Susan Close

2012 Port Adelaide state by-election

Close received factional backing in August 2011 and began outreach in the Port Adelaide electorate prior to her official confirmation as the Labor Party candidate for the by-election following Kevin Foley's resignation in December.

In the by-election campaign, polling had Close ahead of the independent candidate Gary Johanson, with 48 per cent of the vote compared to 23 per cent for Johanson on first preference votes. This poll also showed Close more favoured by women than men, with 53 per cent compared to 42 per cent. The Liberals did not run a candidate. Close was elected in the Port Adelaide by-election on 11 February 2012.

Close moved the Same Sex Marriage Bill 2013 on 20 June 2013 as a private members' bill and claimed that discrimination against same-sex couples in the institution of marriage was wrong. She used her own family experiences in favor of change. Labor politicians were given a free vote with Premier Jay Weatherill being supportive of the measure. The Liberal Party was opposed to the legislation on the grounds that it violated the constitution since it was a matter for the federal government. Close defended her position using legal opinion.

The legislation failed in the House of Assembly on 25 July 2013. No free vote was given to the Liberal Party MPs.

Weatherill ministry (2014–2018)

On 26 March 2014, Close was appointed to the Weatherill ministry as Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade and Minister for the Public Sector, marking her first cabinet role following her earlier position as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Public Sector. Her appointment came as part of Weatherill's post-election reshuffle, which also introduced Stephen Mullighan and Zoe Bettison to cabinet and secured Geoff Brock's support to form a minority government.

In May 2014, Weatherill announced the establishment of the Department of State Development, which consolidated several portfolios, including manufacturing, and Close became one of the ministers served by the new department. Later that year, after Martin Hamilton-Smith joined the ministry, Close's responsibilities shifted to include manufacturing, innovation and automotive transformation.

Close was appointed Minister for Education and Child Development following the resignation of Jennifer Rankine on 3 February 2015. In April, she announced that teachers registered with the Teachers Registration Board would no longer require separate police checks to volunteer in schools, addressing concerns about duplicative checks and associated fees while maintaining child safety standards. In July, Close apologised for delays in reviewing regional school bus access, noting that the policy had been in place since 1985 and requesting further consideration of the draft report.

Close was appointed Minister for Higher Education and Skills, taking over responsibilities from Gail Gago on 19 January 2016, and served as Acting Minister for Water and the River Murray from 19 to 24 January during Ian Hunter's absence. Later, from 28 December 2016 to 9 January 2017, Close held additional acting roles as Minister for Disabilities, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and Minister for Health, the Arts, and Health Industries, covering for the absences of Leesa Vlahos and John Snelling.

On 22 March 2017, Close was in London on state government business and was approximately fifteen steps from the scene of the Westminster terror attack; she moved away upon hearing gunshots and noticing traffic congestion, with the building where her meeting was scheduled going into lockdown shortly afterwards.

In August 2017, following NAPLAN results showing South Australia as the lowest-performing mainland state in 16 of 20 categories, Close announced a four-year, A$67.5 million investment to improve public primary school outcomes, targeting additional teachers and student support. In September, she was appointed Acting Minister for Investment and Trade, Small Business, Defence Industries, and Veterans' Affairs from 9 to 20 September, covering for the absence of Hamilton-Smith. The following month, Close announced $690 million in state funding to refurbish 91 public schools, prioritising those with the greatest need and ageing infrastructure.

Malinauskas shadow ministry (2018–2022)

Following the 2018 South Australian state election, on 22 March 2018, Close was designated Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Peter Malinauskas's shadow cabinet, with her appointment confirmed on 9 April. On the same day, she assumed the role of Deputy Leader of the South Australian Labor Party. Her appointment meant that, for the first time in the state's history, both major political parties simultaneously had women serving as deputy leaders, with Vickie Chapman holding the corresponding position in the Liberal Party.

Under the shadow ministry, Close remained in charge of education, but he was appointed Shadow Minister for Environment and Water, whereas the child protection portfolio was taken by another member.

Close headed the review of the South Australian Labor Left faction's activities in October 2019.

Close stepped down from the education department on 1 September 2020 in a shadow cabinet shuffle. She kept Environment and Water while taking charge of Climate Change, Industry and Higher Education. In October, she backed Labor's plan to create a University Merger Commission to look at merging South Australia's three leading universities.

In October 2021, Close backed Labor's pre-election plans to make preschool available for three-year-olds and establish the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education & Care.

Deputy Premier of South Australia (2022–2025)

Following the 2022 South Australian state election, Close was sworn into the Malinauskas ministry as Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment and Water on 21 March 2022. She became the state's second female deputy premier, after Chapman. On 24 March, she was also appointed Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science and Minister for Defence and Space Industries, while her environment portfolio was renamed Minister for Climate, Environment and Water.

On 31 May 2022, Close introduced and secured the passage of a motion in both houses of parliament declaring a climate emergency, committing to decarbonising the state economy and achieving net zero emissions. On 12 October, she withdrew support for a socio-economic test under the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, citing recommendations from a Royal Commission, a decision criticised by the South Australian Liberals for its potential impact on regional communities. The following day, she officially opened Lockheed Martin Australia's Adelaide City Office. In November, she attended the COP27 climate summit in Egypt.

On 14 April 2023, Close was chosen to become the vice-president of the national party of the ALP, along with vice-president Mich-Elle Myers and national president Wayne Swan. Her tenure began on 17 August during the 49th National Conference of the party held in Brisbane.

Close took over from Mark Butler in August 2023 as the national senior vice-president of the ALP and attended its 49th national conference in Brisbane. In December, she called for public consultations on the introduction of biodiversity laws. Public consultation was held from 6 December 2023 until 1 March 2024.

On 15 April 2024, after the cabinet shuffle, Close became the first South Australian Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy. She kept the Climate, Environment and Water portfolio while Defence and Space Industries portfolio was taken by Treasurer Mullighan and the SA Water portfolio was handed over to Housing and Urban Development Minister Nick Champion. In May, Close proposals put forward harsher punishments and breeding controls for dog attacks with the intent of stopping puppy farming. She has also announced the setting up of the Responsible AI Research Centre in Adelaide through a collaboration between the state government, CSIRO, and the University of Adelaide.

Consultation for the draft Biodiversity Bill took place between 21 January and 18 February 2025. Close served as the premier while Malinauskas was out of office between 23 and 29 March and 22 and 24 April. Parliament approved the Biodiversity Act 2025 in June. It was the state's first such legislation.

Close was also premier between 6 and 13 September 2025. She and Mullighan announced on 18 September that they will step down from the cabinet and retire from the parliament at the next state election. She cited reasons of family and personal liberty in resigning but denied any connection between her decision and the state's algae bloom.

Upon their departure from the cabinet, Malinauskas nominated Kyam Maher as Deputy Premier and Lucy Hood as the Minister for Climate, Environment, and Water, with the latter having charge of the government's response to the algal bloom. Maher also succeeded Close as the deputy leader of the South Australian Labor Party. By October 2025, Close had also resigned from his role as ALP national vice-president. The party confirmed her resignation on 30 October when it announced the appointment of Rhiannyn Douglas as a national vice-president.