{{short description|Australian politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2014}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable]] | name = Kyam Maher | honorific_suffix = [[South Australian Legislative Council|MLC]] | image = Member of the South Australian Legislative Council Kyam Joseph Maher.jpg | image_size = | caption = Official portrait, 2018 | office = [[Deputy Premier of South Australia]] | term_start = 19 September 2025 | term_end = | premier = [[Peter Malinauskas]] | predecessor = [[Susan Close]] | successor = | office1 = 51st [[Attorney-General of South Australia]] | term_start1 = 24 March 2022 | term_end1 = | premier1 = [[Peter Malinauskas]] | predecessor1 = [[Vickie Chapman]] | successor1 = | office2 = Minister for the Arts | term_start2 = 26 March 2026 | term_end2 = | premier2 = Peter Malinauskas | predecessor2 = [[Andrea Michaels]] | successor2 = | office3 = Minister for Industrial Relations | term_start3 = 26 March 2026 | term_end3 = | premier3 = Peter Malinauskas | predecessor3 = Himself <small> (as Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) </small> | successor3 = | office4 = Special Minister of State | term_start4 = 29 January 2025 | term_end4 = | premier4 = [[Peter Malinauskas]] | predecessor4 = [[Dan Cregan]] | successor4 = | office5 = Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector | term_start5 = 24 March 2022 | term_end5 = 26 March 2025 | premier5 = [[Peter Malinauskas]] | predecessor5 = [[John Rau]] <small>(2018)</small> | successor5 = Himself <small> (as Minister for Industrial Relations) </small> <br /> [[Tom Koutsantonis]] <small> (as Minister for Public Sector </small> | office6 = Minister for Aboriginal Affairs | term_start6 = 24 March 2022 | term_end6 = | premier6 = [[Peter Malinauskas]] | predecessor6 = [[Steven Marshall]] | successor6 = | term_start7 = 3 February 2015 | term_end7 = {{end date|2018|03|18|df=y}} | premier7 = [[Jay Weatherill]] | predecessor7 = [[Ian Hunter (politician)|Ian Hunter]] | successor7 = [[Steven Marshall]] {{small|(as [[Premier]])}} | office8 = [[Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council (South Australia)|Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council]] | term_start8 = 24 March 2022 | term_end8 = | premier8 = [[Peter Malinauskas]] | predecessor8 = [[Rob Lucas]] | successor8 = | term_start9 = 18 January 2016 | term_end9 = 18 March 2018 | premier10 = [[Jay Weatherill]] | predecessor10 = [[Gail Gago]] | successor10 = [[Rob Lucas]] | office11 = Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation <br /> Minister for Automotive Transformation | premier11 = [[Jay Weatherill]] | term_start11 = 3 February 2015 | term_end11 = {{end date|2018|03|18|df=y}} | predecessor11 = [[Susan Close]] | successor11 = [[David Pisoni]] {{small|(as Minister for Industry and Skills)}} | office12 = Member of the [[South Australian Legislative Council]] | term_start12 = 17 October 2012 | term_end12 = | predecessor12 = [[Bob Sneath]] | successor12 = | birth_name = Kyam Joseph Maher | birth_date = | birth_place = [[Littlehampton, South Australia]] | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch)|Australian Labor Party (SA)]] | spouse = Carmel Maher | alma_mater = [[University of Adelaide]] | occupation = Lawyer | website = }}
'''Kyam Joseph Maher''' is an Australian politician and lawyer who has been [[Deputy Premier of South Australia]] since 19 September 2025. He has also been [[Attorney-General of South Australia]], Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, and the [[Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council (South Australia)|Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council]] since March 2022, and continues to hold these roles after promotion to deputy premier in the September 2025 Cabinet reshuffle. He is also Special Minister of State (holding responsibility for electoral services) since January 2025. Maher is the first ever [[Indigenous Australian]] person to serve as Attorney-General, and also the first as Deputy Premier in [[South Australia]].
