Overview

Steven Spence Marshall (born 21 January 1968) is an Australian politician best known for serving as the 46th Premier of South Australia from 19 March 2018 until March 2022. A member of the Liberal Party, he led the party at state level between 2013 and 2022 and was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly from 2010 onward, representing the inner-eastern electorate that has been known as Dunstan since 2014.

Political career

Marshall entered state parliament at the 2010 election. After a period on the backbench, he was elected leader of the state Liberal Party in 2013 and served as Leader of the Opposition until his party’s victory at the 2018 state election. As Opposition Leader he focused on rebuilding the party's electoral prospects and on issues such as economic management and public services.

Premiership (2018–2022)

As Premier, Marshall led a government that identified priorities including infrastructure investment, economic development and health services. His term coincided with the global COVID-19 pandemic, during which his administration implemented public health measures and managed their economic effects in the state. The Marshall government also pursued a program of infrastructure and capital works intended to support jobs and regional development.

Later developments and legacy

Marshall’s government was defeated at the 2022 state election by the Labor Party led by Peter Malinauskas, and he subsequently stood down as party leader. Observers note his time in office for navigating a complex public health crisis, for emphasis on infrastructure projects, and for the electoral swing dynamics that returned Labor to government in 2022.

Notable facts

  • Born 21 January 1968.
  • Served as the 46th Premier of South Australia from 19 March 2018 to March 2022.
  • Led the South Australian Liberal Party from 2013 until 2022.
  • Member of the South Australian House of Assembly since 2010 for the electorate now known as Dunstan.

For further details about South Australian government functions and the state's political context, see sources linked from official state and party pages or general overviews of Australian state politics.