Peter Malinauskas elected as Labor Leader in SA

Peter Malinauskas has been elected as leader of the South Australian Parliamentary Labor Party.

It is only the seventh change of leader in more than fifty years, since Don Dunstan was elected in 1967. And only the third change of leader since 1994 when Mike Rann took charge.

Former education minister Susan Close has been elected as deputy leader. She is only the second woman to hold this position.

Factionally it is a swap for the leadership team, with Mr Malinauskas coming from the strong right faction and Ms Close from the left, noting that Jay Weatherill was from the left and his deputy John Rau was supported by the right. Both have now moved to the backbench.

Mr Malinauskas pledged to be more than a negator,

“I intend to be the alternative Premier of the state,” he said.

"I will not lead a destructive style opposition," he added.

The state Labor caucus met for the first time since the 17 March election to elect a new look front bench. Caucus elected the following members to the Shadow Cabinet including six women, including two to leadership positions.

Peter Malinauskas

State Labor Leader

Susan Close

Deputy State Labor Leader

Kyam Maher

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council

Claire Scriven

Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council

Tom Koutsantonis

Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly

Stephen Mullighan

Member for Lee

Zoe Bettison

Member for Ramsay

Chris Picton

Member for Kaurna

Katrine Hildyard

Member for Reynell

Tony Piccolo

Member for Light

Nat Cook

Member for Hurtle Vale

Lee Odenwalder

Member for Elizabeth

Eddie Hughes

Member for Giles

Jayne Stinson

Member for Badcoe

Portfolio allocations will be assigned once the leader has consulted with his colleagues in the coming days. The important treasury portfolio is likely to be allocated to an upper house member, given that Treasurer Rob Lucas sits in that chamber.

The new Member for Playford, Michael Brown has been elected at the Opposition Whip in the House of Assembly.

Former environment minister Ian Hunter has been elected at the Opposition Whip in the Legislative Council.

Now 37 years of age, Mr Malinauskas worked for Woolworths from age 15, as a trolley boy, checkout operator and night-filler. At this time he formed an enduring political relationship with now Senator Don Farrell through Woolworths workers' unionism.

During his time at Woolworths, Mr Malinauskas studied to obtain a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Adelaide. He became an influential union official who served from 2008 to 2015 as Secretary of the South Australian and Northern Territory branch of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association, or SDA.

In July 2015 Mr Malinauskas was elected to Labor's National Executive at the ALP National Conference.

He first entered state parliament in 2015 as a member of the Legislative Council filling a casual vacancy. He has served in the Cabinet of Jay Weatherill from January 2016 to March 2018, holding ministerial portfolios with responsibility for police (2016-2017), correctional services (2016-2017), emergency services (2016-2017), road safety (2016-2017) and after the retirement of Jack Snelling he took on the health (2017-2018), mental health and substance abuse (2017-2018) portfolio.

Mr Malinauskas won the safe seat of Croydon in the House of Assembly at the 2018 election, which has enabled his run for the leadership.

Shadow Cabinet Portfolios

Update added on 10 April 2018

Hon Peter Malinauskas MP

State Labor Leader

Shadow Minister for Defence Industries

Hon Dr Susan Close MP

Deputy State Labor Leader

Shadow Minister for Education, Environment and Water.

Hon Kyam Maher MLC

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council

Shadow Attorney-General

Hon Claire Scriven MLC

Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council

Shadow Minister for Industry and Skills

Shadow Minister for Forestry

Hon Tom Koutsantonis MP

Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly

Shadow Minister for Mining and Energy

Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure

Hon Stephen Mullighan MP

Shadow Treasurer

Hon Zoe Bettison MP

Shadow Minister for Tourism, Trade and Investment

Hon Chris Picton MP

Shadow Minister for Health

Hon Katrine Hildyard MP

Shadow Minister for Recreation and Sport

Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Women

Hon Tony Piccolo MP

Shadow Minister for Planning, Local Govt, Housing and Veterans’ Affairs

Nat Cook MP

Shadow Minister for Human Services

Lee Odenwalder MP

Shadow Minister for Police, Emergency Services & Corrections

Eddie Hughes MP

Shadow Minister for Primary Industries & Regional Development

Jayne Stinson MP

Shadow Minister for Child Protection, Arts