Tom Koutsantonis

The Honourable Tom Koutsantonis MP
Treasurer of South Australia
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 September 2025
Premier	Peter Malinauskas
Preceded by	Stephen Mullighan
In office 26 March 2014 – 19 March 2018
Premier	Jay Weatherill
Preceded by	Jay Weatherill
Succeeded by	Rob Lucas
Minister for Energy and Mining
Incumbent
Assumed office 24 March 2022
Premier	Peter Malinauskas
Preceded by	Dan van Holst Pellekaan
In office 8 February 2011 – 19 March 2018 as Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy
Premier	Jay Weatherill
Preceded by	Paul Holloway
Succeeded by	Dan van Holst Pellekaan
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
In office 24 March 2022 – 19 September 2025
Premier	Peter Malinauskas
Preceded by	Corey Wingard
Succeeded by	Emily Bourke
In office 21 January 2013 – 26 March 2014
Premier	Jay Weatherill
Preceded by	Pat Conlon
Succeeded by	Stephen Mullighan
Father of the Parliament of South Australia
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 March 2022
Preceded by	Rob Lucas
Succeeded by
Other Offices (2009–2018) Minister for Automotive Transformation In office 26 March 2014 – 27 May 2014 Premier Jay Weatherill Preceded by office established Succeeded by Susan Close Minister for Small Business In office 26 March 2014 – 19 January 2016 Premier Jay Weatherill Preceded by Tom Kenyon Succeeded by Martin Hamilton-Smith In office 25 March 2010 – 21 January 2013 Premier Mike Rann Jay Weatherill Preceded by Russell Wortley Succeeded by Tom Kenyon Minister for Housing & Urban Development In office 21 January 2013 – 26 March 2014 Premier Jay Weatherill Preceded by Pat Conlon Succeeded by John Rau Minister for Industry & Trade In office 25 March 2010 – 21 January 2013 Premier Mike Rann Jay Weatherill Preceded by Rory McEwen Succeeded by Tom Kenyon Minister of Correctional Services In office 3 March 2009 – 21 October 2011 Premier Mike Rann Preceded by Carmel Zollo Succeeded by Jennifer Rankine Minister for Gambling In office 3 March 2009 – 8 February 2011 Premier Mike Rann Preceded by Carmel Zollo Succeeded by position abolished Minister for Youth & Volunteers In office 3 March 2009 – 25 March 2010 Premier Mike Rann Preceded by Paul Caica (Youth) Jennifer Rankine (Volunteers) Succeeded by Ian Hunter Minister for Road Safety In office 3 March 2009 – 20 April 2009 Preceded by Carmel Zollo Succeeded by Michael O'Brien
Member of the South Australian Parliament for West Torrens Peake (1997–2002)
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 October 1997
Preceded by	Heini Becker
Personal details
Born	Anastasios Koutsantonis (1971-08-23) 23 August 1971 (age 54) Woodville, South Australia
Party	Australian Labor Party (SA)
Spouse	Anthea ​ (m. 2009)​
Religion	Greek Orthodox
Website	www.tomkoutsantonismp.com.au

Anastasios "Tom" Koutsantonis (born 23 August 1971) is an Australian politician in the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party, representing the seats of West Torrens (2002−current) and Peake (1997−2002) as a Labor member in the South Australian House of Assembly. As of September 2025[update] he is Treasurer of South Australia and Minister for Energy and Mining in the Malinauskas ministry.

Koutsantonis served as Treasurer and minister for other portfolios in the Weatherill cabinet between 2011 and 2018. From March 2022, Koutsantonis served as the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and the Minister for Energy and Mining in the Malinauskas ministry. On 19 September 2025, in a Cabinet reshuffle owing to the resignation of two front benchers, he was once again appointed Treasurer. He retains the portfolio of energy and mining, but lost the infrastructure and transport portfolio.

Anastasios Koutsantonis[citation needed] was born on 23 August 1971[1] in Adelaide to Greek-Australian parents.[2]

He attended Cowandilla and Netley Primary School and Adelaide High School,before going on to study at the University of Adelaide.[2]

Koutsantonis was encouraged and inspired to get involved in politics by former premier Jack Wright, and first volunteered in Wright’s office when he was 14.[2]

Koutsantonis became an industrial officer for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association in the 1990s.[3]

Koutsantonis was elected to the seat of Peake (now West Torrens) at the 1997 election on a margin of 4.5 points,[citation needed] aged 26.[2] He was elected by 8.6 points at the 2002 election, and by 18.3 points at the 2006 election, after which Koutsantonis was elevated to the chairmanship of the economic and advisory committee.[citation needed]

On 3 March 2009,[2] he was appointed to cabinet,[4] and remained in Cabinet until the 2018 state election.[2] Koutsantonis has served in a range of ministerial portfolios, with responsibility for finance, state development, mineral resources and energy, small business, ministerial resources and energy, and for road safety.[5] Koutsantonis was forced to apologise for his "unacceptable" driving record which listed 58 traffic offences and over $10,000 in fines. He subsequently resigned the road safety portfolio.[6]

Following the retirement of Liberal's Rob Lucas at the 2022 state election, Koutsantonis became the longest-serving member of the South Australian Parliament.[7] His long-serving parliamentary service was recognised by Labor leader Peter Malinauskas in his victory speech on election night. After the election, Malinauskas appointed Koutsantonis as Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Minister for Energy and Mining.[8]

On 19 September 2025, in a Cabinet reshuffle following announcements by Susan Close and Stephen Mullighan of their resignations at the next state election, Koutsantonis was once again appointed Treasurer. He retains the portfolio of energy and mining, but the infrastructure and transport portfolio was passed to Emily Bourke.[9]

Koutsantonis is considered conservative within Labor politics, and convenes the Labor-right faction of the party.[10][11]

In February 2010, Koutsantonis sent a letter to his constituents about "vile behaviour" seen at Apex Park on Burbridge Road, West Beach, which was being used as a gay beat. He said that constitutuents should report lewd acts to police.[12] South Australia Police were aware of attacks apparently targeting gay men at the park.[12] Koutsantonis was accused of inciting hatred against homosexuals in by Sydney gay-rights activist Gary Burns, who lodged a complaint to the South Australian Equal Opportunity Commission.[13] The complaint was rejected because Koutsantonis had not breached the Equal Opportunity Act. He rejected claims that he was homophobic, saying that he had supported gay rights in parliament. He said: "This is not about sexuality. It is about stamping out an illegal activity and preventing children from being exposed to lewd acts and health risks."[13] During a debate on same-sex marriage in South Australian parliament in 2012, Koutsantonis outlined his "very dear" belief that marriage is between a man and a woman, but that he supported civil unions and legal rights of gay couples.[14]

In 2021 he was one of three Labor MPs to vote against a Euthanasia Bill[11] because of his conviction to sanctity of life, despite acknowledging that as much as 85% of his constituents supported it.[15] He was one of four lower house parliamentarians to vote against the decriminalisation of abortion in 2021, alongside Labor MP Stephen Mullighan and Liberal MP's Stephen Knoll and David Speirs. [16]

Koutsantonis married Anthea in February 2009, and they have two daughters.[2][17]

• Parliamentary Profile: Tom Koutsantonis on the SA Labor website