Biggles to jet off as SA govt’s pick for new global gig
After a 20-year political career, the colourful former speaker and Labor MP Leon ‘Biggles’ Bignell has won a plum international job.
Former parliamentary speaker and Labor MP Leon Bignell has won the coveted job as Agent General to London after quitting parliament just before the March state election.
After months of speculation, Premier Peter Malinauskas confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Bignell would take over from former Liberal MP David Ridgway as Agent General for South Australia in London.
He will start the job on May 27, for a four-year term.
The Office of the Agent-General for South Australia in London represents the South Australian Government in the United Kingdom and Europe, and works to maximise opportunities for the state.
During his time in State Parliament, Bignell also has been Tourism Minister, Recreation and Sport Minister, Racing Minister, Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister and Forests Minister. He was elected as the member for Mawson – which spans the state’s regions from McLaren Vale to the western end of Kangaroo Island – in March, 2006. He was appointed to the role of speaker in April 2024.
Prior to entering politics, Bignell worked for two decades as a journalist at outlets ranging from the ABC to Channel 7, Channel 10 and News Ltd, as well as spending two years in Switzerland working as a foreign correspondent.
“After two years of living in Switzerland and working across Europe in the mid 1990s I’ve been a regular return visitor to the UK and Europe where I’ve built strong relationships with leaders in various sectors across the UK, France, Spain, Switzerland and Germany,” Biggles said.
“I’ll take with me an in-depth knowledge of South Australia and its people, businesses and government.
“There isn’t a part of our one million square kilometre state that I haven’t been to multiple times, and I look forward to telling the stories of these places.”
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Premier Peter Malinauskas said Bignell would be a “strong advocate” in a role that “has never been more important”.
“South Australia is at the centre of one of the most significant industrial and strategic opportunities in our nation’s history through AUKUS and the construction of conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines,” Malinauskas said.
“The United Kingdom is a critical AUKUS partner, and South Australia’s relationship with the UK will become increasingly important as we continue to build sovereign capability, strengthen defence industry partnerships and position our state as a global centre for advanced industrial capability.”
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