He was appointed to a [[casual vacancy]] in the [[South Australian Legislative Council]] for the [[Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch)|South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party]] on 17 October 2012. He previously served in the [[Cabinet of South Australia]] between 2015 and 2018 and was the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council between 2016 and 2018.
==Early life and education== Kyam Joseph Maher<ref name=parlsep2025>{{cite web | title=Hon Kyam Maher | website=[[Parliament of South Australia]] | url=https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/Search/Member?type=member&id=4697 |date=September 2025| access-date=29 September 2025| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250929080153/https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/Search/Member?type=member&id=4697 | archive-date=29 September 2025| url-status=live}}</ref> is of [[Aboriginal Tasmanian]] descent.<ref name="Smith 2022">{{cite web | last=Smith | first=Douglas | title=Meet Kyam Maher, South Australia's first Aboriginal Attorney-General | website=[[NITV]] | date=25 March 2022 | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/meet-kyam-maher-south-australias-first-aboriginal-attorney-general/j9nepw5s2 | access-date=19 January 2023}}</ref>
He spent his early years in [[Littlehampton, South Australia|Littlehampton]], a small country town in the [[Adelaide Hills]], before moving to [[Mount Gambier, South Australia|Mount Gambier]], where he attended [[Grant High School (Mount Gambier)|Grant High School]].<ref name=parlsep2025/> He left Mount Gambier to study law and economics at the [[University of Adelaide]], where he earned degrees in both subjects.<ref name=parlsep2025/>
Maher does not consider that he experienced the disadvantage and [[Racism in Australia|racism]] that is common for many [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal people in Australia]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/aboriginal-affairs-and-reconciliation-minister-kyam-maher-starting-to-reconnect-with-indigenous-heritage/news-story/cfe52950a91e8bf4bb5ffc79eee94e3c |title=Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Kyam Maher starting to reconnect with indigenous heritage |first=Andrew |last=Dowdell |newspaper=Sunday Mail |date=13 May 2017 |accessdate=5 February 2020}}</ref>
==Career== Maher practised as a lawyer in the [[Crown Solicitor of South Australia|Crown Solicitor's Office]] in South Australia.<ref name=parlsep2025/> When Labor won the [[2002 South Australian state election|2002 state election]], Maher was appointed [[Chief of staff|Chief of Staff]] to [[Terry Roberts (politician)|Terry Roberts]], Minister for three portfolios: Regional Affairs, Aboriginal Affairs and Correctional Services.<ref name=parlsep2025/>
He later became South Australian state secretary of the Australian Labor Party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-02/alp-secretary-set-for-seat-in-parliament/4290410|title=ALP secretary set for seat in Parliament|publisher=[[ABC (Australia)|ABC]] |work=ABC News |first=Nick |last=Harmsen |date=2 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=parlsep2025/>
In 2006, he was an inaugural committee member of the Progressive Labour Education Association Inc (PLEA), a joint-venture training organisation operated by the ALP [[Socialist Left (Australia)|Socialist Left faction]] and aligned unions [[United Voice]] (then the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union) and the [[Australian Services Union]].<ref>{{cite web|title=What is the Progressive Labour Education Association (PLEA)?|url=https://www.plus.org.au/plea/|website=Progressive Left Unions and Sub-Branches (PLUS)|accessdate=7 February 2015}}</ref>
Maher was appointed to the [[South Australian Legislative Council]] in 2012 to replace outgoing MLC [[Bob Sneath]]. Maher was re-elected from fourth position on the Labor ticket at the [[2014 South Australian state election|2014 election]],<ref>{{cite web | last=Green | first=Antony | title=South Australia Election 2014 Results | website=ABC News | date=15 March 2014 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/sa/2014/results | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250929082506/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/sa/2014/results | archive-date=29 September 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=29 September 2025}}</ref> and was appointed [[parliamentary secretary]] to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.<ref name=parlsep2025/>
