beattie to retire, page-4

Premier Peter Beattie quits


PREMIER Peter Beattie has announced his resignation efefctive from Thursday. He made the announcement at a press conference in Brisbane just moments ago.
Mr Beattie, one of the longest serving premiers in Queensland history, is leaving after almost 10 years in the state's top job.

His departure leaves the door open for Anna Bligh to become the state's first female premier and the first in Australia since Carmen Lawrence in Western Australia.

Speculation about whether Mr Beattie would stay on as premier was reignited as recently as late last month when Prime Minister John Howard commented he was just weeks away from announcing his retirement.

Mr Beattie denied the speculation, maintaining he had not yet reached a decision.

His wife, Heather, with whom he has three children, told journalists last week her husband is "exhausted" and she does not want him to contest the 2009 state election.

Mr Beattie, 54, was a populist leader renowned for the unusual characteristic, for a politician, of saying sorry.

He has led a dominant Labor Party that has thrice secured crushing parliamentary majorities.

But although Labor maintained a healthy majority at the most recent election, he has struggled in recent years with a variety of Queensland Health scandals and ongoing opposition to local government mergers.

Mr Beattie has also had a long running battle with his weight.

GREAT NEWS FOR ALL QUEENSLANDERS
ITS ABOUT TIME :)