Ministerial Statement

RANN, HON. M.D.

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:04): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Tomorrow morning, I will be tendering my resignation to the Governor as Premier after 9½ years in this office and as minister after 22 years on the front bench. It has been the greatest privilege of my life to lead this state during a time of great transition, but any progress that has been made is the result of teamwork, and by 'team' I mean hardworking ministers and MPs, our loyal staff and a dedicated Public Service working in a partnership with South Australians.

Our collective mission was to turn this state around—for South Australia to become a leader again, rather than a follower consigned to genteel decline or, worse, envy about other places. Our strategy was to demonstrate that we could be a Labor government that was financially responsible, pro-business, pro-growth and, most of all, pro-jobs, but, at the same time, we wanted to be a leader in social justice, securing a social dividend from our economic progress and, thirdly, to be a national and global leader in the environment, renewable energy and in tackling climate change.

In the past week alone, we have seen some of the best examples of that complementary approach: the approval of Olympic Dam to become the world's biggest mine, the permanent ban on mining in the pristine wilderness of Arkaroola because it was right the thing to do, and Monsignor David Cappo's blueprint for the reform of our disability sector. They represent, in just a week, a clear demonstration that these three ambitions are not mutually exclusive, that all three can be achieved together.

Every premier wants to leave office with their state in better shape than when they were sworn in. Every party leader—and I have held that position for 17 years—wants to leave their parliamentary team in better shape than when they assumed their leadership. I will leave it to others to decide whether or not our mission and those objectives have been achieved. In the meantime, I am confident that my successor, Jay Weatherill, will be a great premier who will lead not only our party but our state to future victories. My own view is that South Australia is positioned for greatness if we continue to look forward and not be distracted by a noisy minority who oppose and have always opposed any change.

Personally, I leave in good spirits and with malice towards none. I especially want to thank my wife, Sasha—especially Sasha—and my son, David, and daughter, Eleanor, as well as so many wonderful friends, for their great and patient support during good and difficult times over so many years. I particularly want to thank Kevin Foley, who retires with me tomorrow, and my parliamentary colleagues for their trust and, most of all, most importantly of all, their commitment to our good cause. I want to thank my staff, now led by Nick Alexandrides and Jill Bottrall, for their great and loyal service over so many years, and Barry for being in the driver's seat.

I want to thank the people of Salisbury for electing me 26 years ago to this place and for giving me the opportunity to serve. Most of all, I want to thank the people of South Australia for their support and their confidence in three successive elections. I take full responsibility for any of the government's failings and give thanks and credit to South Australians for our state's new confidence, its growing momentum and its ever greater aspirations.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!