# Politics of South Australia

The politics of South Australia takes place in context of a bicameral parliamentary system. The main parties are the Liberal and the Labor Party. Other minor political parties include the National Party, the Greens, SA-Best and One Nation along with several independent politicians.
The executive government (called the South Australian Government) comprises 14 portfolios, led by a ministerial department and supported by several agencies. There are also a number of independent agencies that fall under a portfolio but remain at arms-length for political reasons, such as the Independent Commission Against Corruption and Electoral Commission. The state Executive Council, consisting of the governor and senior ministers, exercises the executive authority through the relevant portfolio.
The legislative branch includes the bicameral state parliament, which includes the monarchy as represented by the governor, the House of Assembly, and Legislative Council. The judicial branch consists of three general courts (Magistrates', District and Supreme Court), and several specialist courts such as the Coroner's Court.
South Australia received statehood upon the federation of Australia in 1901, with the state's Constitution establishing a parliamentary democracy. Its relationship with the federal government is regulated by the Australian Constitution. The current government is held by the state Labor Party, led by Premier Peter Malinauskas. Peter succeeded Steven Marshall from the Liberal Party on 21 March 2022 following the state election.

## State politics
### Parliament of South Australia

The Australian state of South Australia has a bicameral parliament. The House of Assembly (lower house) is composed of 57 members of parliament, each of whom represents a single electorate. The voting system is preferential. The Legislative Council (upper house) comprises 22 members, who serve terms of 8 years. The King is represented by the governor, who formally appoints the premier, as nominated by the majority party in the Assembly.

### Office holders

The formal chief executive of South Australia is the governor, who is appointed as the King's representative on the advice of the head of the governing party. The current governor is Frances Adamson. The governor holds limited reserve powers, but with few exceptions is required by convention to act on the advice of the government.
The Premier of South Australia is currently Peter Malinauskas of the Labor Party. The 33rd Premier, Malinauskas assumed office on 21 March 2022. The Deputy Premier of South Australia is Susan Close.
Officially opposing the South Australian government is the opposition South Australian Liberal Party.
The government is decided every four years by election. The most recent election was held in 2022, with the next in 2026.

### Political parties

South Australia is currently governed by the Labor Party. The two main parties are the Liberal Party, and the Labor Party. Other currently elected parties in South Australian politics include the Greens, the Family First Party, and One Nation, and the Libertarian Party, along with multiple independents.

## Political structure

South Australia is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom. Legislative power formally rests with the King, acting with the advice and consent of the House of Assembly and Legislative Council—together known as the Parliament of South Australia. Executive power is exercised by the Executive Council, which consists of the Governor and senior ministers.
The Governor, as representative of the Crown, is the formal repository of power, which is exercised by him or her on the advice of the Premier of South Australia and the cabinet. The Premier and ministers are appointed by the Governor, and hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of South Australia and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution.

## State party support by region
### Liberal

Chaffey is now considered to be a safe Liberal seat.

### Nationals

The Nationals' only seat in the recent past is the Chaffey, held between 1997 and 2010 by Karlene Maywald, who became a minister in the Rann Labour government.

### Labor

Taylor is considered to be a safe Labor seat.

### Marginal seats

Elder, Newland, Adelaide, King, Mawson, Wright, Lee, Torrens, Hurtle Vale and Badcoe are considered to be marginal seats.

## Federal politics

South Australia has 10 seats in the Australian House of Representatives, the least of any mainland state.

### Party support by region
#### Liberals

Grey is considered to be a safe Liberal seat.

#### Labor

Adelaide is considered to be a safe Labor seat.

#### Marginal seats

Sturt is considered to be a marginal seat.

## Referendum results in South Australia

As of 2024, the most recent state referendum in New South Wales was in 1995.

