Politics of South Australia

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The politics of South Australia takes place in context of a bicameral parliamentary system. The main parties are the Liberal and the Labor Party. Other minor political parties include the National Party, the Greens, SA-Best and One Nation along with several independent politicians.

Contents

The executive government (called the South Australian Government) comprises 14 portfolios, led by a ministerial department and supported by several agencies. There are also a number of independent agencies that fall under a portfolio but remain at arms-length for political reasons, such as the Independent Commission Against Corruption and Electoral Commission. The state Executive Council, consisting of the governor and senior ministers, exercises the executive authority through the relevant portfolio.

The legislative branch includes the bicameral state parliament, which includes the monarchy as represented by the governor, the House of Assembly, and Legislative Council. The judicial branch consists of three general courts (Magistrates', District and Supreme Court), and several specialist courts such as the Coroner's Court. [1]

South Australia received statehood upon the federation of Australia in 1901, with the state's Constitution establishing a parliamentary democracy. Its relationship with the federal government is regulated by the Australian Constitution. The current government is held by the state Labor Party, led by Premier Peter Malinauskas. Peter succeeded Steven Marshall from the Liberal Party on 21 March 2022 following the state election.

State politics

Parliament of South Australia

The Australian state of South Australia has a bicameral parliament. The House of Assembly (lower house) is composed of 57 members of parliament, each of whom represents a single electorate. The voting system is preferential. The Legislative Council (upper house) comprises 22 members, who serve terms of 8 years. The King is represented by the governor, who formally appoints the premier, as nominated by the majority party in the Assembly.

Office holders

The formal chief executive of South Australia is the governor, who is appointed as the King's representative on the advice of the head of the governing party. The current governor is Frances Adamson. The governor holds limited reserve powers, but with few exceptions is required by convention to act on the advice of the government.

The Premier of South Australia is currently Peter Malinauskas of the Labor Party. The 33rd Premier, Malinauskas assumed office on 21 March 2022. The Deputy Premier of South Australia is Susan Close.

Officially opposing the South Australian government is the opposition South Australian Liberal Party.

The government is decided every four years by election. The most recent election was held in 2022, with the next in 2026.

Political parties

South Australia is currently governed by the Labor Party. The two main parties are the Liberal Party, and the Labor Party. [2] Other currently elected parties in South Australian politics include the Greens, the Family First Party, and One Nation, and the Libertarian Party, along with multiple independents.

Political structure

South Australia is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom. Legislative power formally rests with the King, acting with the advice and consent of the House of Assembly and Legislative Council—together known as the Parliament of South Australia. [3] Executive power is exercised by the Executive Council, which consists of the Governor and senior ministers. [4]

The Governor, as representative of the Crown, is the formal repository of power, which is exercised by him or her on the advice of the Premier of South Australia and the cabinet. The Premier and ministers are appointed by the Governor, and hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of South Australia and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution. [5]

State party support by region

Liberal

Chaffey is now considered to be a safe Liberal seat. [6]

Nationals

The Nationals' only seat in the recent past is the Chaffey, held between 1997 and 2010 by Karlene Maywald, who became a minister in the Rann Labour government. [7] [8]

Labor

Taylor is considered to be a safe Labor seat. [9]

Marginal seats

Elder, Newland, Adelaide, King, Mawson, Wright, Lee, Torrens, Hurtle Vale and Badcoe are considered to be marginal seats. [10]

Federal politics

South Australia has 10 seats in the Australian House of Representatives, the least of any mainland state.

Party support by region

Liberals

Grey is considered to be a safe Liberal seat. [11]

Labor

Adelaide is considered to be a safe Labor seat. [11]

Marginal seats

Sturt is considered to be a marginal seat. [12]

Referendum results in South Australia

As of 2024, the most recent state referendum in South Australia was in 1991.

