Former State Liberal Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith has left the party, declared himself an Independent Liberal and joined the Weatherill Government as Minister for Investment and Trade, Defence Industries and Veterans Affairs.
The political bombshell secures the Weatherill Government’s four year term with Hamilton-Smith guaranteeing support on confidence and supply motions.
It removes the prospect of a hung parliament with Labor now holding 23 seats and the support of two Independents in the 47-seat parliament.
The decision follows two months of discussions.
“It’s a considered decision based on what’s best for South Australia,” Hamilton-Smith told InDaily.
“I intend to do my best for this state – I’ll take the personal hits if and when they come.”
State Liberal Leader Steven Marshall was advised this morning after details of the ministerial appointment were concluded last night.
Hamilton-Smith will be sworn in as a minister this afternoon.
He entered parliament in 1997 after successful careers in the military and business.
He spent 23 years in the Army, serving in the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), commanding the 1st Commando Regiment and leading multi-national peacekeepers in Egypt.
He later built a career in childcare centres and served as President of the child care centres’ lobby group.
As a State MP, he has held the safe Liberal seat of Waite for 14 years and was Tourism Minister in the Kerin Liberal Government of 2001-2002.
He was elected Opposition Leader in April 2007 and stood down from that position in July 2009.
He later served as Shadow Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation & Trade, Small Business, Mineral Resources & Energy, Defence Industries, Higher Education, Science & Information Economy, Automotive Transformation, Business Services and Consumers, and Veterans Affairs.
Premier Weatherill told a stunned press conference this morning that Hamilton-Smith would make a first class representative of South Australia’s interests abroad.
“He believes and I believe this is in the interests of South Australia.
“Politics can work if people can choose to work together.”
Hamilton-Smith said the government won the election and he wanted to put his shoulder to the wheel as a Minister in Government.
“It is time now to people first and politics second.
“I’ve spoken to (Liberal leader) Steven Marshall in the past 20 minutes and explained my position.
“I’ve given 17 years of my life to the Liberal Party.
“At the end of the day the first consideration you must have as an MP is the interests of South Australia.
“I would hope that when it comes to creating jobs that there is bipartisanship.”
He confirmed he would be running as an Independent Liberal at the next state election.
Hamilton-Smith revealed the Premier had “reached out to him after the election”.
“There was very little point of difference; there was general agreement as to what my portfolio areas might be.
“My decision today gives the government some certainty.”
He told the media conference that the small business community had been uppermost in his decision.
“What I don’t want to see is uncertainty getting in the way of small business.”
The Premier paid tribute to Hamilton-Smith’s credibility.
“We know he is hard-working and has been well regarded by industry and by all sides of politics since being elected to Parliament in 1997.
“Mr Hamilton-Smith has been a strong advocate for the defence industries and has worked in a bipartisan manner to advance South Australia’s trade investment.”
– additional reporting Bension Siebert.
