SA premier unveils major shake-up to cabinet

In a significant shake-up of his top team, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has unveiled cabinet changes that have left some ministers disappointed and sparked questions about demotions. 

While Malinauskas maintains the alterations are designed to help the government meet its goals, not everyone is convinced.

Joe Szakacs, the former minister for police and emergency services, said he was disappointed to lose the portfolio.

"I'm sad to no longer be working with our first responders," he said.

Szakacs now takes on the trade and investment portfolio, but the Premier denies it is a demotion.

"Hardly, hardly - quite the opposite," Malinauskas said. 

The shake-up was prompted by the departure of Geoff Brock for health reasons.

Deputy Premier Susan Close, who previously held the portfolios of space and defence as well as control over SA Water, now takes on workforce planning and population strategy.

Close also downplayed suggestions of a demotion.

"I feel I have a lot to do, I'm excited to do it and I'm in a team that's more than capable of sharing additional elements of work as they're required," she said.

Nick Champion, on the other hand, has been granted expanded powers to address the state's housing crisis. 

The opposition says Labor has missed the mark when it comes to addressing the real problems and had been hoping Health Minister Chris Picton would go.

However, Malinauskas said Picton's job was never at risk.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.