Jay Weatherill

Jay Wilson Weatherill (born 3 April 1964) is a former Australian politician who was the 45th premier of South Australia, serving from 21 October 2011 until 19 March 2018.

Between 1987 and 1990, he worked for the Australian Workers' Union.

In the early 1990s, he worked at the law firm Duncan Hannon with Patrick Conlon and Isobel Redmond.

With fellow Adelaide lawyer Stephen Lieschke, he established industrial law firm Lieschke & Weatherill in 1995 where he practised law until his election to the House of Assembly seat of Cheltenham at the 2002 election when his party won government.

Labor was in government from 2002, with Weatherill leading the Labor government since a 2011 leadership change from Mike Rann.

Weatherill defeated the incumbent Labor member Murray De Laine for Labor preselection in the electorate of Cheltenham at the 2002 election and went on to retain the seat for Labor.

Weatherill is from the Labor Left faction.

Upon election he immediately entered the cabinet of the Rann government as Minister for Local Government, Government Enterprise, Urban Development and Planning, and Administrative Services.

Later, Weatherill would hold portfolios such as Housing (2004–2008), Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation (2006–2010), Early Childhood and Development (2008–2011), Environment and Conservation (2008–2010) and Education (2010–2011).

Following the 2010 election, Weatherill as a cabinet minister in the Rann government, unsuccessfully challenged Kevin Foley for the position of Deputy Premier.

Weatherill said the election day backlash against Labor made it evident that a fresh approach was needed; however he lost along factional lines.

In late July 2011, senior figures within Labor had indicated to Rann that both the left and right Labor factions had agreed to replace Rann with Weatherill as party leader.

In early August 2011 Weatherill's attempts at contacting Rann on his trade mission to India had been met with silence, leaving the party leadership in limbo until Rann's return to Australia.

Weatherill refused to rule out challenging Rann in a caucus ballot if he did not stand down on his return to Australia.

Rann eventually resigned at the behest of factional bosses, with Caucus endorsing Weatherill as his successor.

Weatherill was then sworn in as the 45th Premier of South Australia on 21 October 2011.

In 2011/2012, Weatherill and then Environment Minister Paul Caica brought together irrigators, business, River Murray communities and South Australians more generally to fight for a better deal for the River and South Australia.

The end result was an additional commitment of 450 gigalitres of environmental water under the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

The 2012–2013 budget was Weatherill's first, with Jack Snelling as treasurer, and came with deep cuts aiming to achieve major savings.

Some of this was through suspension of major works programs such as the electrification of the Gawler and Outer Harbor rail lines, and redevelopments of Modbury Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Notably, the AAA credit rating achieved under the Rann government was lost, downgraded to AA+ in October, a move foreshadowed by Snelling.

Other actions during Weatherill's first 12 months included a deal to increase shopping hours on public holidays, supported by SDA secretary Peter Malinauskas and Business SA chief executive Peter Vaughan, and Weatherill's support for a Greens-initiated gay marriage bill following the announcement of Tasmania's planned changes.

August 2012, in the aftermath of the GFC, BHP announced that the $20 billion Olympic Dam mine expansion would not go ahead, citing 'subdued commodity prices and higher capital costs'.

However, the mine remains operational, employing 2500 people.

During 2013 it became the longest-serving state Labor government in South Australian history, and in addition went on to win a fourth four-year term at the 2014 election.

The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) was opened by Jay Weatherill in 2013, a building often referred to as "the cheese grater" due to its exterior design.

It is a health and medical research institute housing more than 700 researchers, and was the first stage of a new health and bio-medical precinct on North Terrace in Adelaide.

Weatherill allowed a conscience vote for the Greens' 2013 South Australian Gay Marriage bill in August 2012.

However, the bill was frustrated by Labor's conservative Catholic right, as well as a lack of support by then Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and faced constitutional issues as expressed by the SA Liberal Party.

The bill ultimately failed the lower house in July 2013 following Weatherill's planned conscience vote.

On 21 January 2013, Weatherill became Treasurer of South Australia and took other various portfolios following a cabinet reshuffle triggered by the resignation of two members of his ministry.

The 2013–2014 budget saw revenue increase, in part due to the privatisation of SA Lotto to Tatts Group for $427 million, and of forests in the State's south-east to international company The Campbell Group for $670 million.

Weatherill represented the House of Assembly seat of Cheltenham as a member of the South Australian Labor Party from the 2002 election to 17 December 2018, when he retired.

The 16-year state Labor government lost power at the 2018 election.

On 18 March, the day after the election, Weatherill announced his decision to step down as Labor leader, but intended to remain in Parliament on the back-bench.

Peter Malinauskas succeeded Weatherill as Labor leader on 9 April.

Weatherill announced his intention to retire from Parliament on 6 December 2018.

Born in the western suburbs of Adelaide, he is the son of English-born former South Australian politician George Weatherill.

Weatherill completed his secondary education at Henley High School.

He later studied at the University of Adelaide, graduating with degrees in law and economics.