Rann to stay in parliament until 2012

SYDNEY (AAP) - South Australian Premier Mike Rann will stay on in state parliament for several months after stepping down as leader to avoid a Christmas or New Year by-election in his northern suburbs seat.
A day after announcing his decision to end his tenure as premier on October 20, Mr Rann said it would be unfair to force voters to go to the polls over the holiday period.
"Rather than quitting parliament on the day, what I want to do is to stay on for a little while," he told AAP on Tuesday.
"The only reason for that is to avoid dragging the people of Salisbury, who have been incredibly good to me, out (to a by-election) a week before Christmas or in the middle of their new year break or holiday.
"I think that would be unfair and selfish.
"So even though it would suit my interests to go on that day, I don't think that would be fair."
Mr Rann has also ruled out taking any ministerial role, albeit briefly, under incoming premier Jay Weatherill.
"My view is it would be totally inappropriate for me to stay on as a cabinet minister," he said.
Currently the education minister, Mr Weatherill was endorsed to replace Mr Rann after winning the support of Labor's left and right factions.
Details of the agreement to back Mr Weatherill were taken to Mr Rann just over a week ago and were quickly leaked to the media.
Mr Rann said the situation could have been handled much better but he had no problem with the party throwing its support behind Mr Weatherill.
He said the person who leaked the story was motivated by "malice and self-interest".
For his part, Mr Weatherill has promised a less combative approach to government and state parliament when he becomes South Australia's 45th premier in about 10 weeks.
Responding to a caller on ABC Radio on Tuesday, Mr Weatherill said he thought parliament had become "a bit uncivilised".
"I don't think it assists anything for us to have the combative way of dealing with things," he said.
"I think we would get much better quality debate and find more common ground if we could find a way of lifting the tone a bit.
"I'm a different person and I just can't do it any other way than the way I do it, so that, in itself, will make some differences whether I like it or not."