First Malinauskas ministry
Ministers of the South Australian Government headed by Peter Malinauskas
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The First Malinauskas ministry was the 74th ministry (cabinet) of the Government of South Australia, led by Peter Malinauskas of the South Australian Labor Party. It was formed after Labor's victory at the 2022 state election succeeding the Marshall ministry.
Charles III (since 8 September 2022)
First Malinauskas ministry | |
|---|---|
74th ministry of South Australia | |
| Incumbent | |
 | |
| Date formed | 21 March 2022 |
| Date dissolved | 25 March 2026 |
| People and organisations | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II (until 8 September 2022) Charles III (since 8 September 2022) |
Governor | Frances Adamson |
| Peter Malinauskas | |
| Susan Close (2022-25) Kyam Maher (2025-26) | |
No. of ministers | 15 |
Member party | Labor |
Status in legislature | Majority government |
Opposition party | Liberal |
Opposition leader | David Speirs (2022-24) Vincent Tarzia (2024-25) Ashton Hurn (2025-26) |
| History | |
| Election | 2022 state election |
| Predecessor | Marshall ministry |
| Successor | Second Malinauskas ministry |
The ministry was initially made up of 14 members of the Labor Party and 1 independent member, Geoff Brock, who was previously also a minister at the Weatherill Labor ministry. Following Brock's resignation from cabinet in 2024, Independent MP Dan Cregan resigned as Speaker and joined the ministry. Cregan resigned from cabinet in order to retire from politics in 2025. The final ministry was made up of 15 Labor members, with a majority (8) being female.[1] The ministry, according to Malinauskas himself, was centrist.[2]
Final formation
On 18 September 2025, Deputy Premier Susan Close and Treasurer Stephen Mullighan both resigned from the ministry in anticipation of their respective retirements from parliament at the upcoming election.[3][4] Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Kyam Maher was appointed Deputy Premier, and Tom Koutsantonis took on the role of Treasurer, a position he previously held in the Weatherill ministry between 2014 and 2018.
The following changes were also made to the ministry:
- Lucy Hood was added to the ministry, appointed as Minister for Climate, Environment and Water
- Rhiannon Pearce was promoted to the ministry as Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, and Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. She had served as an Assistant Minister since 2022.
- Emily Bourke took the role of Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, and remained Minister for Autism.
- Nadia Clancy was appointed as Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
- Peter Malinauskas added Minister for Defence and Space Industries to his position of Premier.
- Michael Brown expanded his role as Assistant Minister to include Space Industries.[5][6]
| Party | Portfolio | Minister | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor |
|
Peter Malinauskas MP | .png) | |
| Labor |
|
Kyam Maher MLC |  | |
| Labor |
|
Tom Koutsantonis MP |  | |
| Labor |
|
Zoe Bettison MP |  | |
| Labor |
|
Chris Picton MP |  | |
| Labor |
|
Katrine Hildyard MP |  | |
| Labor |
|
Nat Cook MP |  | |
| Labor |
|
Clare Scriven MLC |  | |
| Labor |
|
Blair Boyer MP |  | |
| Labor |
|
Andrea Michaels MP |  | |
| Labor |
|
Joe Szakacs MP |  | |
| Labor |
|
Nick Champion MP | .jpg) | |
| Labor |
|
Emily Bourke MLC |  | |
| Labor |
|
Rhiannon Pearce MP |  | |
| Labor |
|
Lucy Hood MP |  | |
Assistant Ministers
- Michael Brown MP | Assistant Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, Defence and Space Industries
- Nadia Clancy MP | Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Third formation
On 29 January 2025, Premier Malinauskas made several changes to the ministry following the resignation of Dan Cregan, who had served as Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services and Special Minister of State for approximately nine months.[7] Cregan's portfolios were divided among ministers Stephen Mullighan (Police), Kyam Maher (Special Minister of State) and Emily Bourke (Emergency Services and Correctional Services). Bourke had been elevated to the full ministry after serving as an assistant minister since 2022.[8]
The following changes were also made to the ministry:
- Emily Bourke was appointed Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing and Minister for Autism in addition to Emergency Services and Correctional Services.
- Katrine Hildyard lost responsibility for Recreation, Sport and Racing but remained Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.
