Michael O'Brien (South Australian politician)

Michael O'Brien (born 10 April 1949) was the Labor member for Napier in the South Australian House of Assembly from 2002 to 2014. He was Minister for Finance, Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services and Minister for Road Safety.

For the Victorian Leader of the Opposition, see Michael O'Brien (Victorian politician).
Michael O'Brien
Minister for Finance
In office
21 October 2011 – 6 February 2014
PremierJay Weatherill
Succeeded byJay Weatherill
Minister for Police
In office
21 January 2013 – 6 February 2014
Preceded byJennifer Rankine
Succeeded byJohn Rau
Minister for Correctional Services
In office
21 January 2013 – 6 February 2014
Preceded byJennifer Rankine
Succeeded byJohn Rau
Minister for Emergency Services
In office
21 January 2013 – 6 February 2014
Preceded byJennifer Rankine
Succeeded byIan Hunter
Minister for Road Safety
In office
21 January 2013 – 6 February 2014
Preceded byJennifer Rankine
Succeeded byIan Hunter
Member for Napier
Parliament of South Australia
In office
9 February 2002 – 15 March 2014
Preceded byAnnette Hurley
Succeeded byJon Gee
Personal details
Born (1949-04-10) 10 April 1949
Political partyLabor Party
Spouse(s)Jane

O'Brien was elevated to Cabinet on 2 March 2009 with Tom Koutsantonis following the resignations of Rory McEwen and Carmel Zollo.[1] He resigned from Cabinet on 31 January 2014, at which time he also announced that he would not contest the 2014 South Australian election.

Early career

Before entering parliament, O'Brien was a national manager with Elders IXL and held senior executive positions with the Royal Automobile Association (RAA) and University of Adelaide. He and his wife were small/medium business operators for 16 years.

O'Brien has Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Adelaide. He has also attended the Kennedy School at Harvard University. When he entered Parliament in 2002, O'Brien was the only Labor MP with an extensive background in business and the private sector.

Maiden speech

In his maiden speech, O'Brien reflected on the short history of his electorate, which was born from the Playford Government's drive to establish a strong manufacturing sector in South Australia. O'Brien noted that Federal Government policies to dismantle tariffs had caused adverse economic and social impacts.[2]

In 2007, O'Brien was appointed chair of the State Planning Review, which developed the 30-year Plan for Greater Adelaide. Launched in 2010, the plan prepares for steady population growth of 560,000 people, the construction of 258,000 more dwellings, the creation of 282,000 jobs, and economic growth of $128 billion by 2040.[3]

O'Brien also convened the Premier's Food Council, was chair of the Riverland Futures Taskforce and co-chair of the SA Business Development Council. In the first Rann Government, O'Brien was parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Transport.

Cabinet posts

Initially entering Cabinet as Minister for Road Safety and Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education and Minister for Science and Information Economy, O'Brien was promoted to the portfolios of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Forests and Regional Development in March 2010.

As Minister for Regional Development he launched the $20 million Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund in September 2010. O'Brien said the Government aimed to achieve about $500 million of investment in the Riverland over the next 20 years.[4]

As Minister for Agriculture, O'Brien established an Agribusiness Council comprising high-level business and industry leaders to advise the government on policy issues and opportunities for growth.[5] O'Brien advocated strongly on behalf of the state's apple industry after the Federal Government lifted restrictions on the import of New Zealand fruit.[6]

He also led a national push to introduce mandatory stunning of livestock killed according to Hal-lal and Kosher traditions, which won acclaim from animal welfare activists, however the proposal failed to gain the support of all states and the Commonwealth.[7]

South East forests

As Minister for Forests, O'Brien faced hostility in the South East of the state when he advanced the government's plans to forward sell harvest rights[8]

In November 2010, O'Brien clashed in Parliament with then Treasurer Kevin Foley, who accused him of creating "unnecessary anxiety" over the planned forward sale. Opponents of the plan, however, credited O'Brien with revealing details and being upfront with community members.[9]

Later in November 2010, Foley and Premier Mike Rann required a police escort to enter the Labor Party State Convention as union anger with budget cuts boiled over. O'Brien told journalists it was time for a change of leadership and refused to back Foley. "I am saying that the time has now arrived for both factions to sit down and seriously discuss the issue of leadership succession," he said.[10]

Foley stood down as Deputy Premier and Treasurer in February 2011 and left Cabinet in October 2011 when Jay Weatherill became Premier.

Weatherill Cabinet

Weatherill, from the minority Left faction, rewarded O'Brien for his cross-factional support and elevated him to the key portfolios of Finance and Public Sector.[11]

In January 2013, Weatherill further promoted O'Brien to the portfolios of Police, Emergency Services, Correctional Services and Road Safety, while retaining him in Finance.

It was announced in January 2014 that O'Brien offered his state seat of Napier to Don Farrell, to contest for Labor at the 2014 election. O'Brien resigned from his ministerial roles and would leave parliament at the 2014 election.[12][13] Premier Jay Weatherill threatened to resign if Farrell was successfully preselected.[14][15] A few hours later, Farrell withdrew his nomination.[16]

References
  1. The Australian, 3 March 2009, Michael O'Brien and Tom Koutsantonis named in cabinet
  2. Michael O'Brien's maiden speech Archived 3 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Plan for Greater Adelaide Archived 9 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ABC News, 10 September 2010, $20m plan aims to boost Riverland
  5. "Agribusiness Council appointed". Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  6. ABC News, 23 August 2011
  7. Sydney Morning Herald, 14 July 2011
  8. ABC Radio, 27 October 2010
  9. ABC Radio, 16 November 2010 Archived 9 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  10. The Australian, 27 November 2010
  11. Crikey, 21 October 2011
  12. Farrell withdraws push for SA parliament: ninemsn 31 January 2014 Archived 3 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  13. Senator Don Farrell backs down on move to SA politics after Premier Jay Weatherill threatens to quit: SMH 31 January 2014
  14. Premier Weatherill tells 891 Breakfast he will reconsider leadership if Farrell accepts preselection: 891 ABC Adelaide radio 31 January 2014 Archived 2 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  15. Labor in pre-election crisis as Premier Jay Weatherill threatens to resign if Labor Senator Don Farrell is endorsed for state seat: ABC 31 January 2014
  16. "Labor Senator Don Farrell withdraws bid to enter SA Parliament". ABC News Online. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
South Australian House of Assembly
Preceded by
Annette Hurley		 Member for Napier
2002–2014		 Succeeded by
Jon Gee
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