James Agness

James Peter Agness is an Australian politician, and has represented the district of Light in the South Australian House of Assembly since the 2026 state election. Agness is a member of the Australian Labor Party, and prior to his election was a state policy advisor and ministerial chief of staff to Joe Szakacs and Matt Champion.

Career Before standing for office, Agness was an advisor to Peter Malinauskas during his tenure as leader of the opposition, and was a ministerial advisor on the state level in the fields of road safety, correctional services, police, and health. Agness was later a chief of staff to two state ministers — trade and investment minister Joe Szakacs and planning minister Nick Champion. The incumbent MP for Light was Tony Piccolo, a Labor member who instead sought re-election in the seat of Ngadjuri. Agness ultimately defeated Banks, becoming the new MP for Light.