- Michael Brown was appointed Assistant Minister to the Premier for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy.[9]
| Party | Portfolio | Minister | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Peter Malinauskas MP | | ||
| Labor |
|
Susan Close MP |  | |
| Labor |
|
Kyam Maher MLC | | |
| Labor |
|
Tom Koutsantonis MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Stephen Mullighan MP |  | |
| Labor |
|
Zoe Bettison MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Chris Picton MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Katrine Hildyard MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Nat Cook MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Clare Scriven MLC | | |
| Labor |
|
Blair Boyer MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Andrea Michaels MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Joe Szakacs MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Nick Champion MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Emily Bourke MLC | | |
Assistant Ministers
- Rhiannon Pearce MP | Assistant Minister to the Deputy Premier
- Michael Brown | Assistant Minister to the Premier for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy
Second formation
In April 2024, Independent member for Stuart and Minister for Local Government, Regional Roads and Veterans Affairs, Geoff Brock, resigned from cabinet.[10] Independent former Liberal member for Kavel, Dan Cregan, resigned his position of Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly and joined the ministry.[11] Cregan assumed the role of Minister for Police, Emergency Services, and Correctional Services, as well as Special Minister of State.[12]
The following changes were also made to the ministry:
- Stephen Mullighan remained as Treasurer and was granted the role of Minister for Defence and Space Industries.
- Nat Cook retained her role as Minister for Human Services and additionally became Minister for Seniors and Ageing Well.
- Joe Szakacs assumed responsibility for Trade and Investment, Local Government, and Veterans Affairs.
- Tom Koutsantonis expanded his portfolio to include Regional Roads alongside Infrastructure and Transport.
- Rhiannon Pearce became Assistant Minister for Junior Sport Participation.[13][14]
| Party | Portfolio | Minister | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Peter Malinauskas MP | | ||
| Labor |
|
Susan Close MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Kyam Maher MLC | | |
| Labor |
|
Tom Koutsantonis MP | | |
| Labor | Stephen Mullighan MP | | ||
| Labor |
|
Zoe Bettison MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Chris Picton MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Katrine Hildyard MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Nat Cook MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Clare Scriven MLC | | |
| Labor |
|
Blair Boyer MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Andrea Michaels MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Joe Szakacs MP | | |
| Labor |
|
Nick Champion MP | | |
| Independent |
|
Dan Cregan MP |  | |
Assistant Ministers
- Emily Bourke MLC | Assistant Minister to the Premier
- Rhiannon Pearce MP | Assistant Minister to the Deputy Premier
First formation
The ministry commenced on 21 March 2022, with Malinauskas, deputy party leader Susan Close and Stephen Mullighan sworn in as a three-member ministry.[15][16][17] Malinauskas was sworn in to cover other ministerial portfolios on an acting basis until the rest of the ministry was announced and sworn in on 24 March 2022.[18][19]
The ministry evolved largely from Malinauskas' shadow ministry before the election. Nick Champion, Joe Szakacs and independent Geoff Brock were new additions to the frontbench, while Emily Bourke was appointed as an Assistant Minister instead and Lee Odenwalder was dropped from the frontbench completely.[19]
The portfolios that Malinauskas held on an acting basis between 21 and 24 March 2022 are not listed below.
| Party | Minister | Portfolio | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Peter Malinauskas MP | | ||
| Labor | Susan Close MP |
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| Labor | Kyam Maher MLC |
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| |
| Labor | Tom Koutsantonis MP |
|
| |
| Labor | Stephen Mullighan MP | | ||
| Labor | Zoe Bettison MP |
|
| |
| Labor | Chris Picton MP |
|
| |
| Labor | Katrine Hildyard MP |
|
| |
| Labor | Nat Cook MP |
|
| |
| Labor | Clare Scriven MLC |
|
| |
| Labor | Blair Boyer MP |
|
| |
| Independent | Geoff Brock MP |
|
 | |
| Labor | Andrea Michaels MP |
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| |
| Labor | Joe Szakacs MP |
|
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| Labor | Nick Champion MP |
|
| |
Assistant Ministers
- Emily Bourke MLC | Assistant Minister to the Premier
- Rhiannon Pearce MP | Assistant Minister to the Deputy Premier