Tag: Jay Weatherill

Former South Australian attorney-general John Rau says he's proud to have played a role in making the state a safer place as he brings his 16-year political career to a close. Mr Rau will follow former premier Jay Weatherill into retirement, with the two safe Labor seats now likely to go to by-elections on the same day, probably in February. "Now is the right time for me to leave parliament and give the Labor Party an opportunity for further renewal," Mr Rau said in a statement on Monday. "I am proud to have played my part in the former Labor government, including reforming the Return to Work scheme and making community safety the number one priority for criminal law." Mr Rau, 59, has held the seat of Enfield since 2002 and said it was only in recent days that he had decided he would not contest it again at the next state election in 2022. He served in the Labor ministry from 2010 to 2018 and as deputy premier from 2011 to 2018. Mr Rau did not seek a Labor front bench position after the party lost the March state election. The former lawyer caused some controversy in 2016 when he was appointed a senior counsel by Supreme Court Chief Justice Chris Kourakis. It raised speculation at the time that he would seek a judicial appointment. Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said the departure of both Mr Weatherill and Mr Rau provided Labor with an opportunity for renewal it would take very seriously.

Former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill is to quit state parliament, bringing an end to his 16-year political career. Mr Weatherill told parliament on Thursday it had been a privilege to serve as an MP, minister and premier. He thanked a wide range of people, from Labor Party branch members, his office staff, parliamentary officials to public servants and paid a special tribute to his family. "I don't know how, frankly, you can be sustained in a leadership role in politics without the love and affection of a family," Mr Weatherill said. "It's tough, it's really tough. You need family or friends or some other support system to allow you to get through things." Mr Weatherill said when he took over as premier, South Australia was hit by three significant shocks, the mothballing of the Olympic Dam mine expansion, the aftermath of the global financial crisis and the loss of car maker Holden. "We really fought back from that and decided to tackle these challenges," he said. The former premier said he was also proud of the achievements the government made during his time as leader, including its infrastructure programs, its efforts to increase the use of renewable energy, and its role in securing the frigate and submarine construction programs. Mr Weatherill entered the parliament in 2002 and served as SA's 45th premier from October 2011 until Labor's election loss in March this year.