Premier of South Australia

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Premier of South Australia
South Australian Coat of Arms.svg
Jay Weatherill crop.jpg
Incumbent
Jay Weatherill

since 21 October 2011
Style The Honourable
(Formal)
Premier
(Spoken)
Seat Adelaide
Appointer Governor of South Australia
Term length At the Governor's pleasure
Inaugural holder Boyle Finniss
Formation 24 October 1856
Salary $374,648 (AUD)[1]
Website http://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 his or her ability to command the support of a majority of members of the lower house of Parliament, the House of Assembly.

The current Premier is Jay Weatherill, the Leader of the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party. His Deputy is John Rau. Weatherill replaced Mike Rann on 21 October 2011, after Rann resigned as Premier.

History[edit]

Pre-Party[edit]

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 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, often folding into the main non-Labor party.

List of Premiers of South Australia[edit]

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.

Colour key
(for political parties)
No. Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency
Portrait Term of Office
Start–End–Days
Elected
(Parliament)
Party Government
Colonial Government (1856–1901)
1 Boyle Finniss
(1807–1893)
MHA for Adelaide
B. T. Finniss 2.jpeg 24 October 1856 21 August 1857 301 1857 (1st) Independent Finniss
2 John Baker
(1813–1872)
Councillor
John Baker SA.jpg 21 August 1857 1 September 1857 11 — (1st) Independent Baker
3 Robert Torrens
(1814–1884)
MHA for Adelaide
Robert Richard Torrens.jpg 1 September 1857 30 September 1857 29 — (1st) Independent Torrens
4 Richard Hanson
(1805–1876)
MHA for Adelaide
Richard Hanson (Australia).jpg 30 September 1857 9 May 1860 952 — (1st) Independent Hanson
5 Thomas Reynolds
(1818–1875)
MHA for Adelaide
Thomas Reynolds (Australian politician).jpg 9 May 1860 8 October 1861 517 1860 (2nd) Independent Reynolds (1st)
Reynolds (2nd)
6 George Waterhouse
(1824–1906)
Councillor
George Marsden Waterhouse.jpg 8 October 1861 4 July 1863 634 — (2nd)
1862 (3rd)
Independent Waterhouse (1st)
Waterhouse (2nd)
7 Francis Dutton
(1818–1877)
MHA for Light
Francis Dutton.jpg 4 July 1863 15 July 1863 11 — (3rd) Independent Dutton (1st)
8 Henry Ayers
(1821–1897)
Councillor
Henry Ayers.jpg 15 July 1863 4 August 1864 386 — (3rd) Independent Ayers (1st)
Ayers (2nd)
9 Arthur Blyth
(1823–1890)
MHA for Gumeracha
ArthurBlyth.jpg 4 August 1864 22 March 1865 230 — (3rd) Independent Blyth (1st)
(7) Francis Dutton
(1818–1877)
MHA for Light
Francis Dutton.jpg 22 March 1865 20 September 1865 182 1865 (4th) Independent Dutton (2nd)
(8) Henry Ayers
(1821–1897)
Councillor
Henry Ayers.jpg 20 September 1865 23 October 1865 33 — (4th) Independent Ayers (3rd)
10 John Hart
(1809–1873)
MHA for Port Adelaide
John Hart 2.jpeg 23 October 1865 28 March 1866 156 — (4th) Independent Hart (1st)
11 James Boucaut
(1831–1916)
MHA for Encounter Bay
Boucat.jpg 28 March 1866 3 May 1867 401 — (4th) Independent Boucaut (1st)
(8) Henry Ayers
(1821–1897)
Councillor
Henry Ayers.jpg 3 May 1867 24 September 1868 510 — (4th)
1868 (5th)
Independent Ayers (4th)
(10) John Hart
(1809–1873)
MHA for Light
John Hart 2.jpeg 24 September 1868 13 October 1868 19 — (5th) Independent Hart (2nd)
(8) Henry Ayers
(1821–1897)
Councillor
Henry Ayers.jpg 13 October 1868 3 November 1868 21 — (5th) Independent Ayers (5th)