### Results of referendums

| Year | No. | Name | National Voters | States | SA |
| 1906 | 1 | Senate Elections | 82.65% | 6:0 | 86.99% |
| 1910 | 2 | State Debts | 54.95% | 5:1 | 49.06% |
| 1910 | 3 | Surplus Revenue | 49.04% | 3:3 | 73.18% |
| 1911 | 4 | Trade and Commerce | 39.42% | 1:5 | 38.07% |
| 1911 | 5 | Monopolies | 39.89% | 1:5 | 38.42% |
| 1913 | 6 | Trade and Commerce | 49.38% | 3:3 | 51.32% |
| 1913 | 7 | Corporations | 49.33% | 3:3 | 51.34% |
| 1913 | 8 | Industrial Matters | 49.33% | 3:3 | 51.40% |
| 1913 | 9 | Trusts | 49.78% | 3:3 | 51.67% |
| 1913 | 10 | Monopolies | 49.33% | 3:3 | 46.85% |
| 1913 | 11 | Railway Disputes | 49.13% | 3:3 | 51.26% |
| 1919 | 12 | Legislative Powers | 49.65% | 3:3 | 25.28% |
| 1919 | 13 | Monopolies | 48.64% | 3:3 | 25.54% |
| 1926 | 14 | Industry and Commerce | 43.50% | 2:4 | 29.32% |
| 1926 | 15 | Essential Services | 42.80% | 2:4 | 31.32% |
| 1928 | 16 | State Debts | 74.30% | 6:0 | 62.68% |
| 1937 | 17 | Aviation | 53.56% | 2:4 | 40.13% |
| 1937 | 18 | Marketing | 36.26% | 0:6 | 20.83% |
| 1944 | 19 | Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights | 45.99% | 2:4 | 50.64% |
| 1946 | 20 | Social Services | 54.39% | 6:0 | 51.73% |
| 1946 | 21 | Marketing | 48.74% | 3:3 | 51.83% |
| 1946 | 22 | Industrial Employment | 50.30% | 3:3 | 48.20% |
| 1948 | 23 | Rents and Prices | 40.66% | 0:6 | 42.15% |
| 1951 | 24 | Communists and Communism | 49.44% | 3:3 | 47.29% |
| 1967 | 25 | Parliament | 40.25% | 1:5 | 33.91% |
| 1967 | 26 | Aboriginals | 90.77% | 6:0 | 86.26% |
| 1973 | 27 | Prices | 43.81% | 0:6 | 41.16% |
| 1973 | 28 | Incomes | 34.42% | 0:6 | 28.25% |
| 1974 | 29 | Simultaneous Elections | 47.14% | 1:5 | 65.99% |
| 1974 | 30 | Mode of Altering the Constitution | 47.99% | 1:5 | 44.26% |
| 1974 | 31 | Democratic Elections | 47.20% | 1:5 | 44.11% |
| 1974 | 32 | Local Government Bodies | 46.85% | 1:5 | 42.52% |
| 1977 | 33 | Simultaneous Elections | 62.22% | 3:3 | 70.71% |
| 1977 | 34 | Senate Casual Vacancies | 73.32% | 6:0 | 76.59% |
| 1977 | 35 | Referendums | 77.72% | 6:0 | 83.29% |
| 1977 | 36 | Retirement of Judges | 80.10% | 6:0 | 85.57% |
| 1984 | 37 | Terms of Senators | 50.64% | 2:4 | 49.98% |
| 1984 | 38 | Interchange of Powers | 47.06% | 0:6 | 45.94% |
| 1988 | 39 | Parliamentary Terms | 32.92% | 0:6 | 26.76% |
| 1988 | 40 | Fair Elections | 37.60% | 0:6 | 30.61% |
| 1988 | 41 | Local Government | 33.62% | 0:6 | 29.85% |
| 1988 | 42 | Rights and Freedoms | 30.79% | 0:6 | 26.01% |
| 1999 | 43 | Establishment of Republic | 45.13% | 0:6 | 43.57% |
| 1999 | 44 | Preamble | 39.34% | 0:6 | 38.10% |
| 2023 | 45 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice | 39.94% | 0:6 | 41.04% |

## Notable South Australian political figures

* Thomas Playford IV, 33rd premier of South Australian, longest-serving premier
* John Bannon
* Thomas Playford
* John Bannon

## Recent state election results

| | Primary vote | Primary vote | Primary vote |
| | ALP | LPA | Oth. |
| 2002 South Australia state election | 39.34% | 39.97% | 20.69% |
| 2006 South Australia state election | 38.87% | 36.88% | 24.26% |
| 2010 South Australia state election | 25.55% | 51.15% | 22.93% |
| 2014 South Australia state election | 34.08% | 45.63% | 20.29% |
| 2018 South Australia state election | 33.31% | 41.58% | 25.11% |
| 2022 South Australia state election | 36.97% | 35.37% | 27.68% |