SA: Labor seems sure to form new SA govt with Lewis support =2

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SA: Labor seems sure to form new SA govt with Lewis support =2

Independent MP Peter Lewis said today he would support Mike Rann's Labor Party.

With four independents holding the balance of power in SA, Mr Lewis will provide theALP with the one extra vote it needs on the floor of Parliament to form government.

The ALP is expected to win 23 of the 47 lower house seats in SA, while the Liberalsare expected to win 20.

Mr Lewis said the decision would weigh heavily and conceded it would cause pain amongformer colleagues.

"I nonetheless have given my support to the Labor Party," he said.

The decision means the ALP governs in all Australian states and territories.

Liberal leader and acting Premier Rob Kerin and Mr Rann both met Mr Lewis yesterdayin a bid to woo his support along with the other three independents.

Mr Lewis had said he would put in whichever party was willing to back his agenda forparliamentary and other reform, including a reduction in the number of MPs, extra sittingdays for parliament and a move to allow citizen-initiated referenda.

Of the other independents, National Party MP Karlene Maywald and Mount Gambier MP RoryMcEwen have both ruled out supporting Labor while former Liberal minister Bob Such wasalso considered unlikely to back Mr Rann, even though he quit the Liberals in 2000.

AAP la/mo

KEYWORD: POLLSA DECIDE 2 ADELAIDE