12 Henry Strangways
(1832–1920)
MHA for West Torrens
Henry Strangways.jpg 3 November 1868 30 May 1870 573 — (5th)
1870 (6th)
Independent Strangways (1st)
Strangways (2nd)
(10) John Hart
(1809–1873)
MHA for The Burra
John Hart 2.jpeg 30 May 1870 10 November 1871 529 — (6th) Independent Hart (3rd)
(9) Arthur Blyth
(1823–1890)
MHA for Gumeracha
ArthurBlyth.jpg 10 November 1871 22 January 1872 73 — (6th)
1871 (7th)
Independent Blyth (2nd)
(8) Henry Ayers
(1821–1897)
Councillor
Henry Ayers.jpg 22 January 1872 22 July 1873 517 — (7th) Independent Ayers (6th)
Ayers (7th)
(9) Arthur Blyth
(1823–1890)
MHA for Gumeracha
ArthurBlyth.jpg 22 July 1873 3 June 1875 681 — (7th)
1875 (8th)
Independent Blyth (3rd)
(11) James Boucaut
(1831–1916)
MHA for Encounter Bay
Boucat.jpg 3 June 1875 6 June 1876 369 — (8th) Independent Boucat (2nd)
Boucat (3rd)
13 John Colton
(1823–1902)
MHA for Noarlunga
John colton.jpg 6 June 1876 26 October 1877 507 — (8th) Independent Colton (1st)
(11) James Boucaut
(1831–1916)
MHA for Encounter Bay
Boucat.jpg 26 October 1877 27 September 1878 336 — (8th)
1878 (9th)
Independent Boucat (4th)
14 William Morgan
(1828–1883)
Councillor
William Morgan (Australian politician).jpg 27 September 1878 24 June 1881 1001 — (9th)
1881 (10th)
Independent Morgan
15 John Bray
(1842–1894)
MHA for East Adelaide
John Cox Bray.jpg 24 June 1881 16 June 1884 1088 — (10th)
1884 (11th)
Independent Bray
(13) John Colton
(1823–1902)
MHA for Noarlunga
John colton.jpg 16 June 1884 16 June 1885 365 — (11th) Independent Colton (2nd)
16 John Downer
(1843–1915)
MHA for Barossa
John Downer (Australian politician).jpg 16 June 1885 11 June 1887 725 — (11th)
1887 (12th)
Independent Downer (1st)
17 Thomas Playford (II)
(1837–1915)
MHA for Newcastle
Thomas playford II.jpg 11 June 1887 27 June 1889 747 — (12th) Independent Playford II (1st)
18 John Cockburn
(1850–1929)
MHA for Mount Barker
John Cockburn (Australian politician).jpg 27 June 1889 19 August 1890 418 — (12th)
1890 (13th)
Liberalism Cockburn
(17) Thomas Playford (II)
(1837–1915)
MHA for East Torrens
Thomas playford II.jpg 19 August 1890 21 June 1892 672 — (13th) Conservatism Playford II (2nd)
19 Frederick Holder
(1850–1909)
MHA for Burra
Frederick Holder1.jpg 21 June 1892 15 October 1892 116 — (13th) Liberalism Holder (1st)
(16) John Downer
(1843–1915)
MHA for Barossa
John Downer (Australian politician).jpg 15 October 1892 16 June 1893 244 — (13th) Conservatism Downer (2nd)
20 Charles Kingston
(1850–1908)
MHA for West Adelaide
Charles Kingston.jpg 16 June 1893 1 December 1899 2359 1893 (14th)
1896 (15th)
1899 (16th)
Liberalism Kingston
21 Vaiben Solomon
(1853–1908)
MHA for Northern Territory
Vaiben Solomon1.jpg 1 December 1899 8 December 1899 7 — (16th) Conservatism Solomon
(19) Frederick Holder
(1850–1909)
MHA for Burra
Frederick Holder1.jpg 8 December 1899 15 May 1901 523 — (16th) Liberalism Holder (2nd)
State Government (1901–present)
22 John Jenkins
(1851–1923)
MHA for Torrens
JohnJenkins.jpg 15 May 1901 1 March 1905 1386 — (16th)
1902 (17th)
Liberalism Jenkins
23 Richard Butler
(1850–1925)
MHA for Barossa
Sir Richard Butler (Australia).jpg 1 March 1905 26 July 1905 147 — (17th) Conservatism Butler I
24 Thomas Price
(1852–1909)
MHA for Torrens
Thomas Price (Australian politician).jpg 26 July 1905 5 June 1909 1410 1905 (18th)
1906 (19th)
United Labor Price
25 Archibald Peake
(1859–1920)
MHA for Victoria & Albert
Archibald Peake.jpg 5 June 1909 3 June 1910 363 — (19th) Liberal &