In February 2015 he was appointed to [[Cabinet of South Australia|cabinet]] and, between 2015 and the [[2018 South Australian state election|2018 state election]], Maher served as minister in the Labor [[Weatherill Ministry]] in a range of portfolios including manufacturing and innovation, automotive transformation, Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation;<ref name="ministry">{{cite news|title=SA ministry reshuffle: Rau gets child protection task, Kyam Maher moved into Cabinet, Katrine Hildyard elevated|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-03/maher-joins-sa-cabinet-rau-gets-child-protection/6064820|accessdate=6 February 2015|agency=ABC News|date=3 February 2015}}</ref> and employment and science and information economy.<ref>[http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/index.php/ministers Cabinet of South Australia: Premier.sa.gov.au] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921063339/http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/index.php/ministers |date=21 September 2015 }}</ref> Maher was the first [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal]] South Australian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://adelaideaz.com/articles/kyam-maher--first-south-australian-government-aboriginal-affairs-minister-discovers-aboriginality |title=Kyam Maher, the first South Australian Aboriginal government minister for Aboriginal affairs during 2015-18 |website=AdelaideAZ |access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>
On 18 January 2016 Maher was appointed as the [[Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council (South Australia)|Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council]] in the Weatherill government.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/reshuffle-peter-malinauskas-and-leesa-vlahos-join-jay-weatherills-cabinet/news-story/65ebd68df6c3acde8414c0af5ac01fed |title=Reshuffle, Peter Malinauskas and Leesa Vlahos join Jay Weatherill's Cabinet |work=The Advertiser |date=18 January 2016 }}</ref>
After Labor won government at the [[2022 South Australian state election|2022 state election]], Maher was appointed [[Attorney-General of South Australia|Attorney-General]] in the [[Malinauskas ministry]] on 24 March, as well as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indaily.com.au/news/2022/03/24/brocks-back-independent-among-new-faces-in-diverse-labor-cabinet/|work=In Daily|title=Brock's back: Independent among new faces in 'diverse' Labor cabinet|first=Stephanie|last=Richards|date=24 March 2022|access-date=25 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-24/independent-former-minister-joins-new-south-australian-cabinet/100935424|publisher=ABC News|title=New South Australian cabinet sworn in, with independent Geoff Brock making surprise comeback|first1=Nick|last1=Harmsen|first2=Isabel|last2=Dayman|date=24 March 2022|access-date=25 March 2022}}</ref> He also became Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council for the second time. Maher was the first Aboriginal man in the nation's history to be appointed Attorney-General.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/south-australia-politics-new-sa-premier-names-his-new-cabinet/4aa96c37-861b-4b4f-9150-47bc526183a7|title=New SA Premier names new cabinet with women and Independents coming out on top|publisher=9News|date=24 March 2022|access-date=31 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="Smith 2022"/>
In his role as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, he presided over reforms which saw South Australia become the first state in Australia to commence [[Indigenous treaties in Australia|Treaty negotiations with Aboriginal nations]] and implementing a [[Stolen Generations]] reparations scheme.<ref name=premier/>
In a [[Cabinet reshuffle]] on 29 January 2025, Maher was appointed Special Minister of State, making him also responsible for Parliamentary resources, including Electorate Services.<ref>{{cite web | title=Improving outcomes for Autistic South Australians a focus of the new Ministry | website=Premier of South Australia | date=29 January 2025 | url=https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/media-releases/news-archive/improving-outcomes-for-autistic-south-australians-a-focus-of-the-new-ministry | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250929085647/https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/media-releases/news-archive/improving-outcomes-for-autistic-south-australians-a-focus-of-the-new-ministry | archive-date=29 September 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=29 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Our ministers | website=Department of Treasury and Finance | date=19 September 2025 | url=https://www.treasury.sa.gov.au/about/our-ministers | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250910104621/https://www.treasury.sa.gov.au/about/our-ministers | archive-date=10 September 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=29 September 2025}}</ref>
