Labor thinks Weatherill not up to the job

South Australia is facing a prolonged period of uncertainty with a lame-duck Premier and a successor that Mike Rann says needs more training, Christopher Pyne, Federal Member for Sturt said today.

“All reports suggest that Mr Rann has lost the confidence of his Party - but the factional heavies, fearing a public backlash, have politically wounded Mr Rann while allowing him to remain in office for an indefinite period while he ‘mentors’ his heir-apparent, Jay Weatherill,” Mr Pyne said.

“South Australia is left with a lame-duck Premier and a Premier-in-waiting who Mr Rann knows needs training wheels. Mike Rann doesn’t think he is up to the job,” he said.

“Failing to bring on a challenge at this point only confirms the Labor Party is unconvinced that Mr Weatherill has it in him to lead the State.

“The losers in this soap opera are the people of South Australia who voted for a leader to serve a full term, but in a move reminiscent of Kevin Rudd’s ousting, see the decision of who should be Premier taken out of their hands.

“It is left to the unelected factional heavies like SDA official Peter Malinauskus – the man appointed to tap the Premier on the shoulder – to decide who should lead our State.  

“It is not surprising that Mr Rann’s biggest backer is the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, who has found support for her carbon tax to be non-existent and might well be wondering if there, but for the grace of God, go I,” Mr Pyne said. 

August 1, 2011

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