South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has downplayed speculation he could be in the running as Anthony Albanese\u2019s successor, saying there is already a \u201csuite of genuine leadership capability\u201d in federal politics.<\/p>\n
The 45-year-old has gone from strength to strength since winning the state\u2019s election in 2022.<\/p>\n
He has long been the most popular leader in the country and earlier this year again led Labor to a majority-expanding landslide victory that nearly wiped out the South Australian Liberals.<\/p>\n
Mr Malinauskas\u2019 star power among party faithful was self-evident by the roars and applause he received at Labor\u2019s 50th national conference in Adelaide this week, inviting suggestions he could be destined for Canberra.<\/p>\n
But asked about it on Sunday, he said he felt he was \u201cmaking a contribution to the Federation by getting South Australia firing on all cylinders\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow we are, and I hope that makes the contribution to the country as best as I can,\u201d Mr Malinauskas told Sky News.<\/p>\n
He said he enjoyed being among his federal colleagues and that they \u201cdo a lot of good work together\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut my focus and my responsibility is on my home state and bringing it up to the full potential that I\u2019ve always believed it\u2019s had,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also denied he would tempted even if he was drafted.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, because I look at the federal front bench and I see a suite of talent, a suite of genuine leadership capability, and \u2026 any way I can support them, I\u2019d love to,\u201d Mr Malinauskas said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think they\u2019re in pretty good hands with Anthony.\u201d<\/p>\n
One Nation \u2018biggest upheaval\u2019 in politics<\/p>\n
The South Australian election in March was widely seen as a test of One Nation\u2019s ability to turn its poll power into seats.<\/p>\n
It won four lower house seats and three in the upper house.<\/p>\n
It has since clinched the NSW federal seat of Farrer left vacant by ex-Liberal leader Sussan Ley, who held the electorate for a quarter of a century.<\/p>\n
While One Nation\u2019s gains have proven an existential concern for the Coalition, polling has shown the populist party eating into Labor\u2019s working-class vote and millennials disillusioned with the major parties.<\/p>\n
Mr Malinauskas spent much of his speech to Labor\u2019s national conference taking swipes at One Nation, calling it a \u201cparadox that the more a political party bangs on about personal responsibility, the more likely they are to find a group of people to blame\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s migrants, or minorities, it\u2019s always grounded in grievance \u2013 defined by division,\u201d he said as he opened the conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways complaining that Australia is going backwards, and then in literally the same breath arguing that we should back to the past. It\u2019s always pessimistic.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his interview on Sunday, Mr Malinauskas said he did not know how One Nation would fare going into the 2028 federal election, but called its rise \u201cthe biggest upheaval \u2026 in terms of the Australian political dichotomy\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I don\u2019t think anyone really knows how this movie is going to end,\u201d he said, adding that he thought it \u201cincomprehensible only a few months ago that another party would outpoll the Liberal Party\u201d.<\/p>\n
He did say a lack of \u201csubstance\u201d to One Nation\u2019s policies might make voters lose interest but that \u201ctime will tell\u201d.<\/p>\n
Labor national secretary Paul Erickson was more confident in the party\u2019s ability to withstand the political turbulence.<\/p>\n
Also speaking to Sky, the political operative behind Labor\u2019s federal wins in 2022 and 2025 said it \u201chas become clear that neither the Coalition nor One Nation could govern without each other\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo at the next election, the choice will be between a Labor government that\u2019s delivering real change, providing immediate relief now, and making real changes that the country needs on the economy, on housing, on healthcare \u2026 or an alternative of a chaotic and divided Coalition-One Nation government,\u201d Mr Erickson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the case we have to build and set out over the next two years.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also said Labor was \u201cpreparing for \u2026 an election where we will face an opponent in the form of the Coalition and One Nation working together\u201d.<\/p>\n
Angus Taylor has ruled out joining forces with One Nation, warning that the party would inflict \u201can eternity of pain\u201d on Australia.<\/p>\n