Ministers
The Department of Trade and Economic Development has responsibilities to three State Ministers:
The Hon. Mike Rann MP, Premier of South Australia
Minister for Economic Development
Minister for Social Inclusion
Minister for the Arts
Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change
Labor’s Mike Rann became South Australia’s 44th Premier after the State election in March 2002 and was re-elected in March 2006 and March 2010.
As well as his duties as Premier, Mr Rann has assumed the portfolios of Economic Development, Social Inclusion, the Arts, and Sustainability and Climate Change.
He was first elected to the South Australian Parliament in 1985 as the Member for Briggs, later Ramsay.
In December 1989 he was elected to the Labor Cabinet under Premier John Bannon, as Minister for Employment and Further Education, Minister for Youth Affairs, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister Assisting in Ethnic Affairs.
In September 1992 he became Minister for Business and Regional Development, Minister for Tourism and Minister for State Services. After a brief period as Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Mr Rann became Leader of the Opposition in late 1994.
In his first term as Premier, he held the portfolio of Minister for Volunteers; but in the second he was appointed, at his behest, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change - the first such appointment in Australia.
Mr Rann was born in Sidcup, Kent, in 1953. His grandfather was a London dustman and his father an electrician who fought at El Alamein.
His mother worked in an armaments factory during World War II, making parts for Spitfires.
In 1962, his family left London for New Zealand.
He was the first in his family to go on to higher education, and he completed a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts (Honours) in Political Studies at Auckland University. While at university, he was editor of the student newspaper and prominent in the New Zealand campaign against French nuclear testing in the Pacific.
After graduating, he became a political journalist for the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, before moving to South Australia in 1977 to become a press secretary, speech writer and adviser to three South Australian Labor Premiers, including the late Don Dunstan.
Mr Rann is married to Sasha Carruozzo. He has two children, and is involved in soccer and the arts.
The Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP
Minister for Industry & Trade
Minister for Small Business
Minister for Correctional Services
Minister for Gambling
Tom Koutsantonis was elected to Parliament on the 11th of October 1997. He has lived in the western suburbs his entire life, attending Netley Primary School and Adelaide High School.
Tom attended the University of Adelaide, paying his way by driving a taxi and went on to run a small business.
Tom later became an Industrial Officer, for the Shop Distributive Allied Employees Association.
Tom is married to Anthea Tsonis.
The Hon. Michael O'Brien MP
Minister for Regional Development;
Minister for Agriculture, Food & Fisheries;
Minister for Forests
Minister for Northern Suburbs
Prior to entering Parliament, Michael was a small/medium business operator.
He has also worked as a National Manager for major Australian corporation Elders IXL and has held senior executive positions in major South Australian organisations such as RAA and Adelaide University.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Adelaide.
Michael and his wife Jane have two teenage children.
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