Rob Kerin

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Robert Gerard Kerin was the Liberal Premier of South Australia between 22 October 2001 and March 5, 2002.

Kerin attended the Adelaide Catholic secondary school, Sacred Heart College. He was elected to parliament in 1993 as the member for the mid-north rural electoral district of Frome. Between 1995 and 2001 he held various ministries in the Brown and Olsen governments: Primary Industries, Natural Resources and Regional Development, Minerals and Energy, State Development, Tourism and Multicultural Affairs.

Kerin became Liberal leader and premier after the forced resignation of John Olsen, less than six months before the 2002 state election. After the Liberals' narrow loss at that election, Kerin remained Liberal leader, and hence Leader of the Opposition. His approach to leadership and parliamentary tactics was more congenial than usual; this led to both praise from those who saw him as a 'nice guy' and criticism from those who believed his style was ineffective compared to the media savvy and aggressive parliamentary tactics of the current State Government, and especially the Premier Mike Rann.

At the 2006 state election the Liberals were soundly defeated, suffering a statewide swing against them of about 10%. Following that loss, Kerin stood down as Liberal leader, but he has remained in parliament. He was succeeded as Liberal leader by Iain Evans.