Results of referendums

[13]
YearNo.NameNational votersStates SA
1906 1 Senate Elections 82.65%6:086.99%
1910 2 State Debts 54.95%5:173.18%
3 Surplus Revenue 49.04%3:349.06%
1911 4 Trade and Commerce 39.42%1:538.07%
5 Monopolies 39.89%1:538.42%
1913 6 Trade and Commerce 49.38%3:351.32%
7 Corporations 49.33%3:351.34%
8 Industrial Matters 49.33%3:351.40%
9 Trusts 49.78%3:351.67%
10 Monopolies 49.33%3:351.26%
11 Railway Disputes 49.13%3:351.28%
1919 12 Legislative Powers 49.65%3:325.28%
13 Monopolies 48.64%3:325.54%
1926 14 Industry and Commerce 43.50%2:429.32%
15 Essential Services 42.80%2:431.32%
1928 16 State Debts 74.30%6:062.68%
1937 17 Aviation 53.56%2:440.13%
18 Marketing 36.26%0:620.83%
1944 19 Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights 45.99%2:450.64%
1946 20 Social Services 54.39%6:051.73%
21 Marketing 50.57%3:348.74%
22 Industrial Employment 50.30%3:348.20%
1948 23 Rents and Prices 40.66%0:642.15%
1951 24 Communists and Communism 49.44%3:347.29%
1967 25 Parliament 40.25%1:533.91%
26 Aboriginals 90.77%6:086.26%
1973 27 Prices 43.81%0:641.16%
28 Incomes 34.42%0:628.25%
1974 29 Simultaneous Elections 48.30%1:547.14%
30 Mode of Altering the Constitution 47.99%1:544.26%
31 Democratic Elections 47.20%1:544.11%
32 Local Government Bodies 46.85%1:542.52%
1977 33 Simultaneous Elections 62.22%3:365.99%
34 Senate Casual Vacancies 73.32%6:076.59%
35 Referendums 77.72%6:083.29%
36 Retirement of Judges 80.10%6:085.57%
1984 37 Terms of Senators 50.64%2:449.98%
38 Interchange of Powers 47.06%0:645.94%
1988 39 Parliamentary Terms 32.92%0:626.76%
40 Fair Elections 37.60%0:630.61%
41 Local Government 33.62%0:629.85%
42 Rights and Freedoms 30.79%0:626.01%
1999 43 Establishment of Republic 45.13%0:643.57%
44 Preamble 39.34%0:638.10%
2023 45 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice 39.94%0:635.83%

    Notable South Australian political figures

    Recent state election results

    Primary vote
    ALPLPAOth.
    2002 South Australia state election 36.34%39.97%23.69%
    2006 South Australia state election 45.22%33.97%20.81%
    2010 South Australia state election 37.47%41.65%20.88%
    2014 South Australia state election 35.80%44.75%19.41%
    2018 South Australia state election 32.8%38.0%29.30%
    2022 South Australia state election 39.97%35.67%24.36%

    See also

    References

    1. ↑ "Section 10: NSW State Courts". Legal Answers. State Library of New South Wales. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
    2. ↑ Bongiorno, Frank (2025-02-12). "Splits, fusions and evolutions: how Australia's political parties took hold". The Conversation. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
    3. ↑ Constitution Act 1934 (SA) s 4 (definition of "The Legislature")
    4. ↑ "The Executive Council". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
    5. ↑ Schriever, Jordanna; Blandis, Eva (2024-09-12). "Government lawyers argue coroner acted 'beyond power' when issuing certificate compelling doctor to appear at inquest". ABC News. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
    6. ↑ "Dwindling membership leaves candidates' fate in hands of engaged few". ABC News. 2025-02-01. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
    7. ↑ Administrator (2010-09-03). "South Australia's cabinet experiment • Inside Story". Inside Story. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
    8. ↑ McGuire, Michael (2010-02-06). "Karlene Maywald on the plight of the River Murray". The Advertiser. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
    9. ↑ McGuire, Michael (2022-03-10). "SA election 2022: Aspiring Taylor MP Nick Champion living in North Adelaide". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
    10. ↑ Harmsen, Nicholas; Martin, Patrick (2020-08-18). "SA Liberals, Labor use taxpayer dollars to prop up marginal seat campaigns". ABC News. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
    11. 1 2 Starick, Paul; Polychronis, Gabriel (2022-05-19). "Comprehensive seat-by-seat guide for the 2022 federal election in SA". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
    12. ↑ Jeffrey, Daniel (2025-01-17). "The 10 closest seats heading into the 2025 federal election". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
    13. ↑ Handbook of the 44th Parliament (2014) "Part 5 – Referendums and Plebiscites – Referendum results". Parliamentary Library of Australia..
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