Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National
Rebecca Opie and staff

Peter Malinauskas sworn in as South Australia's new Premier alongside deputy and treasurer

South Australia's new Premier Peter Malinauskas with Governor Frances Adamson, Deputy Premier Susan Close and Treasurer Stephen Mulligan.  (ABC News: Evelyn Manfield)

South Australia's COVID-19 rules will be reviewed as the first order of business for the state's new Premier, Peter Malinauskas. 

Mr Malinauskas was this morning sworn in as South Australia's 47th Premier by Governor Frances Adamson. 

Susan Close was sworn in as the Deputy Premier and Stephen Mullighan as the state's new Treasurer. 

The Labor Party is set to form a majority government, with the rest of the cabinet expected to be announced before the end of the week. 

Mr Malinauskas said he would be meet with Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier soon after being sworn in to discuss the state's management of COVID-19. 

"I think that our approach, as you know, on COVID has largely been very good as a state and I provided bi-partisan support," he told ABC Radio Adelaide. 

"That bi-partisan support is coming from a different perspective now, and that's the office of Premier, and I think all of the decisions that are in place deserve scrutiny from a different perspective. 

"I've got the ability to do that as Premier in a way that I didn't as opposition leader." 

Peter Malinauskas was sworn in by Governor Frances Adamson.  (ABC News)

SA's COVID-19 rules to be scrutinised

Mr Malinauskas said South Australia's current approach was different to the rest of the country. 

"There may be good reasons for that, and if that is the case it may be that is maintained, but I think the community deserves to know why we do have different arrangements to the rest of the country," he said. 

In South Australia, a person is a close contact if they have been with a positive COVID-19 case for 15 minutes without a mask, compared with four hours nationally.

If the positive person is within the same household and they cannot isolate, everyone else must isolate for 14 days, compared with seven days in other states.

Masks must still be worn in indoor public spaces and QR code check-in are required at hospitality and healthcare venues.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas with wife Annabel West and children Sophie, Jack and Eliza. (ABC News: Evelyn Manfield)

Mr Malinauskas said he would look at why the Emergency Management Act had not been reviewed after the previous government acknowledged it was not fit for purpose for a two-year-long declaration. 

"At the beginning of 2021, [then premier] Steven Marshall said they were going to review it, and then we never heard anything about that review ever since," he said. 

Steven Marshall officially resigns as leader

Mr Marshall yesterday announced he would be step down as the leader of the SA Liberal Party.

The former premier spoke to reporters at the gates of Government House this morning, moments after handing in his resignation. 

"It's been an absolute pleasure and I genuinely want to thank the people of South Australia," he said.

Steven Marshall leaving Government House after resigning as leader of the SA Liberal Party.  (ABC News)

Mr Marshall said he had congratulated Mr Malinauskas. 

"I met with him yesterday and had a good chat and just reiterated my congratulations to him, but also that I hope we could continue to work together in the best interests of South Australia," he said.

"I think it's in a very good position at the moment. There's still much work to be done."

Mr Marshall will continue to serve as the Member for Dunstan in Adelaide's eastern suburbs but he is facing a challenge from Labor's Cressida O'Hanlon.  

On whether he expects to retain his seat Mr Marshall said: "We'll wait to see."

ABC election analyst Antony Green has predicted Mr Marshall will pull in front during pre-poll vote counting today. 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.