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The leader of the South Australian opposition has defended his decision to appoint Tim Whetstone as the shadow minister for trade and investment.
Key points:
- Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone has been appointed the shadow trade and investment portfolio
- SA Labor says the decision rewards Mr Whetstone's bad behaviour, after he lost his driver's licence last year
- Opposition leader David Speirs defended the decision, saying Mr Whetstone is suited to the new role
The decision comes as Mr Whetstone, the local member for Chaffey, stepped down from the shadow road safety portfolio after voluntarily relinquishing his licence late last year.
The licence was handed in due to too many demerit points being accumulated from speeding and failure to inform Liberal leader David Speirs until after the license was returned.
Mr Speirs told ABC South East’s Selina Green the move was not a big reshuffle, and he was excited by the portfolio changes.
He said he was confident Mr Whetstone's experience would allow him to succeed in the new role.
"Obviously, there was an issue with his driver's licence recently, but he hasn't been a poor performer in the team by any means," he said.
"It’s an increase in responsibility here … to this real frontline economic portfolio."
Mr Whetstone was previously the shadow trade and investment minister ahead of the 2018 election.
"My job is to maximise the skills and interests and passions of my team," Mr Speirs said.
Mr Whetstone said he has shown his worth in his previous role and was ready to take on a new challenge.
"My primary focus is growing the economy. We are very reliant on exports," he said.
"It’s very important that SA has a more diverse basket of eggs in an export sector."
Mixed reactions to move
The decision has been criticised by the SA Labor government, with Treasurer Stephen Mullighan calling into question Mr Speirs' judgement.
"It defies belief that David Speirs is choosing to promote Tim Whetstone, who has been forced to give up senior front bench roles twice in the past three years," Mr Mullighan said in a statement.
He said Mr Whetstone's recent behaviour was another example of a poor track record, including the Chaffey MP's involvement in the country members accommodation scandal in 2020.
"It's clear we have got yet another Liberal leader who is incapable of managing the Liberal party in SA," Mr Mullighan said.
Mr Whetstone said he has learnt from the loss of licence — and paid both the price and penalty for his decisions.
"On reflection, the decisions that were made at the time were not conducive to road rules … there is no excuse for speeding," he said.
"I now move on from a social area of portfolio responsibility to an economic responsibility."