Martin Hamilton-Smith first Labor Cabinet meeting (ABC)

View Comments ABC In Labor ranks: Martin Hamilton-Smith (second from left).

The former Liberal leader who is now a Labor Government minister, Martin Hamilton-Smith, says he will be disciplined and hardworking in his new role.

The MP has attended his first meeting of the South Australian Labor Cabinet after leaving Liberal ranks to sit as an independent in the Parliament.

Mr Hamilton-Smith says he will be a team player in the Government.

"I'm very much looking forward to it. I intend to be an active but measured contributor in Cabinet," he said.

"I'm one of 14 voices around the table in a very experienced group and I'm very much looking forward to the debates in the months and years going forward."

Mr Hamilton-Smith is now Minister for Trade, Defence Industries and Veterans' Affairs.

"I have no doubt I will have the full confidence of my other Cabinet colleagues," the newest member of Cabinet told reporters.

"They will have mine. This is a team effort.

"They only way to deal with politics, in my view, is to be a team player on behalf of the people who put you there and you have to work hard for them and that's what I'll be doing."

Mr Hamilton-Smith says he and the other independent in Cabinet Geoff Brock can offer an important perspective.

"We have been allowed the freedom by the Premier to represent views as independents around the Cabinet table and I am certain that there is a genuine willingness within Cabinet to have the voice of two independents put forward in Cabinet."

He says Labor worked effectively in the past with MPs Rory McEwen and Karlene Maywald when they were given ministries and he expects the current arrangements to prove just as effective.

"A good Cabinet is a diverse Cabinet and I'm very much looking forward to the views put forward by other Cabinet members and I'm certain they'll be looking forward to mine as well," he said.

Deputy Premier John Rau has chaired the latest meeting of Cabinet because Premier Jay Weatherill is ill.

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