Peter Malinauskas and the Labor Party have swept back into power in South Australia, defeating first-term Liberal Premier Steven Marshall.
There are 47 seats in South Australia’s House of Assembly, which means a party requires 24 seats to govern in its own right. As it stands, Labor has secured 25 seats (up from 19) with ABC election analyst Antony Green predicting Labor to win as many as 28 seats. Labor’s primary vote sits at 40.5 per cent, representing a seven per cent primary vote statewide swing.
The Liberal Party has won nine seats (down from 22), with Independents securing at least four seats. Nine seats, including former Premier Steven Marshall’s seat of Dunstan, are still in doubt, while the Deputy Premier has lost his regional seat of Stuart.
Labor has picked up all four marginal seats from the Liberals (Adelaide, Elder, King and Newland), while also securing Gibson and Davenport further up the pendulum.
Almost 400,000 people voted prior to election day, including 210,000 at pre-polling centres and more than 170,000 through postal votes. Postal votes can be received until Friday 25 March. In seats where the results are close, results will not be known until next week.
Final Legislative Council results may not be known until mid-April, but with counting still underway across the state, two remaining seats could go to either Labor, the Greens, Liberal Democrats, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party or Family First.
While Mr Malinauskas was able to form a majority government in his own right, the scale of his victory was not anticipated and signals the first government in Australia ousted from power since the pandemic hit our shores. As a consequence, there are many potential lessons for governments across the country.
Since 1965, the Labor Party has governed South Australia for 40 out of the 57 years that have transpired since Sir Thomas Playford’s Liberal and Country League ruled for 27 continuous years.
On Monday, Peter Malinauskas was sworn in as South Australia’s 47th Premier – an accomplishment for which the Property Council extends its congratulations.
Joining the new Premier at the ceremony was incoming Deputy Premier Susan Close and South Australia’s next Treasurer, Stephen Mullighan. Premier Malinauskas will reveal full Cabinet appointments by the end of this week.
Property Council SA Executive Director Daniel Gannon said he looks forward to working with the Malinauskas Government and relevant Ministers to ensure that property remains at the forefront of decision-making.
“South Australia’s economy is in very good shape and its growth potential is powerful, which means Premier Malinauskas, his government, and the state’s business community should benefit from a ‘fast start’.
“We must keep focusing on attracting investment to South Australia, creating future jobs, and ensuring that Adelaide remains Australia’s most liveable city.”
The Property Council also pays tribute to outgoing Premier Steven Marshall – who on Monday announced his resignation as Liberal Leader – and extends its thanks to him for the way he and his team have worked with this industry over the past four years.