Markness said:
I think guys, that he may have already stepped down as Attorney General! He is only going to stay as some other minister for 4 years, then he is retiring. This means, that as long as the next AG for South Australia isn't as retardo as Michael Atkinson, we should be level with the rest of the world pretty soon.
Close.
For those that don't follow, the Front Bench are the Members of Parliament that hold ministerial (or shadow ministerial) portfolios. Members of either the governing party or the major opposition without a portfolio or other position are Back Benchers. Independents and Minor Parties form the Cross Bench.
So Mr Atkinson is retiring from the position of Attorney General of South Australia, which is a ministerial position, but remaining in parliament until the next election as a back bencher.
As for why he hasn't just retired outright... Well, his party have just gone through an election and at best can hope to form government with a 2 seat majority, although a 1 seat majority is most likely. If Atkinson retired, his electorate would be forced (go compulsory voting!) back to the polls for a by-election and early by-elections called on any reason other than health tend to go against the sitting party, so that would risk the 1 seat majority in parliament his party has.
Clear as mud? Good.
