Inside the SA Labor Party: Who are the factional powerbrokers?

From the top of the food chain to the hand-picked lieutenants and the not to be underestimated foot soldiers. We break down who holds the Labor Party power.

Some of the South Australian Labor Party kingpins. Pictures: File

A steady trickle of Labor’s traditional left-leaning soldiers has moved across the factional board to join the ever-growing Right faction over the past few years.

The latest count shows seven former Left team members have switched sides, among them veteran Labor MP Steve Georganas who, in 2019, deserted the faction that had supported him since 1990.

Among the new ranks of the Right are other former knights of the Left realm including Lee Odenwalder, Labor couple Dana and Russell Wortley, Justin Hanson, and John Fulbrook.

Some conjecture among insiders emerges over Light MP Tony Piccolo with some claiming he has switched and others that he always sat on the right side of the table.

As numbers in the right flank continue to swell, their kingpin Premier Peter Malinauskas and others seated at the powerful round table, Don Farrell, Tom Koutsantonis and Reggie Martin, keep a tight rein on their growing powers.

So too, do key lieutenants Stephen Mullighan, Amanda Rishworth, Michael Brown and Nick Champion

Senator Farrell, the federal Trade Minister, is popularly known as “The Don” or “The Godfather” – recognition of his extensive behind-the-scenes influence as the dominant Right powerbroker nationally and in South Australia.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LABOR FACTION EXPLAINED

Premier Peter Malinauskas and Trade Minister Don Farrell in Japan, in October, 2022. Picture: Facebook

Insiders say Labor MPs remember darker times after the devastating State Bank collapse in the mid-1990s, when Labor factions were busy ripping the party apart.

Astride white horses came Left powerbroker and Hawke/Keating government minister Nick Bolkus, assisted by lieutenants including federal Health Minister Mark Butler, to sip from the cup of stability with the formidable right-faction leader Don Farrell.

EXPLAINED: WHO ARE THE SA LIBERAL PARTY POWERBROKERS

Mark Butler and Penny Wong at a shadow ministry meeting for 2020 in Old Parliament House. Picture: AAP/Brenton Edwards

Most believe the strength of the party stems from the deal they struck to end unsightly squabbles over pre-selections and ministerial roles, instead committing to a systematic distribution of Left and Right appointments.

The Left, previously led by Mr Butler and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, is now convened by Senator Karen Grogan, assisted by state Attorney-General Kyam Maher and Deputy Premier Susan Close.

Close gained further influence in 2023 by securing the spot of national Labor vice-president, having been hand-picked for the role by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

BREAKING DOWN LABOR POWER

Kingpins: At the top of the food chain are the kingpins. These factional players are the leaders, and they are responsible for positions on policy and decisions about who will fill key roles. Some kingpins hold high-profile positions, while others work in the shadows.

Key lieutenants: Just below the kingpins are the key lieutenants. They hold a lot of sway within the party, and have often been hand-picked – rewarded for their political prowess or loyalty to the faction.

Rising stars: Keep your eye on the rising stars. They’re the ones still coming up through the ranks, vying to reach more influential roles within the party. Where will they be in 10 years? Time will tell.

Rank and file: These are the foot soldiers. For a party to be successful, it needs numbers. So don’t underestimate the role of the rank and file – they’re best kept on side.

Originally published as Inside the SA Labor Party: Who are the factional powerbrokers?