SA Election 2006
Summary
On March 18, 2006, the ALP won a clear majority in the South Australian election, winning 28 out of 47 seats in the Lower House to give the Rann Labor Government a majority in its own right.
The swing to Labor was approximately 9%. The swing against the Liberals was 6%. The Liberals are likely to now have 15 seats in the new Parliament.
Both of the conservative Independents who were formerly in the Rann Cabinet, Karlene Maywald, the Member for Chaffey in the State’s Riverland and Rory McEwen, the Member for Mount Gambier in the State’s Southeast have been returned. Both Independents will remain in Cabinet as the Premier indicated prior to the election.
There are two other Independents in the Lower House: Kris Hanna in the Adelaide south western suburbs seat of Mitchell and Bob Such in the southern suburbs seat of Fisher.
The makeup of the Parliament is therefore is likely to be: ALP 28 seats; Liberals 15 seats; Independent 4 seats.
The Cabinet
Overall the key portfolio holders of Economic Development, Treasury, Health, Education, Transport, Infrastructure and Mineral Resources Development remain unchanged. The final make up of the 15 member Cabinet is attached separately. It includes three new members: Paul Caica, Gail Gago and Jennifer Rankine.
Other changes include:
Premier Mike Rann takes on the new Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Change.
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Kevin Foley gains Industry and Trade in a swap with Paul Holloway who becomes Minister for Police in addition to his previous portfolios of Mineral Resources Development and Urban Development and Planning.
Jane LomaxSmith retains her portfolios of Education and Tourism and gains the new ministry of City of Adelaide (she was previously the Lord Mayor of Adelaide).
Jay Weatherill increases his portfolio responsibilities through gaining Aboriginal Affairs and Minister assisting the Minister for Premier and Cabinet Business and Public Sector management (a new ministry).
Carmel Zollo gains Road Safety (a new ministry), Correctional Services and Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs but is no longer Minister for Mental Health.
New Minister Gail Gago is the Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Environment and Conservation and Minister Assisting on the Minister on Health.
New Minister Paul Caica is the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Youth and Gambling.
New Minister Jennifer Rankine is the Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Status of Women, Consumer Affairs, Volunteers and Minister Assisting in Early Childhood Development.
The Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, the South Australian Upper House is made up of 22 members, half of whom face election every four years. It is elected on a proportional representation basis and is a powerful Upper House with the ability to block Supply and other legislation.
The result in the Upper House saw a major swing to some independents and minor parties but away from the Australian Democrats.
The most unusual result was Nick Xenophon/No Pokies receiving more than two quotas on the first preference vote.
He was reelected with the second candidate on his ticket, Ann Bressington, an AntiDrugs
campaigner also being elected.
Of the 11 contested seats, Labor won four, the Liberals three and Family First one. At time of writing it is likely the Greens will take the final seat, through preferences. The Greens received 0.5 of a quota on first preferences, about 31,000 votes.
Together the Green and Democrat Upper House first preference vote was approximately 0.7 of a quota for a single Legislative Council position. In 1997 the Democrats alone achieved two quotas and had a statewide vote of around 16%. While the Greens had a small swing to them, the combined Green/ Democrat Upper House first preference vote was 5.9%. At the last election in 2002 it was 10.1%.
The Democrats did not win a seat and their representation will fall from three Legislative Councillors in the old Parliament to one in the new.
The makeup of the total Legislative Council is likely to be: ALP 8 seats; Liberal 8; Family First 2; Xenophon 2; Democrat 1; Green 1.
Rann’s Second Term
The Government reinforced throughout the campaign its strong support for the development of South Australia’s defence and mining industries whilst outlining its plans for better schools, hospitals and community safety.
Labor campaigned on economic management and leadership focusing on the current economic success of the State.
At present South Australia is experiencing its lowest unemployment in decades, the highest number of people in jobs and an above average economic growth rate.
Shadow Ministry
As he indicated before the poll, Liberal Leader Rob Kerin resigned the leadership on the party’s defeat.
Iain Evans and Vickie Chapman have announced they will run on a joint leadership ticket for the Liberal Party as Leader and Deputy.
Three Liberal frontbenchers were defeated at the election.
A new Shadow Ministry will be announced in the near future.
| Hon Mike Rann MP | Premier Minister for Economic Development Minister for Social Inclusion Minister for the Arts Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change |
| Hon Kevin Foley MP | Deputy Premier Treasurer Minister for Industry and Trade Minister for Federal/State Relations |
| Hon Paul Holloway MLC | Minister for Police Minister for Mineral Resources Development Minister for Urban Development and Planning |
| Hon Patrick Conlon MP | Minister for Transport Minister for Infrastructure Minister for Energy |
| Hon Michael Atkinson MP | AttorneyGeneral Minister for Justice Minister for Multicultural Affairs |
| Hon John Hill MP | Minister for Health Minister for the Southern Suburbs Minister assisting the Premier in the Arts |
| Hon Michael Wright MP | Minister for Administrative Services & Government Enterprises Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Recreation, Sport & Racing |
| Hon Jane LomaxSmith MP | Minister for Education & Children’s Services Minister for Tourism Minister for the City of Adelaide |
| Hon Jay Weatherill MP | Minister for Families and Communities Minister for Housing Minister for Ageing Minister for Disability Minister for Aboriginal Affairs & Reconciliation Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management |
| Hon Rory McEwen MP | Minister for Agriculture, Food & Fisheries Minister for Forests |
| Hon Karlene Maywald MP | Minister for the River Murray Minister for Regional Development Minister for Small Business Minister for Science and Information Economy Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry and Trade |
| Hon Carmel Zollo MLC | Minister for Emergency Services Minister for Correctional Services Minister for Road Safety Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs |
| Hon Paul Caica MP | Minister for Employment, Training & Further Education Minister for Youth Minister for Gambling |
| Hon Gail Gago MLC | Minister for Mental Health & Substance Abuse Minister for Environment and Conservation Minister Assisting the Minister for Health |
| Hon Jennifer Rankine MP | Minister for State/Local Government Relations Minister for the Status of Women Minister for Consumer Affairs Minister for Volunteers Ministers Assisting in Early Childhood Development |
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