Labor’s deep division and disunity has continued with Minister O’Brien resigning from Premier Weatherill’s Cabinet, following today’s explosive division and disunity that has left Mr Weatherill’s now besieged leadership in turmoil.
Mr O’Brien was the Minister for Finance, Police, Correctional Services, Emergency Services and Road Safety.
It is clear that Mr O’Brien has decided that he can no longer work with Mr Weatherill for the next few weeks until the March 15 State Election.
Labor’s factional faceless man, Senator Don Farrell, today exposed the deep divisions and disunity in a dysfunctional South Australian Labor Party that has lost the right to govern South Australia.
“Labor powerbroker Don Farrell’s decision to announce and withdraw his candidacy for pre-selection for the seat of Napier despite being fully aware of Mr Weatherill’s total opposition has exposed a weeping wound in a deeply divided Labor Party,” said Shadow Health Minister Rob Lucas.
“Today’s events demonstrate the Weatherill Labor Government has been entirely focused on its internal factional battle for control of the party rather than the creation of jobs and growth in a State economy, struggling after 12 years of Labor.
“South Australia cannot afford to be governed by a party that is consumed by internal divisions at such a critical moment in the State’s history.
“A party that is as deeply and bitterly divided as the Weatherill Labor Government can’t possibly lead South Australia out of an economic mess of its own creation.
“This is a Government that is running a budget deficit of more than $1 billion, will push State debt to almost $14 billion and has lost 27,000 jobs in the last six months.
“South Australians deserve a Government with better priorities to put our State back on track.”