READ the interview Kevin Foley gave to ABC Breakfast presenters Matthew Abraham and David Bevan yesterday.
Bevan: Kevin Foley joins us now. Good morning, minister. Do you think a growing number of South Australians, and perhaps even your own colleagues, are tired of the Kevin Foley soap opera?
Foley: Are you suggesting, David, that I was at fault or to blame for what occurred to me Saturday night?
Abraham: No. You were asked though, you know, in terms of a political figure, whether this is becoming a soap opera. There's Kevin Foley again at a press conference with tears in his eyes yesterday, I'm imagining the Premier is thinking: "This is starting to get not a good look."
Foley: I'm not even going to bother with this interview. Quite frankly, you asked me to come on to talk about what occurred. Other radio stations can treat me with some respect and some dignity, but that is clearly beyond your capability, David and Matthew. I got attacked Saturday night. I cried in a press conference yesterday because I was damn upset. I was very scared Saturday night. I was thumped three months ago within an inch of my life, and all you two guys could be worried about was all the salacious gossip and all the reasons that might have been behind me getting hit, which were all complete bullshit. And all you want to do now is again try and score points from me. I'm the victim, guys. If you want to have a crack at me, how about you find something decent like a policy to have a go at me over.
Bevan: You've had a very difficult last year. This is not the first incident like this.
Foley: Yeah, 'cos I actually get out and do a real job. I don't have the luxury of sitting inside a studio, pulling a public servant's salary and being an instant expert on everything like you two do.
Bevan: Have you thought maybe, maybe it's time to check out from this job and give yourself a rest?
Foley: What you're saying is that I should not go to a restaurant anymore?
Bevan: No. I'm saying is it time really to stop being Kevin Foley the senior minister in the Rann Government and give yourself a break?
Foley: No. I don't think so. I'm not going to let these people win. I'm not going to let Rob Lucas win. I'm not going to let Rob Lucas ... he is quite happy to pedal lies to you on the radio this morning. He's doing it behind the scenes almost on a daily basis. I'm not going to let the Liberals get to me. I'm not going to let the bikies get to me. I'm not going to let thugs, mugs and nasty vicious people drive me out of this job.
Abraham: Minister, what condition are you in to go then and do your job as minister if you're in what appears to be a fragile state, crying at press conferences?
Foley: Why do you say a fragile state, Matthew?
Abraham: I think it's a fair call, isn't it?
Foley: Why would you say fragile state?
Bevan: Well, based on your behaviour.
Abraham: Tearing up at press conferences, you're getting very emotional. I'm asking you if you then go into meetings do you just snap out of that. What state are you in and how effectively can you do your job as a minister, how fragile is your condition?
Foley: This is about the third radio interview I have done today and the other radio interviews surprisingly enough were somewhat sympathetic to a bloke that's been bashed twice in the last three months, but I guess that's too much to expect from you guys. I do my job ... Yeah, I cried yesterday ... I cry from time to time, that's the emotional side of Kevin Foley. That doesn't mean I'm a bad or weak person. That doesn't mean that I'm incapable of doing my job. It actually shows that I'm a human being, and when you're giving an interview and a press conference, and you're talking about the fact that you had yet again a very vicious attack on me. The one three months ago, of course, (could) have ended my life had I fallen a different way. That doesn't show weakness or incapability to do my job - quite the opposite. It shows that I've got the emotions and the resilience to roll with the punches if you excuse the pun.
Abraham: So you're just going to continue keeping on?
Foley: Well, what do you think I should do?
Abraham: Well, no. I'm asking you. We're not into patsy interviews like other radio stations. You happily came on and we're talking to you in a respectful way.
Foley: I don't think you are. Far from it. I can't win.
Abraham: If this is how argumentative you are in an interview, is it little wonder you get into strife in a pub after everyone has had a few drinks?
Foley: Are you serious? You're now saying that I deserved and I caused what happened to me?
Abraham: I'm asking you, Kevin Foley, whether you have an argumentative personality, and whether that makes you a trouble magnet?
Foley: I'm really offended by that. I did nothing wrong, I didn't mouth off. I didn't cause an argument. I didn't go seeking an argument. But as only you two bitter and twisted public servants can do, is you've just got to twist it and make me the victim. This is really low-rent stuff. I'm sure all your listeners are going to hate me for this, but to have to be put through this from you two, sitting in your chairs from your lofty heights never having to have done a real day's work. I find it damn offensive.
Abraham: Minister, thank you for coming on the program, Kevin Foley.
This is an edited version of the interview.
