Libs stick with Marshall as new Cabinet meets

Mar 27, 2014

New ministers (from left) Geoff Brock, Zoe Bettison, Stephen Mullighan and Susan Close. Photo: Nat Rogers/InDaily

UPDATED: Liberal leader Steven Marshall and his deputy Vickie Chapman have been re-elected unopposed at a meeting of Liberal MPs today.

The Liberal party room meeting at Parliament House also welcomed an injection of new MPs.

After the vote, Marshall took the newcomers out for coffee. Across town at the State Administration Centre, Premier Jay Weatherill welcomed his new Cabinet.

After the Cabinet meeting, Weatherill released details of the deal he struck with independent Geoff Brock, who met for the first time with his ministerial colleagues as Minister for Regional Development and Local Government.

Weatherill announced a $39 million funding package for regional South Australia, to be administered by Brock, including a $10 million jobs accelerator bund, and a $13.4 million boost to the regional development fund.

He also announced a review of workers’ rehabilitation compensation for CFS volunteers, and the establishment of a Parliamentary Budget Advisory Service in Treasury to cost promises of political parties.

The Premier also released details of his deal with Brock. Under the arrangement, Brock is committed to supporting the Government in Parliament on matters of supply and confidence for the next four years.

He can vote against Government legislation, but only if he has absented himself from Cabinet on the bill in question.

The new Cabinet line-up was sworn in at Government House late yesterday afternoon with Tom Koutsantonis taking on board a mega-economic portfolio covering Treasury, Finance, State Development, Mineral Resources and Energy, Small Business and Automotive Transformation.

Newcomer Stephen Mullighan was pitched straight into the Cabinet in the important portfolio of Transport and Infrastructure.

Susan Close and Zoe Bettison, who both entered Parliament in by-elections in 2012, were also elevated to the ministry. Close will take on Manufacturing while Bettison has a grab-bag including Communities and Social Inclusion, Multicultural Affairs and Veterans’ Affairs.

Independent MP Geoff Brock also sat at the Cabinet table for the first time this morning, as Minister for Regional Development and Local Government.

There is some stability in other key portfolios.

Deputy Premier John Rau has retained his roles as Attorney-General and Planning Minister, with additional portfolio responsibilities for Justice Reform, Housing and Urban Development. Jack Snelling retains his position as Health Minister, adding the unlikely pairing of Arts, while Jennifer Rankine continues in Education.

Weatherill has no portfolio responsibilities beyond the Premiership.