Mike Rann Will Step Down

01/08/2011
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Mike Rann has agreed to step down as Premier, to make way for Education Minister Jay Weatherill.

But Mr Rann insists he'll decide just when he'll go after 17 years as state Labor leader and 9 as premier.

He's been forced out by factional powerbrokers who believe Mr Weatherill's a better bet to win Labor a fourth term at the 2014 state election.

"I'm pleased that people are choosing to offer their support for me but of course the best way to deal with things is to reach agreement. That would be a good thing for the Labor party but also the state."

 

Mr Rann, who's in India on a week long trade mission, says he believes a seamless transition to a new leader is best, but he's got a few things he wants to complete first, including the go-ahead for the Olympic Dam mine expansion.

He says he'll make a further statement about his future when he returns to Adelaide.

The political tumoil on the weekend has left many voters shocked at the way things have turned out and Opposition leader Isobel Redmond says they should be concerned about how Labor has handled the issue.

"Firstly we have a government which is far more focused on it's internal plotting and manouvering than on the people of this state. We've had massive increases in electricity prices and gas prices, the failure of the desalination plant which is well over budget and which will only get water through by it's renewed deadline."


Photo:Getty/Getty Images News/Jamie McDonald/Stringer

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Comments

Whyisitso

I wonder if he'll shoot across to Italy to sort out his holiday home ready for retirement before he comes back to Australia?

I'll give Gillard her due, Kevin Rudd was still in the country when she stabbed him in the back!

by Whyisitso (02/08/2011)
 

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