Influential South Australian senator Nick Xenophon has outlined his succession plan once he leaves federal politics for good, naming senior adviser Rex Patrick as the man to take his place in the Senate.
The party that bears its founder's name, the Nick Xenophon Team, will also be renamed as SA-BEST (Federal) — but he will keep hold of the reins of his Canberra team from Adelaide.
Senator Xenophon held on to his seat in Federal Parliament amid the Citizenship Seven saga, one of only two of the politicians not to be kicked out because of their dual citizenship at the last election.
The outcome of the High Court case was almost inconsequential for the South Australian, who sent shockwaves through federal and state politics when he declared he was running in the electorate of Hartley at next year's South Australian election.
Mr Patrick, a former submariner, had been widely tipped as one of the frontrunners to replace his boss given their close working relationship and his expertise in the defence sector.
"Given Rex's deep understanding and involvement in key issues I have worked on, his appointment to the Senate will ensure a seamless transition," Senator Xenophon said in a statement.
Mr Patrick has to be formally endorsed to replace Senator Xenophon by a special sitting of the South Australian Parliament, which the party hopes can happen by mid-November.
Since the crossbencher's surprising announcement he would return to state politics, where his career started 20 years ago, Senator Xenophon had been hit with many questions on how the party would be managed in his absence.
He has now confirmed that he will remain the party's federal leader, even though his name will no longer be in its title.
"With SA-BEST fielding candidates at the March 2018 state election, the name change also reflects the synergy and close working relationship between the state and federal entities," he said.
"This strengthens our ability to deliver real and practical solutions for the many challenges facing SA, with state and federal MPs working together to ensure SA's interests are never compromised."
Mr Patrick will join party colleagues Stirling Griff and Skye Kakoschke-Moore in the Senate, and the party's only Lower House MP Rebekha Sharkie in Federal Parliament.
Some opinion polls have suggested Senator Xenophon's return to South Australian politics effectively makes next year's state poll a three-horse race between the incumbent Labor Party (which has been in power since 2002), the Liberal Opposition and his SA-BEST team.
Senator Xenophon has brushed off suggestions he could become State Premier after the vote, rather promising to take a balance of power role in the new parliament.
Senior Liberals at a state and federal level have criticised his decision to contest the election, describing it as something of an ego trip.
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