The Premier, Health Minister John Hill and Families and Communities Minister Jennifer Rankine were announcing funding for elective surgery procedures.

A reporter opened questioning of the Premier with an inquiry based on polling in The Australian today showing a collapse in Mr Rann’s approval rating. The reporter was interested in whether Mr Rann regretted his initial responses to the Chantelois issue in the days after he was assaulted by her estranged husband Rick Phillips at the National Wine Centre in October.

Television reporters told Indaily the ensuing half hour was a “pretty brutal display” as the Premier tried to stick to his script on health while facing a barrage of questions about the affair including what was seen as a very personal retort to The Australian’s reporter Michael Owen where the Premier reportedly said; “I’ve got a marriage, you’ve got a marriage, it’s a private matter.”

After the Premier walked out, attempts by Ministers Hill and Rankine to get back on the health message were further derailed when Ms Rankine wandered back onto the subject of Ms Chantelois.