Breaking: Police Commissioner Grant Stevens appointed SA's next governor

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has been appointed South Australia's next governor.Mr Stevens will succeed the outgoing Frances Adamson, whose term expires today after five years.SA Premier Peter Malinauskas made the announcement this morning, saying Mr Stevens would become the 37th governor of South Australia."I'm very grateful that His Majesty King Charles has confirmed that Mr Stevens will become the next governor," Mr Malinauskas said."He will be sworn in on Wednesday the 9th of December."Mr Stevens has served as Commissioner since 2015 and was the state coordinator during the COVID-19 pandemic.Frances Adamson AC was appointed governor of South Australia in 2021. (ABC News: Che Chorley)He will formally step down from the commissioner's role on October 23, with Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams to assume the role in an acting capacity.Mr Stevens said he was "excited" and "honoured" when he was first approached to take on the new appointment."I think it probably goes without saying that I was deeply honoured when the Premier first spoke to me about my preparedness to take over as the next governor," he said.Mr Stevens acknowledged the rumour had been circulating for "quite some time, so it wasn't something that we hadn't contemplated, [wife] Emma and I"."Both Emma and I saw this as an opportunity to continue being part of the South Australian community in a way that positively influences how South Australians live, work and enjoy what we have here," he said."I am slightly daunted by the work ethic that Frances Adamson has demonstrated over her term as governor."Mr Stevens said he had one year and nine months left on his contract as police commissioner, and that he was approached to take on some time in early to mid September."I don't specifically remember the date but I will admit that I walked away from that meeting quite blown away. I finally figured out the rumours were true," he said with a smile."I had no clue, no concept when I was a 17-year-old boy walking through the academy gates in 1982 that I would ever be the commissioner of police, let alone asked to step into the role of governor."