Kevin Owen Foley (born 25 September 1960)[1] is a former South Australian politician who served as 11th Deputy Premier of South Australia and additionally Treasurer of South Australia in the Rann government from 2002 to 2011 for the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party. He is the longest-serving deputy premier and the third longest-serving treasurer in South Australian history.
Kevin Foley | |
|---|---|
 Foley in 2009 | |
| Deputy Premier of South Australia | |
| In office 5 March 2002 – 6 February 2011 | |
| Premier | Mike Rann |
| Preceded by | Dean Brown |
| Succeeded by | John Rau |
| Treasurer of South Australia | |
| In office 5 March 2002 – 6 February 2011 | |
| Premier | Mike Rann |
| Preceded by | Rob Lucas |
| Succeeded by | Jack Snelling |
| Deputy Leader of the South Australian Labor Party | |
| In office February 2002 – February 2011 | |
| Leader | Mike Rann |
| Preceded by | Annette Hurley |
| Succeeded by | John Rau |
| Member for Port Adelaide Parliament of South Australia | |
| In office 9 February 2002 – 12 December 2011 | |
| Preceded by | New District |
| Succeeded by | Susan Close |
| Member for Hart Parliament of South Australia | |
| In office 11 December 1993 – 9 February 2002 | |
| Preceded by | New District |
| Succeeded by | District Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 September 1960 |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party (SA) |
| Website | http://foleyadvisory.com.au |
Early life
editFoley was raised in Port Adelaide and educated at Royal Park High School. He left school at the age of 16 and began working for Cadbury-Schweppes. He later worked variously for the Australian Trade Commission, Boral Limited and steel distribution company Australian National Industries.
Immediately before entering Parliament, Foley worked as a senior advisor and chief of staff to then South Australian Premier Lynn Arnold.
Political career
editFoley unsuccessfully contested seat of Semaphore at the 1989 election against Independent Labor MP Norm Peterson. However, he won the seat of Hart at the 1993 election before moving to the seat of Port Adelaide due to Hart's abolition at the 2002 election.
Prior to the 2002 election, Foley did not serve in the position of Deputy Opposition Leader. However, as a result of previous Deputy Leader Annette Hurley failing to win a seat in Parliament at the 2002 election Foley was elected deputy leader and treasurer by the Labor Caucus.
As treasurer, Foley was responsible for rebuilding the state's finances, culminating in the attainment of a AAA credit rating. He also played a leading role in securing a series of significant defence contracts, negotiating the Olympic Dam mine expansion and supporting many of the state's largest infrastructure projects, such as the Adelaide Oval redevelopment and the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Whilst in Government, Foley served in a range of other cabinet positions, including Minister for Industry, Investment and Trade; Minister for Federal/State Relations; Minister Assisting the Premier in Economic Development; Minister for Police; Minister for Defence Industries; Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Motor Sport; and Minister Assisting the Premier with the Olympic Dam Expansion Project.
Foley was a member of the Defence SA Advisory Board from its establishment in 2007 until 2011.
In 2011, Foley said that he thought Australia should embrace nuclear power.[2]
Foley announced his resignation from the roles of deputy premier and treasurer in February 2011, although he continued as a member of cabinet with the Defence, Police, Emergency Services and Motor Sports portfolios.[3][4][5] In October 2011 he resigned from the cabinet, coinciding with Mike Rann's resignation as premier.[6] Foley's parliamentary resignation took effect on 12 December 2011, creating a 2012 Port Adelaide by-election.
Post-parliamentary career
editIn February 2012, Foley established his own corporate advisory firm Foley Advisory,[7] and has a "strategic alignment" with the lobbyists Bespoke Approach.[8] Foley has since worked closely with Bespoke Approach's partners Alexander Downer, Nick Bolkus and Ian Smith.[9] As of 2021, Sky City Casino is one of the companies he lobbies for in South Australia.[10]
References
edit- ^ Kevin Foley: Trove, National Library of South Australia
- ^ "SA ministers back nuclear push". Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Owens, Michael (12 January 2011). "Stage set for Kevin Foley's farewell as SA Treasurer: The Australian 12 January 2011". The Australian. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ Kelton, Greg (8 February 2011). "Kevin Foley resigns as Treasurer and Deputy Premier at press conference at Port Adelaide: The Advertiser 6 February 2011". The Advertiser. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ "Foley steps down as SA deputy premier: SMH 6 February 2011". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 February 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ "Labor facing dual by-elections as Kevin Foley and Mike Rann quit politics". The Advertiser. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- ^ "Foley Advisory". Archived from the original on 28 July 2013.
- ^ Former treasurer Kevin Foley and ex-Mike Rann deputy chief of staff Jill Bottrall register as lobbyists The Advertiser, 13 November 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
- ^ "Hon Kevin Foley". Foley Advisory. Foley Advisory. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
- ^ "Lobbyist Portal". www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
External links
edit- "Foley, Kevin". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 19 August 2022.