SA Attorney-General Michael Atkinson steps down from office

Even though he kept his seat in yesterdays election, Atkinson has resigned to the backbench to give younger members a chance in the job He isnt leaving government immediately, however, as he feels doing so would not be right with the Labor partys sli...

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Even though he kept his seat in yesterdays election, Atkinson has resigned to the backbench to give younger members a chance in the job

He isnt leaving government immediately, however, as he feels doing so would not be right with the Labor partys slim majority of one seat.

"I believe there should be renewal," says Atkinson. "I have had 20 years in Parliament. I think there ought to be renewal in the ministry. I think there are talented people on the Labor backbench who deserve a go. I dont think we want all the ministry leaving in a bunch about 2014 and so its important that renewal be staged."

One quite touching reason for his choice is so that he can easily attend his son Johnnos soccer matches. "He was supposed to play his first game last night at 7pm and like so many times in my time in Parliament I wasnt there," he says. "I am pretty disappointed about that. So I resolved that every time Johnno walks on the pitch this year his dad is going to be there even if it embarrasses the hell out of him."

Quite surprisingly, the now former Attorney-General says that the decision was purely his own, and he only alerted others about it yesterday before setting on it this morning.

Michael Atkinson is best known in the gaming community for his opposition of an R18+ rating for video games over the years, with some seeing him as the only obstacle to its introduction. With him now leaving his office and the submissions for the recent discussion paper on the issue being processed, progress on this issue could be very major indeed.

Source: Adelaide Now

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Tim Sparks

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