Yesterday, national newspapers reported State Government powerbrokers were calling for the premier to step down after letting John Della Bosca’s Iguana nightclub fiasco get out of control last week and for continuing his battle for electricity privatisation.

But Mr Martin, the Government’s Whip, said he would not be supporting any moves against the premier.

“I’ve got a good relationship with the premier,” Mr Martin said yesterday.

“I think there are some issues he needs to work through but I don’t think he’s in danger [of losing his leadership].”

One of those issues is no doubt the question of electricity privatisation.

Mr Martin does not support Mr Iemma’s plan to privatise the state’s electricity and has publicly stated he is prepared to cross the floor and vote against the privatisation bill when it goes before State Parliament.

Meanwhile, Mr Martin has expressed some disappointment with the circus that surrounded the opening of the new Kelso High Campus last Friday.

Mr Martin hosted former Education Minister John Della Bosca when he came to Bathurst to open the school, but Mr Della Bosca had to leave the stage during the opening ceremony as his political future was thrashed out.

“I don’t think you can control that sort of thing,” Mr Martin said.

“We got the main job done and that was opening the high school but I didn’t really enjoy the ambush by the Sydney media.

“I think it would have been nice for John to have stayed and talked to the kids afterwards so from that point of view it [the timing of the minister’s suspension] could have been better.”

Mr Martin said he did not think the students were too upset the minister was stood aside on their special day.

“I think the kids are pretty resilient and were more interested to get so much media focus. It was probably an education for the kids to see how the national media works,” he said.