SA Premier Peter Malinauskas named ‘foreign politician of the year’ by The Rest is Politics podcast

Premier Peter Malinauskas has been named “foreign politician of the year” by the hosts of the massively popular UK podcast The Rest is Politics. Find out why.

Premier Peter Malinauskas has been named “foreign politician of the year” by the hosts of hit UK podcast The Rest is Politics, for planning to limit social media access to under-14s.

The political talk show is among the top 20 most listened programs in the world on Apple Podcasts, hosted by Tony Blair’s ex-spin doctor Alistair Campbell and former Conservative minister Rory Stewart.

The pair interviewed Mr Malinauskas in August on their sister show, Leading, where the father of four spoke about the toll online abuse had taken on his own mental health.

On Wednesday’s episode, Campbell expressed his belief that social media age limits would one day be viewed in same way as seatbelt laws and indoor smoking bans, citing concerns about childrens’ mental health.

Former UK Labour Party spin doctor Alistair Campbell during a live broadcast of the The Rest is Politics at the 2024 Adelaide Festival. Picture: Supplied

“We said at the time that it was possibly one of those ideas that would start local and start to grow, and it has, already, by the end of the year, gone through the entire Australian political system,” Campbell said.

“That’s an example … of one politician doing something brave, difficult, challenging, and it’s taken off. And he will come under so much attack from the Elon Musks and the big tech giants and so forth, but I think he is doing something that will have really struck a chord with a lot of parents around the world.

“There must be so many other things in politics which once they’re done seem completely radical but are completely obvious.”

In May, Mr Malinauskas announced that the state government would force social media companies to restrict access to children aged 13 and under, or else risk fines of more than $1m.

Campbell said he believed some politicians were pushing back because of fears about how it would affect their influence, recalling a televised debate on the issue with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

Premier Peter Malinauskas in his office. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“Farage sort of came in absolutely, totally opposed to it – ‘Freedom of speech, this is all about the elite and the establishment’, and all his usual bollocks,” Campbell said.

“So I asked him about this Elon Musk thing – you’re trying to get $100m out of (him) and he goes, ‘It’s just a story, it’s just a story, nothing’s going on’. And of course, two weeks later, we see him in Mar-a-Lago [Donald Trump’s resort] with his new-found billionaire friend … Elon Musk.

“So, you can see why this is going to become part of the political battle, because what the populists are doing is using tech very effectively to weaponise their argument.”

Stewart agreed with is co-host’s pick, but named his choice as new Syrian leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani, who led a rebellion in December that ousted the Assad family after 53 years in power.

Originally published as SA Premier Peter Malinauskas named ‘foreign politician of the year’ by The Rest is Politics podcast