Premier Mike Rann says he won't be a spoiler for Labor after he retires

PREMIER Mike Rann has pledged not to undermine the leadership once he retires to the Labor Party's back bench.

PREMIER Mike Rann has pledged not to undermine the leadership once he retires to the Labor Party's back bench.

 "It's not my nature to be a spoiler on the back bench," he said.

He insisted yesterday he was no longer bitter about the coup that will see him replaced by Education Minister Jay Weatherill in October.

"I have always tried to be a positive force. It is never my intention to spoil," he said.

"(Former premier) Don Dunstan always told me you had to get elected and re-elected in order to get things done."

With less than 60 days until he hands over to his successor on October 20, Mr Rann said the Mr Weatherill had his full support.

He also maintained he had planned to step down in March next year and that senior Labor Party figures were aware of this despite reports suggesting otherwise.

This was confirmed by senior Right powerbroker and former attorney-general Michael Atkinson, who told The Advertiser that he had been aware of the Premier's plans.

Mr Rann gave an extensive interview to The Advertiser in which he laid out what he hopes will be his legacy for the future of the state and also his plans.

His to-do list was written on a page torn out of his desk diary - October 22 and 23.

"My view now is I am not angry, I am not bitter," he said. "I am trying to get as much done so I can leave a clean slate for Jay.

"2011 has been a head-long rush to get a whole lot of things done."

Mr Rann, who will stand down as premier at midnight on October 20, is working on key projects including the Olympic Dam expansion, ensuring the biggest infrastructure spend in the state's history remains on track.

He is also putting in place the proposals for a giant cultural, health and artistic boulevard that stretches from Hackney to the proposed $1 billion dollar Bowden redevelopment.

While he would not make any commitments on spending, he said he hoped that eventually the tram, which now goes to the Entertainment Centre, would be extended through to Port Adelaide and also in a city loop around Light Square and Gouger St.

Another key project will be the introduction of the legislation to protect the future of Arkaroola in the Flinders Ranges from mining and to have it and areas such as the Nullarbor placed on the World Heritage list.

"We are incredibly underdone in terms of World Heritage listings with only the Naracoorte Caves on it," he said.

His last act as Premier will be opening the new SA Film Corporation studios at Glenside on October 20. "I finish at midnight, like Cinderella," he said.

Mr Rann, who according to his staff is more relaxed than he has ever been, also:

WARNED unions Mr Weatherill would not be their puppet.

HAD been prepared to stay on as Labor leader if people had wanted him to but "I thought that next year was about the right time" to step down.

CAUTIONED that while unions were a critically important part of the ALP, the Government's job was to represent all South Australians "not just our own affiliates but also those who did not vote for us".

HAS not set a date for when he leaves Parliament but imagines it will be early next year.

He said the succession could have been handled better and he had wanted a transition that avoided the Liberal-style leadership brawls, Right versus Left, which would have been divisive, "bad for the state, bad for the Government and bad forthe party".

He dismissed speculation that he and Mr Weatherill were not close and he had been keeping his successor out of the loop.

"Jay and I have a close working relationship," Mr Rann said. "I am very keen to support him now and in the future. I want Jay Weatherill to do well," he said.

"My view is he will win the next election. The Liberals should be careful what they wish for."

Mr Rann said his stepping down would create increased pressure in the Liberal Party.