LABOR'S three-pronged leadership team has been rolled out to open a new school this morning, as criticism continues of the delayed handover of the state's top job.

The Government says it is comfortable with the transition period under way, which will hand the Premier's mantle to Mr Weatherill on October 20.

Premier Mike Rann formally opened the Woodville Gardens Super School this morning, watched on by his anointed successor, Education Minister Jay Weatherill and Deputy Premier John Rau.

Mr Weatherill said it was a "good question" why media had not been alerted to a public event involving the state's three top politicians.

"It is not my Department," he said.

"I am very happy for you all to be here."

Mr Rann said: "I've given you a fair bit of interview space time."

Mr Rann was the dominant player of a historic day yesterday when he declared he would wait 10 weeks before handing over the reins to Jay Weatherill, on October 20.

And he told The Advertiser in an exclusive interview late yesterday he would not leave Parliament immediately after the changeover.

Mr Rann, who has kept the state on tenterhooks for 10 days, made it clear he was determined to finish off a series of key projects before he left.

"I am Premier until October 20 with the full support of Cabinet and I will continue to act as Premier in every sense of the word," he said.

He denied it was "selfish" to be stepping down after 2½ years having been elected for a four-year term.

Mr Rann will mentor his Education Minister and has brought him into negotiations on the key Olympic Dam mine expansion, one of the main reasons the Premier set his October 20 departure date.

Senior Labor sources said they were very happy with the way things had turned out. "He (Mike Rann) is not outstaying his welcome," one source said. "There's been a smooth leadership transition."

The mood within the ALP for a smooth transition to Mr Weatherill gained momentum yesterday when Upper House president Bob Sneath, a Weatherill supporter, withdrew threats that he would be prepared to sign a petition for a spill if Mr Rann tried to drag out his departure date.

Mr Sneath said he was happy with the date the Premier had set.

"It is good that it is not going to drag on," Mr Sneath said. "I am very pleased for Jay."

In the exclusive interview later with The Advertiser, Mr Rann said:

HE would not leave Parliament immediately and was likely to stay on the back bench until the first half of next year because he wanted to spare voters in his electorate from a by-election leading up to Christmas.

THERE had not been negotiations with anyone about a job after politics, including talk of ambassadorships.

HE had never considered threatening the party to blast him out through a leadership challenge. "I can look after myself," he said.

HE hoped to complete negotiations on at least one major project and two smaller ones before he stood down but wouldn't reveal any details because he did not want the projects stolen by other states.

HE held out hope the tram line would be extended through the city before he quit politics including it going down Gouger St through Chinatown.

He said Mr Weatherill had his full support and would continue to have his full support.

Mr Rann said he had chosen the October 20 date after looking at the parliamentary calendar and the list of things he had to do and "I knew it was a race towards my exit".

"I wanted to get as much done as I possibly could and people always focus on openings such as super schools and desal plants," he said.

"There were a number of things I was determined to get embedded and one of these was the hospital, which was so critical to our health reform agenda."

Mr Rann said he also wanted to get the Oval project under way and then the final Olympic Dam negotiations.

However, he admitted he was surprised when Labor powerbrokers Peter Malinauskas from the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees' Association and Treasurer Jack Snelling came to his office on the eve of his departure for India to tell him of the Right's decision to support Mr Weatherill.

In an obvious dig at the factions, he said that with more than two years to go before the election, "there is no pressing urgency to make the transition right now".

"I wasn't surprised in that I wasn't opposed to Jay," he said.

"I was surprised they (the party) had not given (Deputy Premier) John Rau long enough."

For his part, Mr Weatherill said the best way to handle the transition was by agreement and "we have reached agreement".

"It is important that the whole of the Labor Party is behind my leadership," he said.

Mr Weatherill said he had first been made aware of the October 20 handover at a meeting with the Premier yesterday morning.

"It is a date which is agreed," he said. "We now have certainty.

"I wasn't interested in leading a party that was divided.

"I wanted to lead a party that was united."

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