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Labor to form government in South Australia | Labor to form government in South Australia |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Labor will return to government in South Australia with the support of Geoff Brock, an independent MP. | Labor will return to government in South Australia with the support of Geoff Brock, an independent MP. |
Jay Weatherill, the incumbent premier, announced Brock had agreed to support a minority Labor government and would receive a ministry. The announcement comes a week after a state election left Labor with 23 seats and the conservatives with 22, leaving two independents holding the keys to government. | |
"Mr Brock has chosen the Labor minority government here in South Australia." | "Mr Brock has chosen the Labor minority government here in South Australia." |
Brock told reporters in Adelaide he had accepted the position of regional development minister in Weatherill's cabinet, as well as responsibility for state and local government relations. | Brock told reporters in Adelaide he had accepted the position of regional development minister in Weatherill's cabinet, as well as responsibility for state and local government relations. |
"These portfolios will allow me to provide a voice for regional South Australia," Brock said. | |
He has pledged to back the government on issues of confidence or supply but will remain free to vote against Labor on other issues. | |
Brock said fundamental to his decision was the potential instability that could have resulted had he opted to support the Liberals. | |
With Labor holding 23 seats in the 47-seat House of Assembly after the election and the Liberals 22, the balance of power was to rest with Brock and fellow independent MP Bob Such. | |
Labor needed the support of just one independent to form a minority government; the Liberals needed both. | |
But the uncertainty escalated on Saturday when it was revealed that Such was in hospital ahead of surgery on Wednesday and will take up to two months' sick leave. | |
Had Brock sided with the Liberals, it would have left the major parties tied at 23 votes each and the potential for a fresh election to be called. | |
Opposition leader Steven Marshall is yet to respond. | |
South Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said: "Progressive South Australians have had a win today." | |
There would have been election fatigue if the state had been forced to go back to the polls, she said. |
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