About Martin

Fresh Team, New Ideas

State Opposition Leader, Martin Hamilton-Smith is leading a fresh team dedicated to making South Australia better.

From a soldier in the Australian Army to a State MP, Martin has devoted his working life to serving the nation and the State.

He spent 23 years in the Army, serving in the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), commanding the 1st Commando Regiment and leading multi-national Peacekeepers in Egypt.

As a State MP, Martin has represented the seat of Waite for 10 years and was a Minister in the previous Liberal Government.

However, family is the centrepiece of Martin’s life. Married to Stavroula, they have a four-year-old son, Thomas, while Martin is step-father to Christos, 19, and Jola, 25. The family resides in Mitcham where the Hamilton-Smiths have lived for generations.

Martin believes working families have been punished under Mike Rann and Labor with higher State fees and charges and wrong priorities on health and education. He understands the value of a public school education.

Martin was educated at Marion High School before entering the Royal Military College Duntroon. He has Bachelor and Masters degrees from the University of NSW and Adelaide University.

Unlike many in Labor, Martin knows the challenge of running a small business. After leaving the Army, he developed private child care centres in South Australia, delivering real assistance to working families. Martin understands how high payroll and land tax and State Government red-tape can impede business and employment growth. Martin is not a career politician or a one-time political staffer like many who have risen through Labor’s ranks. He has worked hard to make a difference whether that was in the Army or in private business. Now he is using those skills and experience to assist South Australian families and businesses as the Leader of a united Liberal team.