Premier of South Australia

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Premier of South Australia
Incumbent
Peter Malinauskas
since 21 March 2022
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Government of South Australia
Style
StatusHead of government
Member of
Reports toParliament
SeatState Administration Centre
200 Victoria Square, Adelaide
AppointerGovernor of South Australia
by convention, based on appointee's ability to command confidence in the House of Assembly
Term lengthAt the Governor's pleasure
contingent on the premier's ability to command confidence in the House of Assembly
Constituting instrumentNone (constitutional convention)
Formation24 October 1856
First holderBoyle Finniss
DeputyDeputy Premier of South Australia
SalaryA$418,000[1]
Websitewww.premier.sa.gov.au

The premier of South Australia is the head of government in the state of South Australia, Australia. The Government of South Australia follows the Westminster system, with a Parliament of South Australia acting as the legislature. The premier is appointed by the governor of South Australia, and by modern convention holds office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the lower house of Parliament, the House of Assembly.

Peter Malinauskas is the current premier, having served since 21 March 2022.

History

The office of premier of South Australia was established upon the commencement of responsible government with the passage of the Constitution Act 1856. The role was based upon that of the prime minister of the United Kingdom, with the premier requiring the support of a majority of the members of the lower house to remain head of government.

No parties or solid groupings would be formed until after the 1890 election, which resulted in frequent changes of the premier of South Australia. If for any reason the incumbent premier lost sufficient support through a successful motion of no confidence at any time on the floor of the house, he would tender his resignation to the governor of South Australia, which would result in another member deemed to have the support of the House of Assembly being sworn in by the governor as the next premier.

Informal groupings began and increased government stability occurred from the 1887 election. The United Labor Party would be formed in 1891, while the National Defence League would be formed later in the same year.

Before the 1890s when there was no formal party system in South Australia, MPs tended to have historical liberal or conservative beliefs. The liberals dominated government from the 1893 election to 1905 election with the support of the South Australian United Labor Party, with the conservatives mostly in opposition. Labor took government with the support of eight dissident liberals in 1905 when Labor won the most seats for the first time. The rise of Labor saw non-Labor politics start to merge into various party incarnations.

The two independent conservative parties, the Australasian National League (formerly the National Defence League) and the Farmers and Producers Political Union merged with the Liberal and Democratic Union to become the Liberal Union in 1910. Labor formed South Australia's first majority government after winning the 1910 state election, triggering the merger. The 1910 election came two weeks after federal Labor formed Australia's first elected majority government at the 1910 federal election.

No "Country" or rural conservative parties emerged as serious long-term forces in South Australian state politics, the majority folding into the main non-Labor party.

List of premiers of South Australia

The first six governors of South Australia oversaw governance from proclamation in 1836 until self-government and an elected Parliament of South Australia was enacted in the year prior to the inaugural 1857 election.

