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Former Treasurer Kevin Foley has announced he will quit State Cabinet on October 20 – the same day as Mike Rann resigns as premier.

Police Minister Kevin Foley announcing his retirement at the State Administration Centre today. Picture: Tait Schmaal
Source: AdelaideNow

FORMER Treasurer Kevin Foley has announced he will quit State Cabinet on October 20 – the same day as Mike Rann resigns as premier.

His decision comes after Mr Rann’s decision to quit the leadership from October 20 and exit Parliament early next year in a by-election.

Mr Foley also will quit Cabinet on the same day and trigger a by-election in his seat of Port Adelaide early next year.

A weekend of dual by-elections is now likely in Port Adelaide and Mr Rann’s northern suburbs seat of Ramsay.

Mr Foley told a media conference at the State Administration Centre he was “tired” and did not have the energy to remain a minister.

“It has been a difficult 18 months for me personally,” he said.

“I turn 51 in a few weeks; it is time for me to step out and make a new future outside Parliament.

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“I am looking forward to being an ordinary citizen.”

He said he would step down from Cabinet on the same day as Mr Rann because there was a need for “generational change”.

Mr Foley is currently Police Minister and delivered eight Budgets as Treasurer between 2002 and 2010.

REFLECTION

He said he had made his decision after some “heavy thinking” during a recent trip to the US and Canada.

“It is close to 24 years I have been in politics either as an adviser or as an MP,” he said.

Mr Foley had previously told reporters he hoped he and Mr Rann would one day “walk off into the sunset together” at the peak of their political powers.

He has not decided when he will leave Parliament but says it will probably be before the end of the year.

Mr Foley said he had not secured a job after politics.

“At this stage I haven’t secured any work,” he said.

“I would like to secure the work I want in SA; I wouldn’t turn my back on this state.”

He said the lowest point in his career was getting “bashed to within an inch of my life”, in reference to an incident last year where he was allegedly assaulted in Waymouth St.

The highlight was having “established a reputation for myself and the Labor Party as being a good financial manager”.

“I’ve been unique,” Mr Foley said.

He added it was unlikely Labor would lose Port Adelaide.

Mr Rann recently agreed to step down as Premier but not before key projects were completed including state approvals for the $30 billion Olympic Dam expansion that would transform it into the biggest mine in the world.

Education Minister Jay Weatherill will take over as Premier on October 20 and Labor strategists are desperate to present a new team for the 2014 election.

Labor is currently trailing Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond’s Liberals in the polls but remains hopeful of arresting the slide.

Despite being key players in Labor’s re-election last year, Mr Rann and Mr Foley are now on the nose with many voters angered by a perceived arrogance.

AdelaideNow understands Labor will promote the Right faction’s Chloe Fox and the Left’s Leon Bignell to fill the vacated Cabinet positions.

Labor environmentalist Susan Close is poised for pre-selection in Port Adelaide and will likely face a challenge from Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Gary Johanson, a former Liberal, as an independent.

Former Hawker Britton director Zoe Bettison is the frontrunner for Labor preselection in Ramsay, the party’s safest seat.

IN THE HEADLINES

Mr Foley has been embroiled in personal controversy since the election.

He has twice been allegedly assaulted in city nightspots and has previously revealed a long-time battle with depression.

He denied suggestions he was leaving politics because of what might come out in the subsequent court case over the alleged Waymouth St assault.

“I have decided it is now the time for me to move on to the next stage of my career and allow the Government, under the new Premier Jay Weatherill, the opportunity to bring more fresh blood into the Cabinet,” he said.

“It has been an extreme honour to serve the South Australian people.

“It feels right that the Premier and I have worked so closely together during the past nine and a half years to rebuild South Australia that we should step down at the same time.

“I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to play a significant role in creating a dynamic and diversified economy built on solid government finances that continues to create jobs and a brighter future.

“When Labor came to office in 2002, South Australia was dismissed as a rust-bucket state and that certainly no longer is the case.”

Mr Foley conceded he had angered many voters.

“Restoring and maintaining a AAA credit rating has involved some tough and often unpopular decisions,” he said.

“But without a sound financial footing, (the) South Australian Government would not now be in a position to take full advantage of the opportunities created through our record investment in public infrastructure and encouragement of the defence and mining industries.”

‘DISUNITY’

Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond said Mr Foley’s signation from Cabinet highlighted the crippling division and disunity within the Labor Government.

“In fact, Mr Foley has conceded that it was not workable for him to remain in Cabinet under Premier-in-waiting Jay Weatherill, Ms Redmond said.

”South Australians should be furious with Labor now that Mr Rann and Mr Foley have put their own self interest before the interests of South Australia.

”Labor continues to treat South Australians with contempt.

”If Mr Weatherill’s own colleagues have no trust in him, why should South Australians trust him to run the state?”