Tom Koutsantonis

Who is Tom Koutsantonis?

Anastasios "Tom" Koutsantonis is a South Australian politician and a member of the Australian Labor Party, representing the seat of West Torrens in the South Australian House of Assembly. He is the current Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development in the current Weatherill cabinet.

Koutsantonis, a Greek-Australian, was born in Adelaide and attended Netley Primary School and Adelaide High School. As a student at the University of Adelaide he became involved in Australian Young Labor, drove taxis and went on to run a small business before becoming an industrial officer for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association.

Koutsantonis was elected to the seat of Peake at the 1997 election on a margin of 4.5 per cent, then by 8.6 per cent at the 2002 election, and by 18.3 per cent at the 2006 election, after which Koutsantonis was elevated to the chairmanship of the economic and advisory committee. In 2009, he was elevated to cabinet. Forty-seven days after being appointed Minister for Road Safety, 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 portfolio.