Democratic Union
Peake (1st)
26 John Verran
(1856–1932)
MHA for Wallaroo
JohnVerran.jpg 3 June 1910 17 February 1912 624 1910 (20th) United Labor Verran
(25) Archibald Peake
(1859–1920)
MHA for Victoria & Albert
Archibald Peake.jpg 17 February 1912 3 April 1915 1141 1912 (21st) Liberal Union Peake (2nd)
27 Crawford Vaughan
(1874–1947)
MHA for Sturt
CrawfordVaughan.jpg 3 April 1915 14 July 1917 833 1915 (22nd) United Labor Vaughan
(25) Archibald Peake
(1859–1920)
MHA for Alexandra
Archibald Peake.jpg 14 July 1917 8 April 1920 999 — (22nd)
1918 (23rd)
Liberal Union Peake (3rd)
28 Henry Barwell
(1877–1959)
MHA for Stanley
Henry Barwell.jpg 8 April 1920 16 April 1924 1469 — (23rd)
1921 (24th)
Liberal Union
(until 1923)
Liberal Federation
(from 1923)
Barwell
29 John Gunn
(1884–1959)
MHA for Adelaide
JohnGunn.jpg 16 April 1924 28 August 1926 864 1924 (25th) Labor Gunn
30 Lionel Hill
(1881–1963)
MHA for Port Pirie
Lionel Hill1.JPG 28 August 1926 8 April 1927 223 — (25th) Labor Hill (1st)
31 Richard L. Butler
(1885–1966)
MHA for Wooroora
Richard Layton Butler.jpg 8 April 1927 17 April 1930 1105 1927 (26th) Liberal Federation Butler II (1st)
(30) Lionel Hill
(1881–1963)
MHA for Port Pirie
Lionel Hill1.JPG 17 April 1930 13 February 1933 1033 1930 (27th) Labor Hill (2nd)
32 Robert Richards
(1885–1967)
MHA for Wallaroo
Robert Richards (Australia).gif 13 February 1933 18 April 1933 64 — (27th) Labor Richards
(31) Richard L. Butler
(1885–1966)
MHA for Wooroora
Richard Layton Butler.jpg 18 April 1933 5 November 1938 2027 1933 (28th)
1938 (29th)
Liberal and
Country League
Butler II (2nd)
33 Thomas Playford (IV)
(1896–1981)
MHA for Gumeracha
Playford portrait 38.jpg 5 November 1938 10 March 1965 9622 — (29th)
1941 (30th)
1944 (31st)
1947 (32nd)
1950 (33rd)
1953 (34th)
1956 (35th)
1959 (36th)
1962 (37th)
Liberal and
Country League
Playford IV (1st)
Playford IV (2nd)
34 Frank Walsh
(1897–1968)
MHA for Edwardstown
10 March 1965 1 June 1967 813 1965 (38th) Labor Walsh
35 Don Dunstan
(1926–1999)
MHA for Norwood
1 June 1967 17 April 1968 321 — (38th) Labor Dunstan (1st)
36 Steele Hall
(born 1928)
MHA for Gouger
17 April 1968 2 June 1970 776 1968 (39th) Liberal and
Country League
Hall
(35) Don Dunstan
(1926–1999)
MHA for Norwood
2 June 1970 15 February 1979 3180 1970 (40th)
1973 (41st)
1975 (42nd)
1977 (43rd)
Labor Dunstan (2nd)
37 Des Corcoran
(1928–2004)
MHA for Hartley
15 February 1979 18 September 1979 215 — (43rd) Labor Corcoran
38 David Tonkin
(1929–2000)
MHA for Bragg
18 September 1979 10 November 1982 1149 1979 (44th) Liberal Tonkin
39 John Bannon
(1943–2015)
MHA for Ross Smith
John Bannon.jpg 10 November 1982 4 September 1992 3586 1982 (45th)
1985 (46th)
1989 (47th)
Labor Bannon
40 Lynn Arnold
(born 1949)
MHA for Ramsay
4 September 1992 14 December 1993 466 — (47th) Labor Arnold
41 Dean Brown
(born 1943)
MHA for Finniss
14 December 1993 28 November 1996 1080 1993 (48th) Liberal Brown
42 John Olsen
(born 1945)
MHA for Kavel
John Olsen (1).jpg 28 November 1996 22 October 2001 1789 — (48th)
1997 (49th)
Liberal Olsen
43 Rob Kerin
(born 1954)
MHA for Frome
22 October 2001 5 April 2002 165 — (49th) Liberal Kerin
44 Mike Rann
(born 1953)
MHA for Ramsay
Mike Rann (smiling).jpg 5 March 2002 21 October 2011 3517 2002 (50th)
2006 (51st)
2010 (52nd)
Labor Rann
45 Jay Weatherill
(born 1964)
MHA for Cheltenham
Jay Weatherill crop.jpg 21 October 2011 Incumbent 1713 — (52nd)
2014 (53rd)
Labor Weatherill

