WEATHERILL, HON. J.W.

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (15:13): My question is to the Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management. Given the minister's public statement in Port Augusta on 20 July 2009, 'Lawyers, they are necessary tools but you certainly wouldn't want a lawyer running the government', why did the minister not rule out leading the Labor Party to the election in 2010?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management) (15:14): Mr Speaker, some of my closest friends are lawyers and, indeed, someone very close to me, standing in my own shoes. I must say that I cannot recall making that statement, but I can rule out ever being leader of this party. The leader of this party, who will be taking us into the election and beyond, Mike Rann, is one of the great premiers of this state.