Former premier Jay Weatherill has named a massive expansion of green energy and SA’s transition to new industries as major successes of his tenure, after announcing his retirement from state politics.

Mr Weatherill chose State Parliament’s final scheduled sitting day of the year to confirm his exit, after 16 years of service, which will trigger a by-election in his safe western suburbs seat of Cheltenham.

Flanked by his wife and two daughters in a press conference yesterday, Mr Weatherill said he would devote himself to family life and had no plans for the next phase in his career.

media_camera Former SA Premier Jay Weatherill speaks to the media after annoucing his resignation from politics in State Parliament on Thursday/ He’s with his daughters Lucinda and Alice and wife Melissa. Picture: AAP / Brenton Edwards

Mr Weatherill said he was proud of how the State Government under his leadership handled the fallout from the shelving of the Olympic Dam expansion and announcement that Holden’s Elizabeth factory would close its doors.

“We stared down a massive economic challenge,” he said.

“Sitting where we are today, I think we can be proud of the fact that we have transformed the SA economy in a way which has made it resilient.

“We could have been facing a catastrophe out there (in the north) but we worked really hard to find other things for those workers to do.”

media_camera Jay Weatherill addresses State Parliament as he resigns from politics. Picture: AAP / Brenton Edwards

He said the controversial transformation of SA’s energy sector, which now gets almost half of its generation from renewable sources, had made the state an international leader.

“We now have a low-carbon economy and renewable energy future, which will stand us in incredibly good stead,” Mr Weatherill said. “We are a world leader and we had to stare down some opposition.”

He said SA now had a bipartisan consensus on renewable energy, as the Liberal Government moves to roll out a $200 million home battery and solar subsidy scheme, while Canberra remains bitterly divided on power policy.

Former SA premier Jay Weatherill rises in parliament to announce he will retire. Closes by quoting: democracy breeds possibility. @AAPNewswire pic.twitter.com/kC4WVuDWhd — Kathryn Bermingham (@KatBermingham) December 6, 2018

Asked about low points in his tenure, Mr Weatherill said he regretted that vulnerable people, including children and older citizens, had suffered.

A Royal Commission into the state’s child protection system released in Mr Weatherill’s tenure found a sector in complete and longstanding crisis, while multiple investigations including an Independent Commission Against Corruption probe found disgraceful practices of abuse and neglect had developed at the Oakden aged care home and been covered up. Mr Weatherill said those events caused “enormous sadness and grief”.

Mr Weatherill has remained a Labor backbencher since the election loss in March and been an occasional informal adviser to Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas.

SA Unions secretary Joe Szakacs is hotly tipped to be Labor’s nominee to replace Mr Weatherill in the seat of Cheltenham.

Labor easily won the seat in March despite high-profile challenges from SA Best and an independent.

Mr Szakacs said: “I’m going to take a few days before nominations open to talk things through with my wife, family and colleagues”.

“I’m taking very seriously this opportunity to represent my community”.

media_camera Jay Weatherill’s wife Melissa and daughters Lucinda and Alice watch his speech. Picture: AAP Image / Brenton Edwards

Attention has also swung to the future of other long-serving Labor MPs, who may consider joining Mr Weatherill in exiting state politics.

Former deputy premier and attorney-general John Rau would not comment on his future and colleagues say he has given no clear indications of his immediate plans.

Manager of Opposition Business Tom Koutsantonis, now the longest-serving Lower House MP, said he would remain in Parliament until the next election “and beyond”.

Mr Weatherill’s 14-year-old daughter Lucinda said it wasn’t too big of a shock when her father decided to quit.

“It’s been very good so far,” she said. “He’s started cooking. He’s actually not bad.”

Speaker Vincent Tarzia has not set a by-election date.

OFF THE RECORD: THE SA POLITICS PODCAST