Public sector reform could be coming following a change of government in South Australia. 

South Australia’s 47th premier, Peter Malinauskas, has been sworn in and announced his new cabinet. 

Some of Mr Malinauskas’ first comments in the wake of his win were about shake-ups in the state’s health, education, emergency services, energy, and housing bureaucracies. 

Health policy was a main pillar of the new Labor government’s campaign, suggesting the leadership of SA Health is now on notice.

The new premier has also indicated that serious changes are coming for the state’s public service.

“Clearly, the task before us is very substantial, we’ve got a number of issues that we’d like to address within the community,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“Some are going to be difficult, some are going to be challenging and take some time, others are particularly urgent.

“But it’s a task that we are wholeheartedly committed to.”

His cabinet contains the surprising inclusion of an independent MP, with Geoff Brock being named as local government, regional and veterans’ affairs minister.

Mr Brock won the seat of Stuart in Saturday’s election from former deputy premier Dan van Holst Pellekaan.

Mr Brock was a minister in the former Labor administration of former premier Jay Weatherill.

“I will work collaboratively with any government of any persuasion that is willing to do the right thing by South Australia, plain and simple,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“If there are examples of where the federal Coalition want to do something good by our state, I will acknowledge it.

“But I’m not going to be ScoMo’s quokka either. If they do something I don’t agree with, I will stand and fight for South Australia’s interest.”