Chris Picton


Christopher James Picton is an Australian politician representing the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Kaurna for the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party since the 2014 state election. He has served as the Minister for Health and Wellbeing in the Malinauskas ministry since March 2022, previously shadowing the role while in opposition.

Political career

Prior to being elected to parliament, Picton was chief of staff for his predecessor John Hill and later a staffer for Nicola Roxon, the federal Minister for Health and Attorney-General.
Picton was appointed as a member of the Cabinet of South Australia in September 2017 as Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister for Road Safety; and served in these roles until Labor lost the 2018 state election. After Labor won the 2022 state election, Picton was appointed as Minister for Health and Wellbeing in the Malinauskas ministry.

Personal life

Picton's brother is Tim Picton, who died in January 2026 at the age of 36 following a fatal punch. Tim was an electoral strategist for the Western Australian Labor Party in the 2021 state election.