No. Portrait Name
Electoral district
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Election Party Ministry Monarch
Term start Term end Time in office
1 B. T. Finniss
MHA for Adelaide
(1807–1893)
24 October
1856
21 August
1857
301 days Independent Finniss Victoria
(1837–1901)
Governor:
1857
2 John Baker
MLC
(1813–1872)
21 August
1857
1 September
1857
11 days Independent Baker
3 Robert Richard Torrens
MHA for Adelaide
(1814–1884)
1 September
1857
30 September
1857
29 days Independent Torrens
4 Richard Hanson
MHA for Adelaide
(1805–1876)
30 September
1857
9 May
1860
2 years, 222 days Independent Hanson
5 Thomas Reynolds
MHA for Adelaide
(1818–1875)
9 May
1860
8 October
1861
1 year, 152 days 1860 Independent Reynolds I
Reynolds II
6 George Waterhouse
MLC
(1824–1906)
8 October
1861
4 July
1863
1 year, 269 days Independent Waterhouse I
Waterhouse II
1862
7 Francis Dutton
MHA for Light
(1818–1877)
4 July
1863
15 July
1863
11 days Independent Dutton I
8 Henry Ayers
MLC
(1821–1897)
15 July
1863
4 August
1864
1 year, 20 days Independent Ayers I
Ayers II
9 Arthur Blyth
MHA for Gumeracha
(1823–1891)
4 August
1864
22 March
1865
230 days Independent Blyth I
(7) Francis Dutton
MHA for Light
(1818–1877)
22 March
1865
20 September
1865
182 days Independent Dutton II
(8) Henry Ayers
MLC
(1821–1897)
20 September
1865
23 October
1865
33 days Independent Ayers III
10 John Hart
MHA for Port Adelaide
(1809–1873)
23 October
1865
28 March
1866
156 days Independent Hart I
11 James Boucaut
MHA for Encounter Bay
(1831–1916)
28 March
1866
3 May
1867
1 year, 36 days Independent Boucaut I
(8) Henry Ayers
MLC
(1821–1897)
3 May
1867
24 September
1868
1 year, 144 days Independent Ayers IV
1868
(10) John Hart
MHA for Light
(1809–1873)
24 September
1868
13 October
1868
19 days Independent Hart II
(8) Henry Ayers
MLC
(1821–1897)
13 October
1868
3 November
1868
21 days Independent Ayers V
12 Henry Strangways
MHA for West Torrens
(1832–1920)
3 November
1868
30 May
1870
1 year, 208 days Independent Strangways I
1870 Strangways II
(10) John Hart
MHA for The Burra
(1809–1873)
30 May
1870
10 November
1871
1 year, 164 days Independent Hart III
(9) Arthur Blyth
MHA for Gumeracha
(1823–1891)
10 November
1871
22 January
1872
73 days Independent Blyth II
1871
(8) Sir Henry Ayers
MLC
(1821–1897)
22 January
1872
22 July
1873
1 year, 151 days Independent Ayers VI
Ayers VII
(9) Arthur Blyth
MHA for Gumeracha
(1823–1891)
22 July
1873
3 June
1875
1 year, 316 days Independent Blyth III
1875
(11) James Boucaut
MHA for Encounter Bay
(1831–1916)
3 June
1875
6 June
1876
1 year, 3 days Independent Boucaut II
Boucaut III
13 John Colton
MHA for Noarlunga
(1823–1902)
6 June
1876
26 October
1877
1 year, 142 days Independent Colton I
(11) James Boucaut
MHA for Encounter Bay
(1831–1916)
26 October
1877
27 September
1878
336 days Independent Boucaut IV
1878
14 William Morgan
MLC
(1828–1883)
27 September
1878
24 June
1881
2 years, 270 days Independent Morgan
1881
15 John Cox Bray
MHA for East Adelaide
(1842–1894)
24 June
1881
16 June
1884
2 years, 358 days Independent Bray
1884
(13) John Colton
MHA for Noarlunga
(1823–1902)
16 June
1884
16 June
1885
1 year, 0 days Independent Colton II
16 Sir John Downer
MHA for Barossa
(1843–1915)
16 June
1885
11 June
1887
1 year, 360 days Independent Downer I
1887
17 Thomas Playford (II)
MHA for Newcastle
(1837–1915)
11 June
1887
27 June
1889
2 years, 16 days Independent Playford (II) I
18 John Cockburn
MHA for Mount Barker
(1850–1929)
27 June
1889
19 August
1890
1 year, 53 days Liberal Cockburn
1890
(17) Thomas Playford (II)
MHA for East Torrens
(1837–1915)
19 August
1890
21 June
1892
1 year, 307 days Conservative Playford (II) II
19 Frederick Holder
MHA for Burra
(1850–1909)
21 June
1892
15 October
1892
116 days Liberal Holder I
(16) Sir John Downer
MHA for Barossa
(1843–1915)
15 October
1892
16 June
1893
244 days Conservative Downer II
20 Charles Kingston
MHA for West Adelaide
(1850–1908)
16 June
1893
1 December
1899
6 years, 168 days 1893 Liberal Kingston
1896
1899
21 Vaiben Louis Solomon
MHA for Northern Territory
(1853–1908)
1 December
1899
8 December
1899
7 days Conservative Solomon
(19) Frederick Holder
MHA for Burra
(1850–1909)
8 December
1899
15 May
1901
1 year, 158 days Liberal Holder II
22 John Jenkins
MHA for Torrens
(1851–1923)
15 May
1901
1 March
1905
3 years, 290 days Liberal Jenkins
Edward VII
(1901–1910)
Governor:
1902
23 Richard Butler
MHA for Barossa
(1850–1925)
1 March
1905
26 July
1905
147 days Conservative R. Butler
24 Thomas Price
MHA for Torrens
(1852–1909)
26 July
1905
5 June
1909
3 years, 314 days 1905 United Labor Price
1906
25 Archibald Peake
MHA for Victoria and Albert
(1859–1920)
5 June
1909
3 June
1910
363 days Liberal and Democratic Union Peake I
George V
(1910–1936)
Governor:
26 John Verran
MHA for Wallaroo
(1856–1932)
3 June
1910
17 February
1912
1 year, 259 days 1910 United Labor Verran
(25) Archibald Peake
MHA for Victoria and Albert
(1859–1920)
17 February
1912
3 April
1915
3 years, 45 days 1912 Liberal Union Peake II
27 Crawford Vaughan
MHA for Sturt
(1874–1947)
3 April
1915
14 July
1917
2 years, 102 days 1915 United Labor Vaughan
(25) Archibald Peake
MHA for Victoria and Albert
(1859–1920)
14 July
1917
8 April
1920
2 years, 269 days Liberal Union Peake III
1918
28 Sir Henry Barwell
MHA for Stanley
(1877–1959)
8 April
1920
16 April
1924
4 years, 8 days Liberal Union
(until 1923)
Barwell
1921
Liberal Federation
(from 1923)
29 John Gunn
MHA for Adelaide
(1884–1959)
16 April
1924
28 August
1926
2 years, 134 days 1924 Labor Gunn
30 Lionel Hill
MHA for Port Pirie
(1881–1963)
28 August
1926
8 April
1927
223 days Labor Hill I
31 Richard Layton Butler
MHA for Wooroora
(1886–1966)
8 April
1927
17 April
1930
3 years, 9 days 1927 Liberal Federation R. L. Butler I
(30) Lionel Hill
MHA for Port Pirie
(1881–1963)
17 April
1930
13 February
1933
2 years, 302 days 1930 Labor Hill II
32 Robert Richards
MHA for Wallaroo
(1885–1967)
13 February
1933
18 April
1933
64 days Labor Richards
(31) Richard Layton Butler
MHA for Wooroora
(1886–1966)
18 April
1933
5 November
1938
5 years, 201 days 1933 Liberal and Country League R. L. Butler II
Edward VIII
(1936)
Governor:
George VI
(1936–1952)
Governor:
1938
33 Sir Thomas Playford (IV)
MHA for Gumeracha
(1896–1981)
5 November
1938
10 March
1965
26 years, 125 days Liberal and Country League Playford (IV) I
1941
1944 Playford (IV) II
1947
1950
Elizabeth II
(1952–2022)
Governor:
1953
1956
1959
1962
34 Frank Walsh
MHA for Edwardstown
(1897–1968)
10 March
1965
1 June
1967
2 years, 83 days 1965 Labor Walsh
35 Don Dunstan
MHA for Norwood
(1926–1999)
1 June
1967
17 April
1968
321 days Labor Dunstan I
36 Steele Hall
MHA for Gouger
(born 1928)
17 April
1968
2 June
1970
2 years, 46 days 1968 Liberal and Country League Hall
(35) Don Dunstan
MHA for Norwood
(1926–1999)
2 June
1970
15 February
1979
8 years, 258 days 1970 Labor Dunstan II
1973
1975
1977
37 Des Corcoran
MHA for Hartley
(1928–2004)
15 February
1979
18 September
1979
215 days Labor Corcoran
38 David Tonkin
MHA for Bragg
(1929–2000)
18 September
1979
10 November
1982
3 years, 53 days 1979 Liberal Tonkin
39 John Bannon
MHA for Ross Smith
(1943–2015)
10 November
1982
4 September
1992
9 years, 299 days 1982 Labor Bannon
1985
1989
40 Lynn Arnold
MHA for Ramsay
(born 1949)
4 September
1992
14 December
1993
1 year, 101 days Labor Arnold
41 Dean Brown
MHA for Finniss
(born 1943)
14 December
1993
28 November
1996
2 years, 350 days 1993 Liberal Brown
42 John Olsen
MHA for Kavel
(born 1945)
28 November
1996
22 October
2001
4 years, 328 days Liberal Olsen
1997
43 Rob Kerin
MHA for Frome
(born 1954)
22 October
2001
5 March
2002
165 days Liberal Kerin
44 Mike Rann
MHA for Ramsay
(born 1953)
5 March
2002
21 October
2011
9 years, 230 days 2002 Labor Rann
2006
2010
45 Jay Weatherill
MHA for Cheltenham
(born 1964)
21 October
2011
19 March
2018
6 years, 149 days Labor Weatherill
2014
46 Steven Marshall
MHA for Dunstan
(born 1968)
19 March
2018
21 March
2022
4 years, 2 days 2018 Liberal Marshall
47 Peter Malinauskas
MHA for Croydon
(born 1980)
21 March
2022
Incumbent 1 year, 361 days 2022 Labor Malinauskas
Charles III
(2022–present)
Governor:

