Tom Koutsantonis

Anastasios "Tom" Koutsantonis is an Australian politician in the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party, representing the seats of West Torrens (2002−current) and Peake (1997−2002) as a Labor member in the South Australian House of Assembly.

The Honourable
Tom Koutsantonis
MP
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Assumed office
24 March 2022
PremierPeter Malinauskas
Preceded byCorey Wingard
Minister for Energy and Mining (2022–present)
Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy (2011–2018)
Assumed office
24 March 2022
PremierPeter Malinauskas
Preceded byDan van Holst Pellekaan
In office
21 October 2011 – 19 March 2018
PremierJay Weatherill
Preceded byPaul Holloway
Treasurer of South Australia
In office
26 March 2014 – 19 March 2018
PremierJay Weatherill
Preceded byJay Weatherill
Succeeded byRob Lucas
Member of the South Australian Parliament
for West Torrens
Assumed office
9 February 2002
Member of the South Australian Parliament
for Peake
In office
11 October 1997 – 9 February 2002
Preceded byHeini Becker
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
Personal details
Born
Anastasios Koutsantonis

(1971-08-23) 23 August 1971
Woodville, South Australia
Political partyAustralian Labor Party (SA)
SpouseAnthea
ReligionGreek Orthodox
Websitewww.koutsmp.com.au

He served as Treasurer of South Australia and minister for other portfolios in the Weatherill cabinet between 2011 and 2018. Since March 2022 Koutsantonis has served as the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and the Minister for Energy and Mining in the Malinauskas ministry.

Background

A Greek-Australian, Koutsantonis was born in Adelaide and attended Netley Primary School and Adelaide High School. As a student at the University of Adelaide he became involved in Australian Young Labor, drove taxis and went on to run a small business before becoming an industrial officer for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) in the 1990s.[1]

Parliament

Koutsantonis was elected to the seat of Peake (now West Torrens) at the 1997 election on a margin of 4.5 points, then by 8.6 points at the 2002 election, and by 18.3 points at the 2006 election, after which Koutsantonis was elevated to the chairmanship of the economic and advisory committee.

In 2009, he was appointed to cabinet;[2] Koutsantonis has served in a range of ministerial portfolios with responsibility for finance, state development, mineral resources and energy, small business, ministerial resources and energy, and for road safety,[3] where Koutsantonis was forced to apologise for his "unacceptable" driving record which listed 58 traffic offences and over $10,000 in fines. He subsequently resigned the road safety portfolio.[4]

Following the retirement of Liberal's Rob Lucas at the 2022 state election, which Labor won, Koutsantonis became the longest serving member of the South Australian Parliament.[5] His long-serving parliamentary service was recognised by Labor leader Peter Malinauskas in his victory speech on election night. After the election, Malinauskas appointed Koutsantonis as Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Minister for Energy and Mining.[6]

References
  1. Mayne, Stephen (25 January 2006). "Tracking the unionists in parliament". Crikey. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  2. "Caica gets agriculture in SA reshuffle". ABC News. Australia. 3 March 2009.
  3. Cabinet of South Australia: Premier.sa.gov.au Archived 21 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Road Safety Minister quits over traffic offences". ABC News. Australia. 20 April 2009.
  5. "VIDEO: Peter Malinauskas pays tribute to emotional Tom Koutsantonis". ABC News. 19 March 2022.
  6. "Hon Anastasios (Tom) Koutsantonis". Members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
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