BREAKING: The South Australian Premier secretly filmed and recorded a colleague Annabel Digance. Her husband responded by threatening to release damaging information about Malinauskas. Malinauskas then reported Digance to police for blackmail, which led to Malinauskas secretly ce (recording her without her knowledge twice!) - and ultimately the arrest and public humiliation of Annabel Digance. This matter completely silenced her
Then Malinauskas got the police to delay the court case until the election, where he became Premier. Here’s the background….
Former MP Annabel Digance made claims of bullying, sexism, and racism by senior Labor figures, including Malinauskas and Don Farrell. She claimed they sidelined her career
Her husband threatened to go public with “damaging stories” about Malinauskas’ past and reputation
In February 13, 2020, Malinauskas set up a restaurant meeting (which he secretly recorded on his phone), and Greg Digance warned of public exposure of Malinauskas’ past, unless Annabel Digance got her “political career back”
Malinauskas later reported this to SA Police as blackmail on March 16, 2020
Malinauskas then became “Undercover Operative 4394” and wore a hidden digital recorder, or wire, under his suit. On March 27, 2020, he met the Annabel and Greg Digances at Labor Party headquarters in Adelaide where police also secretly installed a camera. Malinauskas confronted them, demanded they state their demands, then revealed he had reported them for blackmail
Malinauskas forgot to turn off the wire he was wearing and while still recording, he immediately called his wife to say he had been unable to “extract incriminating statements” about Annabel Digance according to Court testimony
Even so, charges were laid against the Digances in 2021 and they were arrested
Malinauskas then asked police to delay any prosecution until after the 2022 SA State election which Labor won, making him Premier. Charges were later withdrawn in 2023 with no conviction against the Digances
Annabel Digance then sued Malinauskas and the South Australian government for $2.3 million in the Supreme Court for malicious prosecution, wrongful arrest, false imprisonment, and misfeasance in public office. Her barrister argued Malinauskas abused his position and police resources for personal and political gain
This story is barely known, virtually uncovered by the media, and this weekend everyone is expecting Malinauskas and Labor to win the South Australian election in a landslide