Living former premiers[edit]

Former South Australian premiers (from left) Robert Richards, Richard L. Butler, Lionel Hill and Henry Barwell meet with then Premier Tom Playford in 1940

There are six living former premiers, the oldest being Steele Hall (1968–70, born 1928). The most recent premier to die was John Bannon (Premier 1982–1992) on 13 December 2015.

Name Term as premier Date of birth
Steele Hall 1968–1970 (1928-11-28) 28 November 1928 (age 87)
Lynn Arnold 1992–1993 (1949-01-27) 27 January 1949 (age 67)
Dean Brown 1993–1996 (1943-04-05) 5 April 1943 (age 73)
John Olsen 1996–2001 (1945-06-07) 7 June 1945 (age 71)
Rob Kerin 2001–2002 (1954-01-04) 4 January 1954 (age 62)
Mike Rann 2002–2011 (1953-01-05) 5 January 1953 (age 63)

Timeline[edit]

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 of Australia 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.


Jay Weatherill Mike Rann Rob Kerin John Olsen Dean Brown Lynn Arnold John Bannon David Tonkin Des Corcoran Steele Hall Don Dunstan Frank Walsh Thomas Playford IV Robert Richards (Australian politician) Richard Layton Butler Lionel Hill John Gunn (Australian politician) Henry Barwell Crawford Vaughan John Verran Archibald Peake Thomas Price Richard Butler (Australian politician) John Jenkins (Australian politician) Vaiben Solomon Charles Kingston Frederick Holder John Cockburn (Australian politician) Thomas Playford II John Downer John Cox Bray William Morgan (Australian politician) John Colton Henry Strangways James Boucaut John Hart (South Australian colonist) Arthur Blyth Henry Ayres Francis Dutton George Marsden Waterhouse Thomas Reynolds Richard Hanson (Australian politician) Robert Torrens John Baker (Australian politician) Boyle Finniss


See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "'Extraordinary' $30,000 MP pay rise under fire from South Australian welfare groups". ABC News. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2016. 

External links[edit]