Tom Koutsantonis the Minister of Energy and Mining “SA will reach Net Zero by 2027” Three years early!

Tom Koutsantonnis MP for west Torrens, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Minister for Energy and Mining our first Ministerial podcast with @Tough Talk with Jody rowe podcast did not disappoint.

Well, how frank do you want it? Gas is hear to stay, its not Coal, Narrabri NSW has to go ahead just move forward and Gas prices with drop, recent bail outs, why? and it just goes on.

What was refreshing there was limited blaming going on, just this is how it is, projects, the excitement of what South Australia has in store is amazing, get the projects and the people will come....

At times the CEO of Gas companies stray from podcast, well their PR people are nervous but this is a great example where listeners can here a good story but also the complete position not j just a few moment from the news.

Toms story, born in 1971, the son of Greek migrants, Tom has lived his entire life in the western suburbs of Adelaide. Having completed his secondary education at Adelaide High School and going on to study at the University of Adelaide, Tom worked several jobs to support his studies including driving a taxi and working in his family’s small business.

Now living in Torrensville with his wife Anthea and their two daughters Tia and Helena, Tom is passionate about his local community and truly believes “West is Best.” However, politics, a sense of community and a passion to help people have always been central to his life, ever since he first volunteered in the office of Labor stalwart, the late Jack Wright from the age of 14.

From there Tom went on to be the Secretary of South Australian Young Labor, a personal assistant to the Honorable Michael Atkinson, and representing worker as an Industrial Advocate for the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association.

Elected as the Member for Peake (now West Torrens) in 1997, some 26 years and a bit years later, Tom has now become SA Labor’s longest serving MP.

Tom first joined the Cabinet in 2009 where he remained until the defeat of the Weatherill Labor Government in 2018. During that time Tom held the Portfolios of Minister for Corrections; Youth and Volunteers; Gambling; Small Business; Transport, Planning, and Infrastructure; Mining and Energy, State Development and as Treasurer. 

Some of Tom’s proudest achievements have been returning the State Budget into surplus, abolishing stamp duty on all commercial transactions, and helping transition South Australia’s economy following the closure of Holden.

Following the election of a Malinauskas Labor Government in March 2022, Tom was appointed Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, and Minister for Energy and Mining.

Enjoy and please send feedback