban political donations – a long-held Malinauskas ambition.

Human Services Minister Nat Cook has lost the social housing aspect of her portfolio. Picture: Matt Loxton

Joe Szakacs is out as police minister. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Morgan Sette

Nat Cook and Joe Szakacs are the biggest losers. Ms Cook cherished the social housing aspect of her Human Services portfolio, which has been lost, but she has gained Seniors and Ageing Well.

Mr Szakacs has lost police and emergency services after law and order became a pain point for the government. Trade and Investment are decent portfolios but Mr Champion had them combined with housing.

The ebullient Rhiannon Pearce, however, assists the effervescent Katrine Hildyard as Assistant Minister for Junior Sport Participation. This, surely, is a worthy portfolio addition given the insidious rise of social media dominating young minds, rather than healthy outdoor activities.

Originally published as Analysis: Winners and losers in SA Labor Government’s first Cabinet reshuffle | Paul Starick