Conlon leaves as SA cabinet reshuffle looms

Date: 15.01.2013

Weatherill rings the changes as veteran transport minister steps aside a year before the next state election

South Australia’s long-serving Transport and Infrastructure Minister Pat Conlon has resigned from cabinet in the lead-up to a ministerial reshuffle planned for February 5.

In a politically dramatic day in Adelaide, Health Minister John Hill also left and both indicated they would not stand for re-election next year.

More ministerial moves are expected as Premier Jay Weatherill looks to freshen up his government.

Conlon has held the transport and infrastructure portfolios
for about eight and 10 years respectively and is credited amongst other things with overseeing major freeway developments in and around Adelaide.

Despite an occasionally testy relationship with the South Australian Road Transport Association, he has earnt industry praise in the past.

Then-Australian Trucking Association Chairman Ross Fraser once described him as "courageous" in opposing road pricing hikes during the Howard years.

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