Following Deputy Premier [[Susan Close]]'s decision to step down from politics, on 19 September 2025, Maher was elected by the party to be its deputy leader and he became [[Deputy Premier of South Australia|the state's Deputy Premier]], in addition to his existing ministerial roles as Attorney-General and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brennan |first=Dechlan |date=2025-09-19 |title=Kyam Maher named South Australia's new Deputy Premier |url=https://nit.com.au/19-09-2025/20345/kyam-maher-named-south-australias-new-deputy-premier |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=[[National Indigenous Times]]}}</ref><ref name=record2025>{{cite web | title=Record number of women in new Ministry|first= Peter| last= Malinauskas | website=[[Premier of South Australia]] | date=19 September 2025 | url=https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/media-releases/news-items/record-number-of-women-in-new-ministry | access-date=29 September 2025}}</ref> He is the first [[Indigenous Australian]] person to serve as Deputy Premier in the [[history of South Australia]].<ref name=simmons2025>{{cite web | title=Veteran Labor Minister named Treasurer after shock Cabinet resignations|first=David| last= Simmons | website=[[InDaily]] | date=19 September 2025 | url=https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/just-in/2025/09/19/attorney-general-lands-new-role-after-labor-pre-election-bombshell | access-date=29 September 2025| quote=updated Sep 22, 2025}}</ref> {{as of|September 2025}} he is also Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, and Special Minister of State.<ref name=parlsep2025/><ref name=premier>{{cite web | title=Kyam Maher MLC | website=Premier of South Australia | date=19 September 2025 | url=https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/the-team/kyam-maher-mlc | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250929084203/https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/the-team/kyam-maher-mlc | archive-date=29 September 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=29 September 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== Maher married Carmel, and they have three boys.<ref name=parlsep2025/> Maher also has a fondness for [[sausage roll]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of South Australia |date=2025 |title=Kyam Maher MLC |url=https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/the-team/kyam-maher-mlc}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{cite SA-parl|pid=4697|name=Maher, Kyam|former=}} *[https://www.sa.alp.org.au/members/hon-kyam-maher Hon. Kyam Maher] on the SA Labor website
{{s-start}} {{s-par|au-sa}} {{s-bef|before=[[Bob Sneath]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[South Australian Legislative Council]] | years=2012{{ndash}}present | alongside=[[Members of the South Australian Legislative Council, 2010–2014|Multiple Members]]}} {{s-inc}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Susan Close]]|rows=2}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Government of South Australia#Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy|Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation]]|years=2015{{ndash}}2018}} {{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[David Pisoni]]|as=Minister for Industry and Skills}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Government of South Australia#Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy|Minister for Automotive Transformation]]|years=2015{{ndash}}2018}} {{s-bef|before=[[Ian Hunter (politician)|Ian Hunter]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Government of South Australia#Department of the Premier and Cabinet|Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation]]|years=2015{{ndash}}2018}} {{s-aft|after=[[Steven Marshall]]|as=[[Premier of South Australia]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Gail Gago]]|rows=2}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council (South Australia)|Leader of the Government in the South Australian Legislative Council]]|years=2016{{ndash}}2018}} {{s-aft|after=[[Rob Lucas]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Government of South Australia#Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology|Minister for Science and Information Economy]]|years=2016{{ndash}}2018}} {{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[David Ridgway (politician)|David Ridgway]]|as=Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment}} {{s-bef|before=[[Gail Gago]]<br /><small>''as Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills''</small>}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Government of South Australia#Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology|Minister for Employment]]|years=2016{{ndash}}2018}} {{s-bef|before=[[Vickie Chapman]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Attorney-General of South Australia]]|years=2022–present}} {{s-inc|rows=2}} {{s-bef|before=[[Rob Lucas]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council (South Australia)|Leader of the Government in the South Australian Legislative Council]]|years=2022–present}} {{s-end}}
{{Cabinet of South Australia}} {{Australian deputy premiers}} {{Australian Attorneys-General}} {{SACurrentMLCs}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maher, Kyam}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Members of the South Australian Legislative Council]] [[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:21st-century Australian lawyers]] [[Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of South Australia]] [[Category:Labor Left politicians]] [[Category:21st-century Australian politicians]] [[Category:Indigenous Australian politicians]]