Labor for Light

23/02/2026

12/06/2025

11/06/2025

The Light Labor Sub-Branch is proud to support our James Agness - Labor for Light as Labor’s Candidate for Light at the 2026 Election. Good Luck James!

My name is James Agness, and I'm Labor's candidate for Light.

That's a sentence I never thought I’d get the opportunity to write.

It represents a tremendous privilege and comes with a remarkable responsibility.

With those 11 words, I seek to step into the enormous shoes Tony Piccolo MP is leaving - a feat I'm honoured he's entrusting to me.

But now it’s time to earn your trust.

Some of you may already know me.

Maybe you played footy or cricket with or against me at South Gawler Football Club/South Gawler Cricket Club or Gawler Central Sporting Club, maybe I umpired one of your games running the boundary in the Barossa Light & Gawler Football Association.

Perhaps we are alums of Xavier College South Australia.

Or maybe you've seen me at the Gawler parkrun on a Saturday morning, or walking my dog Virgil at Dead Man's Pass, or solving Wordle over a coffee with my partner Emily at Cibo Gawler.

But for those that don’t, let me introduce myself...

Almost 20 years ago my dad, my brother and I moved from the UK to Gawler.

This community welcomed my family with open arms.

Here I learnt that education opens doors, as I finished high school and began my journey to university, becoming the first in my family to graduate.

I learnt to kick a footy (and became a Lion) and met my partner Emily.

In Gawler, I learnt the importance of community, what it is to serve, first by pouring beers over the Kingsford Hotel Bar, then serving in Tony Piccolo's Electorate Office.

Over the next 282 days I hope to earn your trust so I can join the Malinauskas Labor Government.

I hope to take the values of our community that shaped me and represent your voices to ensure they are heard on North Terrace.

I will use what I’ve learnt throughout my career, to advocate, fight and deliver for our community.

I will ensure that the opportunities that existed within our community, when you welcomed me with such a warm embrace, continue to exist for everyone.

And in doing so I seek to repay the faith this community placed in me after you so warmly welcomed me.

I welcome your support and I won't let you down.

13/08/2024

13/08/2024

Today, the From The Roots Up art exhibition officially kicks off at Imprint Flowers Gawler.

I had the pleasure of attending the exclusive launch on Thursday night, and the art on display is amazing.

Daniel Down (Gawler In Photographs), Erin Down Artwork and Jack Carey should be very proud of their art and how great the space looks with their art in it.

The Arts on the Plains Festival also kicks off today, so be sure to check out the range of art exhibitions in our community throughout the next month.

13/08/2024

Nurturing and supporting the children in our community during their early developmental stages is crucial.

That's why I'm hosting a Welcoming the Babies event in September, to give the parents across our community the opportunity to connect with the excellent services available in the North.

There will be free activities, goodie bags and amazing prizes on offer for attendees, alongside special guests Assistant Minister for Autism the Hon. Emily Bourke - Labor MLC and Minister for Early Childhood Education the Hon. Anne Aly MP.

Register your attendance to either session at the links in the comments.

08/07/2024

Vale Ian Smith . A tireless advocate for working people and the labour movement.
Our thoughts are with Ian’s family and friends.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that former Branch Secretary Ian Smith passed away yesterday with family by his side after a tenacious battle with cancer.

Ian will always be a giant of the TWU and transport industry. So many of us were lucky enough to know Ian personally - as a union official, mentor and mate - and saw first-hand how hard he worked every day. His contribution has been simply immense. His passion for our members and their families was second to none, and his vision for the TWU SA/NT Branch always extended far beyond his own tenure.

Ian was a member of the TWU for 30 years. He joined as a member of the TWU in 1994 as a driver at TNT, where he later became a delegate. Ian went on to be the lead delegate for the TWU in South Australia for the first national enterprise agreement at TNT – the first of its kind in the country.

Fifteen years ago, Ian started as a TWU official, and two years after that was elected to Branch Assistant Secretary. He would then work tirelessly as Branch Secretary from 2017 until he stepped down in May this year. Throughout his career Ian took on the likes of Qantas, Uber, Amazon, and major retailers because he insisted that transport workers deserve better, and we are all better for his relentless fight and determination.

On behalf of the Branch Committee of Management, delegates and members, our thoughts and condolences go out to Ian’s wife Sue, daughter Maddie and his entire family. Respected and loved, we will miss Smithy terribly and are all the more determined to continue his legacy and make Ian proud.

Rest in peace mate.

In unity,
Sam McIntosh
Branch Secretary
Transport Workers' Union SA/NT Branch