Timeline

In the following timeline, the legend includes the Liberal and Democratic Union, the Liberal Union and the Liberal Federation represented as "Liberal (pre-1979)". The Liberal Party is represented as "Liberal (post-1979)" only. The grey area represents the duration of Playmander electoral malapportionment, beginning in 1936, in effect until the 1970 election.

Peter MalinauskasSteven MarshallJay WeatherillMike RannRob KerinJohn OlsenDean BrownLynn ArnoldJohn BannonDavid Tonkin 1979–1982Des CorcoranSteele Hall (Australian politician)Don Dunstan 1967–1968Frank WalshThomas Playford IV 1938–1965Robert Richards (Australian politician)Richard Layton ButlerLionel HillJohn Gunn (Australian politician)Henry BarwellCrawford VaughanJohn VerranArchibald PeakeThomas PriceRichard Butler (Australian politician)John Jenkins (Australian politician)Vaiben SolomonCharles KingstonFrederick Holder 1892John Cockburn (Australian politician)Thomas Playford IIJohn DownerJohn Cox BrayWilliam Morgan (South Australian politician)John ColtonHenry StrangwaysJames BoucautJohn Hart (South Australian colonist)Arthur BlythHenry AyresFrancis DuttonGeorge Marsden WaterhouseThomas ReynoldsRichard Hanson (Australian politician)Robert Richard TorrensJohn Baker (Australian politician)Boyle Finniss

See also

References

  1. ^ Tyeson, Cam (1 June 2021). "Here's How Much Every State Premier Gets Paid If You Wanna Get Boomer-Tier Mad About Yr Taxes". Pedestrian. Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.

External links