Frank Pangallo

The Honourable
Frank Pangallo
MLC
Member of the South Australian Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 March 2018 (2018-03-17)
Personal details
Born (1954-10-15) 15 October 1954
Political partyLiberal (2025–present)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (2023–25)
SA-Best (2018–2023)
EducationUnderdale High School (South Australia)
OccupationJournalist; politician

Frank Pangallo (born 15 October 1954)[1][2][3] is an Australian politician and journalist. Beginning his career as a journalist and television reporter, Pangallo became a media advisor to Nick Xenophon in 2017, and was elected to an eight-year term in the South Australian Legislative Council in 2018 as a member of Xenophon's SA-Best party.[4] Pangallo left SA-Best to sit as an independent in 2023, and joined the Liberal Party in 2025 to stand as their candidate in Waite for the 2026 state election.

Career

Pangallo worked for The News in Adelaide, becoming editor in 1989, and from 1995 was a television reporter on Today Tonight. In 2017 he became a media advisor to Nick Xenophon.[5] He was placed second on SA-Best's ticket for the Legislative Council at the 2018 South Australian state election.[6] At the 2018 election, Pangallo was successfully elected to the Legislative Council, becoming one of SA-Best's two parliamentarians, alongside Connie Bonaros.[7][8]

As a member of the Legislative Council, Pangallo introduced a bill in 2021 to limit the powers of South Australia's Independent Commission Against Corruption, removing its ability to investigate misconduct or maladministration. Pangallo's bill was passed unanimously.[9]

Pangallo left SA-Best in December 2023, citing ideological disputes with SA-Best's other MLC, Connie Bonaros. The Advertiser reported that this stemmed over a dispute over a merger proposal for the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide. Bonaros supported the proposal, while Pangallo wished for more time to consider it.[10]

Pangallo proposed a parliamentary inquiry into gender dysphoria in February 2024, which he described as a "social contagion".[11] This motion was not brought forward to a vote after the Labor Party decided against allowing its members a conscience vote on the issue, a decision supported by Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas.[12][13]

Pangallo proposed legislation in October 2024 to place a number of regulations on the betting industry, with betting companies prevented from banning or limiting bettors based solely due to betting success, and being required to provide written reasons for banning or limiting bettors.[14][15]

In August 2025, Pangallo joined the South Australian Liberal Party, being announced as the Liberal candidate for Waite in the 2026 South Australian state election.[16][17]

Personal life

Frank Pangallo announced in May 2024 that he had stage 4 prostate cancer, being initially diagnosed in December 2023 and undergoing radiation treatment as a result.[18][19]

References

  1. ^ Terry Stephens, President (15 October 2024). "Statutes Amendment (Personal Mobility Devices) Bill". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). South Australia: Legislative Council. I would like to call the Hon. Mr Pangallo who, by the way, is apparently celebrating a rather significant birthday today, so on behalf of the chamber, the Hon. Mr Pangallo, we wish you all the very best.
  2. ^ "New MP Frank Pangallo's colourful life". Adelaide Advertiser. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  3. ^ Meegan, Genevieve; Lewis, Tony. "'People tend to remember me more for the foot-in-the-door stuff'". SA Life. Archived from the original on 23 March 2025.
  4. ^ "Hon Frank Pangallo". Members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  5. ^ Bermingham, Kathryn (13 July 2017). "Former Today Tonight journalist Frank Pangallo to take up role as media advisor to Nick Xenophon". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  6. ^ MacLennan, Leah (10 January 2018). "SA election: Xenophon candidates include regional mayor Sam Johnson, staffer Frank Pangallo". ABC News. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025. A long-time Xenophon staffer Connie Bonaros is also on the ticket, in the number one position, followed by Mr Pangallo then Mr Johnson.
  7. ^ "2018 Legislative Council election results". Electoral Commission of South Australia. 23 April 2018. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  8. ^ Opray, Max (19 March 2018). "SA Best vows to crack down on attack ads after 'dirty' election campaign". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  9. ^ "'Extraordinary' bill to reduce powers of SA's anti-corruption commissioner passes Parliament". ABC News. 23 September 2021. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  10. ^ Starick, Paul (1 December 2023). "Former journalist Frank Pangallo quits SA-Best after falling out with colleague Connie Bonaros". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  11. ^ Bermingham, Kathryn (6 February 2024). "South Australian parliament to vote on inquiry into gender dysphoria". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  12. ^ Penberthy, David (7 February 2024). "Peter Malinauskas kills off landmark South Australian gender dysphoria inquiry". The Australian. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2025. Mr Malinauskas said he supported the caucus decision to block a free vote, despite some members of his own party holding concerns about the rigour surrounding the management of transgender cases.
  13. ^ Thomas, Shibu (7 February 2024). "MLC Frank Pangallo Blames SA Premier For 'Killing Off' His Anti-Trans Motion". Star Observer. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  14. ^ Bermingham, Kathryn (30 October 2024). "Independent MLC Frank Pangallo introduces legislation to stop betting companies from banning punters who are winning too often". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  15. ^ Ferguson, John (31 October 2024). "Online betting companies face campaign over hi-tech methods punishing winning gamblers". The Australian. Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Independent MP and former journalist Frank Pangallo to run as Liberal candidate for Waite". ABC News. 17 August 2025. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  17. ^ Karakulak, Helen (18 August 2025). "Libs make 'worst-kept secret' partnership official". InDaily. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025. Pangallo will officially join the party from Tuesday, filling its ranks in the Legislative Council, before aiming to switch houses and win the spot as Waite's MP at the March election.
  18. ^ Alderson, Bethanie (13 May 2024). "SA upper house MP Frank Pangallo reveals stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosis". ABC News. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025. South Australian independent upper house MP Frank Pangallo has revealed he has stage 4 prostate cancer. In a statement, the member of the Legislative Council said the 69-year-old received the diagnosis in December and has undergone intensive radiation treatment since.
  19. ^ Eccles, David (13 May 2024). "Another SA MP reveals cancer diagnosis". InDaily. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025. In a statement on Monday morning, Pangallo said that in December he was diagnosed with "aggressive stage four prostate cancer" and had since undergone radiation treatment.


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