Parliament
Rann was elected to Parliament as the Member for Briggs at the 1985 election. After the 1989 election, he entered the ministry, becoming Minister for Employment and Further Education, Minister of Youth Affairs, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Minister assisting in Ethnic Affairs. After Bannon resigned as premier over the State Bank collapse, Rann became Minister for Business and Regional Development, Minister of Tourism and Minister of State Services in the Lynn Arnold cabinet from September 1992.
When Briggs was abolished in an electoral redistribution, Rann was elected to the seat of Ramsay at the 1993 election. Labor lost government in a landslide due to the State Bank collapse. Rann was promoted to deputy leader of his party following the defeat; however, Arnold resigned as leader in September 1994. Rann became leader with the support of Labor Right powerbroker Don Farrell, who promised Rann two terms in the position. Rann achieved a 9.5 percent (11-seat) two-party-preferred swing to Labor in the 1997 election, reducing the John Olsen-led Liberal Party to minority government status.
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Famous quotes containing the word parliament:
“What is the historical function of Parliament in this country? It is to prevent the Government from governing.”
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