Asked if he had ever had sex with Ms Chantelois at any place, Mr Rann said he had "rejected those allegations of having sex with her".

"I have not had sex with her," he said.

Mr Rann said none of the allegations against him had anything to do with his job as premier of South Australia and he did not believe they would damage his prospects at the next state election due in March 2010.

"The bottom line for the people of this state is that they've got a premier who is out there, who is fighting for this state, who doesn't want to be distracted by rubbish," the premier said.

"I am getting on with the job of leading this state.

"We intend to keep governing for the people of this state and not be distracted by sensational allegations that are simply not true."

Mr Rann said his friendship with Ms Chantelois ended in 2005 and he had not seen or spoken to her since.

But he said he would not say anything against her.

"I can't imagine what life she has had over the past four years," he said.

"I always found her to be a really good person, I was incredibly distressed by what I saw on television last night."

Mr Rann said his wife Sasha Carruozzo, who he married in 2006, was fully aware of his previous friendship with Ms Chantelois.

"If Sasha is comfortable with my friendships, then why should anybody else in the state not be comfortable," he said.

Earlier today, Ms Chantelois's estranged husband said Mr Rann lacked the personal qualities and character to remain in office after the alleged affair.

Rick Phillips has also called for a parliamentary inquiry into the alleged affair.

Mr Phillips, of suburban Burnside, today made his first public statement since allegedly assaulting Mr Rann with a rolled-up magazine during a function at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide in October.

He told a media conference that the relationship between Mr Rann and his estranged wife, Michelle Chantelois, had put unbearable pressure on their marriage, resulting in its collapse.

"It is my opinion that Mr Rann took advantage of my wife's youthful naivety during a very difficult time in our lives and our marriage," Mr Phillips told reporters in reading from a prepared statement.

"He has shown that he lacks the personal qualities and character to remain in the office of Premier.

"I now call for a parliamentary inquiry into the matter."

But the Premier's Labor and cabinet colleagues have declined to speak out against their leader.

Arriving at a community cabinet meeting today, Environment Minister Jay Weatherill said he was not going to comment on Mr Rann's private life. "I'm unaware of those details and they're a matter of disinterest to me," he said.

Water Security Minister Karlene Maywald, a National Party MP, was of a similar mind.

"A person's private life is a person's private life and I will do my job and continue to do my job," she said.

In the television interview, Ms Chantelois said the sexual relationship started when Mr Rann asked her to his office because "he wanted to kiss me".

"There was sex involved, there was sexual contact and intimacy involved," she said.

"Having me on his desk ... in his office."

Ms Chantelois said Mr Rann made it clear "this was going to be our little secret" and had rules including "we can't fall in love with each other".

On one occasion, the pair went to Mr Rann's office and "the clothes came off, the intercourse began," she said.

Ms Chantelois also detailed late night encounters at a city golf course.

"We would go parking ... it was always late in the evening, dark, no one could see us," she said.

Timeline of events involving South Australian Premier Mike Rann and former Parliament House barmaid Michelle Chantelois:

1985: Mike Rann elected to parliament.

1994: Mr Rann appointed leader of the opposition.

1995: Married mother Michelle Chantelois starts work as a waitress in Parliament House dining room.

March 2002: Mike Rann elected premier of South Australia.

Mid-2003: Ms Chantelois says Premier Rann gave her his mobile number and urged her to call.

Late 2003: Ms Chantelois says Mr Rann invited her to his Parliament House office because "he wanted to kiss me". She accepted the offer.

Late 2003: Ms Chantelois quits her job at Parliament House but says she maintains phone contact with the premier.

Early 2004: Ms Chantelois says when dropping her uniform back to Parliament House, Mr Rann asked her to his office, where they had sex on his desk.

Mid 2004: Ms Chantelois says the affair continued, including in the premier's house.

January 2005: Ms Chantelois says she and Mr Rann drove to an area near a city golf course and fondled each other in the car.

March 2005: Ms Chantelois says she again had sex with Mr Rann, on the floor of his Parliament House office.

Late 2005: Ms Chantelois says her husband, Richard Phillips, caught her sending a text message to the premier.

March 2006: Mr Rann re-elected as premier.

July 2006: Mr Rann marries Sasha Carruzzo.

October 1, 2009: Mr Rann allegedly assaulted by Mr Phillips at a corporate dinner. He reportedly yelled "remember my wife" before striking the premier repeatedly in the face with a rolled up magazine.

October 2: Mr Rann says he had never met Mr Phillips or knew what he was talking about before the alleged assault.

October 8: Mr Rann admits a friendship with Ms Chantelois, saying his wife was "very aware of her".

October 15: Ms Chantelois' lawyers send letter to media saying she won't comment on the controversy.

November 22: The Seven Network screens a paid interview with Ms Chantelois, who confesses to a lengthy sexual affair with the premier.

November 23: Mr Rann releases statement, saying interview was malicious and contained false allegations.