Depression leads to Gallop's resignation

Premier Geoff Gallop today announced his resignation as premier of Western Australia and as MP for Victoria Park.

Dr Gallop said he is currently being treated for depression and needed to step down from politics in order to get proper treatment.

Commenting on his condition he said, "living with depression is a very debilitating experience, which affects different people in different ways.

"It has certainly affected many aspects of my life. So much so, that I sought expert help last week.

"My doctors advised me that with treatment, time and rest this illness is very curable.

"However, I cannot be certain how long I will need. So in the interests of my health and my family I have decided to rethink my career.

"My commitment to politics has always been 100 per cent plus. I now need that time to restore my health and well-being."

Dr Gallop thanked the WA public for bestowing him with the immense responsibility and thrill of leading the state and announced that Eric Ripper would continue to act as premier until the State Parliamentary Labor Party meets to decide his successor.

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia chief executive Tim Shanahan said that under Dr Gallop's stewardship, Western Australia has capitalised on an historic surge of growth, underpinned by the State's vibrant resources sector.

"During his term in office, the premier has repeatedly demonstrated a
strong commitment to the development of Western Australia, and has
sought to encourage investment and growth in the State's resources
sector," Mr Shanahan said.

"Dr Gallop has travelled widely promoting our mineral and energy exports
on the global stage, and undertaken significant reforms of government
processes, to engender greater transparency and timeliness in the approval
of new resource projects."

Prime Minister John Howard and Federal Opposition leader Kim Beazley have both paid tribute to Dr Gallop.

The PM expressed his sorrow at the sudden resignation of Dr Gallop and said he had worked hard for his state.

"I am extremely sorry to learn of Dr Geoff Gallop's resignation as premier of Western Australia due to illness," he said in a statement.

"He worked very hard for the people of Western Australia as premier.

"Despite our political differences I always found it possible to work constructively with him.

"I know all Australians will wish him and his family well for the future."

Opposition leader Kim Beazley, who counts Dr Gallop as a close friend, said WA had thrived under his stewardship.

"I deeply regret Geoff's decision to leave the premiership of Western Australia," Mr Beazley said in a statement.

"He has been a brilliant and innovative premier presiding over Western Australia's most dynamic economy."

Under Dr Gallop's leadership, WA's public education system had emerged as powerful and effective, Mr Beazley said.

"He made sure that the system expanded to handle the problems of a burgeoning population by constructing a massive number of new schools and expanding older schools," he said.

"His premiership will be remembered too, for vital decisions to protect Western Australia's environment."

Dr Gallop's complete prohibition on old growth logging saved WA's native forests while he also broke the log-jam that had developed under his predecessors in relation to Native Title, Mr Beazley said.

"He has fought persistently for Western Australia's coastline, and fisheries industry, despite the near criminal neglect by the Howard Government," Mr Beazley said.

"Unfortunately he cannot yet call that campaign a success."

Dr Gallop also vigorously pursued minerals development, upholding virtually the only expansion area of our national exports, he said.

"A long parliamentary ministerial and premier's career has come to an end," Mr Beazley said.

"He leaves our State a far better place than he found it."