Steven Marshall signals intent to retire

As we approach the halfway mark of the electoral cycle, former Premier of South Australia Steven Marshall has foreshadowed that he will soon retire from State Parliament.

“It has been an honour to be the Member for Dunstan, Leader of the South Australian Liberal Party and Premier of South Australia,” Mr Marshall said.

“After almost 14 years in Parliament, now is the right time for me to step aside and allow someone else to step forward and serve the people of Dunstan.

“I will leave politics knowing I did my best and fought my hardest for this great state.

“I’m particularly proud of how my government and the broader South Australian community responded to the enormous challenges posed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with swift and decisive action saving thousands of lives and thousands more from the severe disease.

“I send a special thanks to former Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade, the Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens, and Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier for their enormous efforts during the pandemic.

“My government’s achievements in health also included reversing the former Labor Government’s disastrous Transforming Health agenda, re-opening the Repat, and investing in every metropolitan hospital in the state.

“I’m also proud of the economic performance of my government.

“We nurtured the space, defence, advanced manufacturing, digital economy, medical research and renewable energy sectors that have left South Australia well placed to enter a new age of prosperity.

“It is with satisfaction I note Lot Fourteen is at the heart of the transition of the South Australian economy and we are now home to a growing band of young entrepreneurs creating dynamic, globally-competitive businesses.

“We delivered on the bread and butter issues so important to families, significantly reducing household costs for electricity, water, the Emergency Services Levy and car registration.

“Not only did we reduce the price of electricity, but we strengthened a fragile system dependent on expensive, dirty, diesel generators whilst continuing the transition to renewable energy. The interconnector with NSW will further improve affordability and reliability and drive renewable energy investment in this state for decades.

“We cut payroll tax and property taxes and balanced the budget for the first time in years.

“After years of Labor procrastination, we shifted year 7s into high school and gave public school students the same specialist teaching that is delivered in the private system and every other state in Australia.

“We halted and reversed the brain drain, achieving net interstate migration into South Australia for the first time since the 1970s.

“I sincerely hope the transformation of South Australia’s economic fundamentals continues to gather pace.

“Over the coming months I will be formally resigning as the Member for Dunstan, and I look forward to introducing my community to a new and energetic Liberal candidate.

“Now more than ever the people of Dunstan need a representative who can hold Labor to account for their disastrous management of our health system and their outrageous failure to fix ambulance ramping like they promised to every South Australian.

“The cost of living is skyrocketing, and South Australians deserve a government that is focussed on the very serious issues facing our state.

“I want to thank every person who over the course of the last 14 years has assisted me in the performance of the many roles I have undertaken. I also thank State Liberal Leader David Speirs for his friendship and leadership of the Liberal Party.

“My heartfelt appreciation goes to the people of Dunstan for electing me to be their local member and to the people of South Australia for placing their trust in me to be their Premier. It has been the greatest honour of my life.

“And finally, to my family who have been with me every step of the way. I look forward to being able to spend more time with them and in particular my children Charlie and Georgie.”