Close entered parliament at the 2012 Port Adelaide state by-election following Kevin Foley's resignation, benefiting from strong polling and the absence of a Liberal candidate. In her first term, she pursued social reform, introducing a same-sex marriage bill in 2013, and the following year joined Jay Weatherill's ministry, where she held multiple portfolios, including manufacturing, innovation, education, and higher education. She also oversaw policy changes in schools, announced major funding for infrastructure and teaching, and represented the state in London during the 2017 Westminster attack.
After Labor's 2018 election loss, Close became Deputy Leader of the Opposition and held shadow portfolios in education, environment, climate change, and higher education. She returned to government in 2022 as Deputy Premier under Peter Malinauskas, serving in portfolios related to climate, industry, science, and defence. She declared a climate emergency, represented South Australia at COP27, and launched initiatives such as the Responsible AI Research Centre in 2024. In 2025, she was Acting Premier on several occasions before announcing her retirement.
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 on 20 October later that year. In the by-election held in February 2012, polling indicated increased support for Close, particularly among female voters, with 53 per cent of women compared with 42 per cent of men expressing support, up from Labor's previous 39 per cent female vote. On primary votes, Close led her nearest rival, Gary Johanson, by 48–23 per cent, aided in part by the absence of a Liberal Party candidate, which split the opposition vote.
In June 2013, Close introduced a bill in the parliament seeking to legalise same-sex marriage, arguing that the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman was discriminatory and drawing on her own family circumstances in support of the reform. The following month, she introduced the Same Sex Marriage Bill 2013 as a private member's bill. Labor MPs were granted a conscience vote, with PremierJay Weatherill among the supporters, while Liberal MPs opposed the bill on constitutional grounds, maintaining that marriage was a federal matter. Close cited legal advice to argue that South Australia could legislate on the issue, but the bill was defeated in the House of Assembly without being put to a vote after Liberal MPs were not permitted a conscience vote. The defeat did not end parliamentary debate on the subject, as a similar bill was subsequently introduced in the Legislative Council by the Australian Greens' Tammy Franks.
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, following NAPLAN results showing South Australia as the lowest-performing mainland state in 16 of 20 categories, she announced a four-year, A$67.5 million investment to improve public primary school outcomes, targeting additional teachers and student support. In September, Close 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, she 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)
Close at the Port Adelaide Rowing Club in 2018
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. Initially, she retained the education portfolio and was appointed Shadow Minister for Environment and Water, while Child Protection was assigned to another member. Over the course of the shadow ministry, she also held the portfolios of Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Shadow Minister for Industry and Higher Education. On 14 April, Close was elected ALP National Vice-President, serving alongside Wayne Swan as President and Mich‑Elle Myers as the other Vice-President, with her term commencing at the 49th National Conference in August.
Close continued to play a key role within the Labor Left faction, chairing a review in October 2019 to support internal renewal and policy engagement. On 1 September 2020, she relinquished the Education portfolio in a shadow cabinet reshuffle to focus on Climate Change, Industry, and Higher Education, while retaining Environment and Water. She subsequently supported proposals to strengthen South Australia's higher education sector, including a University Merger Commission to examine combining the state's three major universities in October 2020, and pre-election policies to expand preschool access to three-year-olds and establish a Royal Commission into early childhood education and care in October 2021.
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, and subsequently as Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science and Minister for Defence and Space Industries on 24 March, with her Environment and Water portfolio 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.
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, followed by public consultation on the draft Biodiversity Bill from 21 January until 18 February 2025. The passed Biodiversity Act was the first of its kind in South Australia.
Close in 2024 put forward harsher punishments for dangerous dogs and breed controls that aimed at banning the practice of puppy farming. On December 9, she unveiled the creation of the Responsible AI Research Centre in Adelaide, in partnership with the state government, CSIRO and the University of Adelaide.
Close acted as Premier-in-charge in the absence of the Premier three times in 2025, namely 23 to 29 March, 22 to 24 April, and 6 to 13 September. On 18 September, she and TreasurerStephen Mullighan said they will leave politics and Parliament in the next state election in 2026. Close said that her decision is not linked to the algae bloom in the state but rather to family commitments and personal freedom.
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.
Later career
The McKinnon Institute for Political Leadership announced on 19 December 2025, that Close was going to be appointed CEO and professor of practice in 2026. On 17 April 2026, the Albanese government announced her appointment to the CSIRO Board for a four-year term.
Personal life
Close was born to academic parents, David Close, her father, was a history professor at Flinders University, while Elizabeth Close, her mother, was a French expert. They migrated from Oxford to Australia for the establishment of Flinders. She has lived on the Lefevre Peninsula with her husband, Declan Andrews, and their two children.
Awards
Close was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Flinders University on 28 August 2026 at a ceremony held at the Adelaide Town Hall for her leadership in public service and environmental reform.
↑"Supplementary Gazette"(PDF). South Australian Government Gazette. p.5235. Archived from the original(PDF) on 23 March 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
.jpg)
