About Connie

Connie Bonaros graduated with an Honours degree in Law and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Modern Greek and Social Politics from Adelaide University in 2002.

She was elected as a Member of the Legislative Council in 2018, although her political career – across both state and federal levels – started 14 years earlier, firstly as a senior adviser to Nick Xenophon and later as Chief of Staff to Senator Stirling Griff.

In her time as a politician, Connie has already been instrumental in significant legislative change including:

• introducing major reforms to the Coroners Act, granting the coroner greater powers to conduct full and thorough inquests and ensure the government is held accountable when responding to recommendations;
• changes to the Equal Opportunity Act that removed archaic exemptions for MPs and the judiciary to ensure they are now included with the scope of the legislation;
• an inquiry by the Equal Opportunity Commissioner into harassment – including sexual harassment – in the legal profession in line with national calls for change. (The report can be found at: www.eoc.sa.gov.au/about-us/projects/review-of-harassment-in-the-legal-profession );
• the banning from sale of LPG bottles without an appropriate label warning that inhaling the gas may cause injury or death following the tragic death of a Port Lincoln teenager. For this to be achieved, Connie introduced a private members bill which was passed by both Houses;
• criminalising child-like sex dolls and related child exploitation material;
• Australia-first changes to drug driving laws in SA to bring drug driving offences in line with drink driving offences and news laws governing motorbike licensing age and training requirements for young people;
• another Australia-first introduction of legislation banning the use of spit-hoods in all detention settings and major reforms to our corrections laws in line with international obligations;
• the implementation of an IVF donor conception register;
• legislation to give South Australian public servants the choice of superannuation funds;
• the introduction of stealthing laws making SA only the second jurisdiction in Australia and one of only a handful around the world to criminalise “stealthing” – the non-consensual removal of a condom during sex;
• changes to the national redress scheme and limitation of actions for child abuse victims;
• the introduction of a nation-leading bill to amend the Summary Offences Act 1953 covering the creation, distribution and threats to distribute artificially generated invasive images ('deepfakes'), and;
• mandatory drug rehabilitation programs for minors.

Furthermore, Connie has introduced two bills to establish a Commissioner for Gender Equality to oversee public sector agencies with the support of the majority of the Upper House. 

Though such a bill was supported by the sitting Labor Government when in opposition, they ultimately rejected the bill once in power in favour of pledging to introducing their own. It’s not praise or recognition that drives Connie – it’s using her influence to improve the lives of South Australians. Consequently, she is pleased that such a commitment has been made and looks forward to reading the Labor Government’s bill.

Leading the charge in the South Australian Parliament to eliminate period poverty in schools, Connie is a proud Ambassador of KickStart for Kids and their menstrual health program.

It is through the establishment of committees that much of the work uncovering deficiencies across public and private sectors takes place. 

Connie is a member of several Parliamentary Committees, including a position as Chair of the Health Committee, which has unearthed systemic failures across the state’s health system under her watch. Her position on the Legislative Review Committee gives her an influential role in scrutinising subordinate legislation. Conne further sits on committees centred on the Water Supply Needs of Eyre Peninsula; Wage Theft; Health Services in South Australia and others.

Connie considers her most valued contribution to the state to be her work with victims of asbestos poisoning. A lethal, yet preventable, consequence of inadequate regulatory laws surrounding construction, it is a tragedy that South Australians continue to suffer from the mistakes of yesteryear. Connie was successful in advocating for, and subsequently passing, legislation establishing the South Australian Dust Diseases Tribunal. 

The legacy of her unwavering commitment to victims of asbestos poisoning will be found in the lives of younger South Australians. For our youth’s respiratory heath to be compromised by asbestos is unconscionable; accordingly, Connie refused to take no for an answer until the tribunal was established. 

She’s also a staunch advocate for child protection, criminal and social justice issues, restorative justice, and her long-standing policy platform on predatory gambling practices and gambling addiction.

Connie is also passionate about grassroots campaigns which continue to drive her to fight for change over nearly two decades.

On a personal level, she loves nothing more than rubbing shoulders with people and spending time in the community, including her local, proud Greek community. But her single biggest achievement is and will always be her little boy.

Connie can be contacted at her Parliament House office on (08) 8237 9259 or via email at bonaros.office@parliament.sa.gov.au