Rob Kerin

Infobox President
name=Rob Kerin

---

width=200px
order=43rd Premier of South Australia
Elections: 2002, 2006
term_start=22 October 2001
term_end=5 April 2002
predecessor=John Olsen
successor=Mike Rann
party=Liberal Party of Australia

Robert Gerard Kerin was the Liberal Premier of South Australia between 22 October 2001 up to 5 March 2002.

Kerin attended the Adelaide Catholic secondary school, Sacred Heart College Senior. He was elected to parliament in 1993 as the member for the mid-north rural electoral district of Frome. Between 1995 and 2001 he held various ministries in the Brown and Olsen governments: Primary Industries, Natural Resources and Regional Development, Minerals and Energy, State Development, Tourism and Multicultural Affairs. His parents are Maurice and Molly Kerin of Crystal Brook.

Kerin became Liberal leader and premier after the forced resignation of John Olsen, less than six months before the 2002 state election. After the election, neither major party held a majority, and Kerin looked set to return as premier due to the support of a number of conservative independents for the Liberal Party. In a surprise move, former Liberal candidate Peter Lewis, who had successfully run for election as an independent after quitting the Liberal Party, announced he would support the ALP government, making Mike Rann the premier-elect of South Australia. Kerin, however, refused to resign as premier, leaving the state in political limbo until he eventually conceded defeat on 5 March 2002. [Barker, Ann: [http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2002/s497113.htm Premier crowned in Sth Australia] , "The 7.30 Report" (ABC), 5 March 2002.]

Kerin remained Liberal leader, and hence Leader of the Opposition. His approach to leadership and parliamentary tactics was more congenial than usual; this led to both praise from those who saw him as a 'nice guy' and criticism from those who believed his style was ineffective compared to the media savvy and aggressive parliamentary tactics of the current State Government, and especially the Premier Mike Rann.

At the 2006 state election the Liberals were soundly defeated, suffering a statewide swing against them of about 7.7 percent. Following that loss, Kerin stood down as Liberal leader, but remained in parliament. He was succeeded as Liberal leader by Iain Evans.

In 2007, Kerin announced his retirement from parliament, and said he would not be seeking re-election in 2010. [Kelton, Greg: [http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21578034-5006301,00.html Ex-premier Kerin to quit] , "The Advertiser, April 18 2007.] Port Pirie policeman Terry Boylan has been preselected by the Liberals to defend Frome at the Next South Australian state election. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/14/2244115.htm Pirie policeman to contest Frome - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) ] ] The seat has been tipped as likely to revert to being marginal after Kerin's departure. [ [http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23556195-2682,00.html AdelaideNow... Basketballer in Lib seat tussle ] ]

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