The History of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

The History of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989

Image 1 . The Premier, Vince Gair, standing in the foreground asking the House to vote supply in June 1957 before the fall of his government . Image 2 . The opposition leader, Frank Nicklin, addressing the House in June 1957, opposing Gair’s supply bill . 233 The Ayes Have It: The history of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989 Image 3 . Members of the public attempting to gain entrance to the public gallery to witness the fall of the Gair government in June 1957 . 234 Image 4 . On the eve of the June 1957 split, Labor’s new deputy leader Dr Felix Dittmer (left) with the new leader Jack Duggan (centre) and the Speaker ‘Johnno’ Mann . Image 5 . Frank Nicklin, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament House June 1957 . 235 The Ayes Have It: The history of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989 Image 6 . Nicklin Ministry circa 1960s . Image 7 . Parliament House, circa 1960s . 236 Image 8 . The First Bjelke ‑Petersen Ministry in the early 1970s . Image 9 . The Second Bjelke‑Petersen Ministry in the early 1970s . 237 The Ayes Have It: The history of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989 Image 10 . The Opposition Leader, Jack Houston (seated centre), with some of the Opposition members circa 1971 . Image 11 . The Queensland Legislative Assembly sitting in the early to mid 1970s, prior to the major restoration in the early 1980s . 238 Image 12 . Percy Tucker shortly before spectacularly losing the 1974 State election as Opposition Leader . 239 The Ayes Have It: The history of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989 Image 13 . The Parliamentary Bowls Team in full uniform in the late 1970s . Back row from left to right, Max Hooper, Harry Dean, Brian Davis, Sel Muller, Jack Houston, Col Miller and Roy Armstrong . Front Row: Lindsay Hartwig, Jim Blake, Bill Kaus, Ken Vaughan and Bill Glasson . Image 14 . The Sixth Bjelke- Petersen Ministry circa 1982 . 240 Image 15 . The Seventh Bjelke- Petersen Ministry 1983, the so called ‘Rump’ Ministry composed solely of Nationals . Image 16 . The Seventh Bjelke- Petersen Ministry meeting at a country cabinet at Ayr, prior to the 1983 State election . 241 The Ayes Have It: The history of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989 Image 17 . A meeting of the Eighth Bjelke- Petersen Ministry at Maryborough circa 1984 or 1985 . Image 18 . The Eighth Bjelke -Petersen Ministry when the Nationals governed alone circa 1986 . 242 Image 19 . The Ninth Bjelke- Petersen Ministry that lasted from December 1986 to December 1987 . Image 20 . The interim Ahern Ministry in 1987 . 243 The Ayes Have It: The history of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989 Image 21 . The first Ahern Ministry after its swearing in with the Governor Sir Walter Campbell, December 1987 . Image 22 . The Second Ahern Ministry in 1989 . 244 Image 23 . The 18 member Cooper Ministry in September 1989, the first to contain two women cabinet members . 245.

Copy Link

Recommended publications

The History of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989
6. The oppositional parties in the Parliament, 1957–1968 Parliamentary opposition to the Nicklin government came from a host of diverse players in the decade between August 1957 and January 1968. Especially after the Labor split of 1957, opponents of the Coalition government were a dispirited and dishevelled band, most of whom appeared as individualistic dissidents. Each had their own particular fights to fight and wars to wage. Each had different enemies in sight. Labor’s Jack Duggan and the QLP’s Ted Walsh never spoke to each other again privately after the split, despite afterwards sitting together in the Assembly for more than a decade, and frequently interjecting against each other. Adversarialism was not only a matter of formal battlelines drawn across the Chamber. Indeed, some of the most intense acrimony was found within the oppositional groups among remaining members who survived the 1957 split. If occasional internal conflicts simmered through the government side of politics, they at least demonstrated the capacity to remain in office while enjoying the comforts and trappings of power. The circumstance of being in government was sufficient to instil a collective solidarity between the Coalition parties, which was evident most strongly in the ministry. In contrast, the oppositional members were far more fragmented and querulous. They demonstrated little prospect of ever forming a single cohesive opposition. Indeed, after only one term in government, the Liberals were describing Labor as the weakest opposition in Queensland’s political history. Only towards the mid-1960s did the Labor opposition gradually develop any coherence and commitment of purpose.
[Show full text]
The Ayes Have It: the History of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989
7. The Pizzey–Chalk interlude, 1968 With the retirement of Frank Nicklin as Premier in January 1968, the Queensland Parliament entered a period of turbulence and uncertainty. Nicklin had been the leader of the Country Party continuously since June 1941, accumulating a total of 26.5 years at the helm. He had been Premier for 10.5 years and had governed the state competently and conscientiously. He had stamped his own personal integrity and probity on the character of the government and had quietly maintained a guiding hand over the cabinet and party room. In the Parliament, he was uniformly held in high regard not only by his own Country Party colleagues but by his Coalition partners and members of the opposition. He had maintained a sense of decency in the Assembly that was recognised by friend and foe alike. At the time of his retirement, Nicklin had attained many parliamentary achievements, not the least of which was the general acceptance of the Coalition parties as the natural parties of government. He had also, perhaps more conscientiously, sustained the Country Party as the dominant party in the Coalition despite consistently polling fewer votes than the largely urban-based Liberal Party. Nicklin’s retirement at seventy-two years of age was not exactly a surprise; it had been expected for some time. His health and energy were waning and he had spent some weeks in hospital during the final months of his record- breaking premiership. It was widely believed that Nicklin had hung on to the job for so long simply to beat the previous record of Labor’s Forgan Smith as the longest-serving premier (Forgan Smith had served 10 years and three months).
[Show full text]
The History of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989
9. The slide towards uncertainty, 1969–1972 The Parliament resumed after a break of seven and a half months—a relatively long intermission but by no means unusual in those days. When an election was due in the new year (from March to June), it was common practice for the Parliament to adjourn in late November or early December (before Christmas) and to not reconvene for another six to eight months. This was the pattern followed throughout the 1940s to the mid-1950s and again from 1962 to 1972. The thirty-ninth Parliament would run from 5 August 1969 to 10 December 1971 (202 sitting days in the three-year term or 67 days a year) and not meet again before the May 1972 election. It was the last Parliament to meet with 78 members and, for the first time since winning government, the Coalition governed with a reduced majority. Under Nicklin, the Coalition’s majority had risen from nine in 1957 to 10 in 1960, to 14 in 1963 and 16 in 1966, but fell back to just 12 after the 1969 election—Bjelke-Petersen’s first electoral test as leader. With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear the 1969–72 Parliament was to become Labor’s high-water mark in its period in opposition, when for a few years it posed a credible challenge to the government. It was also a period when the Premier was at his most vulnerable politically—a condition deeply troubling to his own party colleagues, who would eventually be incited to rebel against his leadership.
[Show full text]
Hansard 5 April 2001
5 Apr 2001 Legislative Assembly 351 THURSDAY, 5 APRIL 2001 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. PETITIONS The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Western Ipswich Bypass Mr Livingstone from 197 petitioners, requesting the House to reject all three options of the proposed Western Ipswich Bypass. State Government Land, Bracken Ridge Mr Nuttall from 403 petitioners, requesting the House to consider the request that the land owned by the State Government at 210 Telegraph Road, Bracken Ridge be kept and managed as a bushland reserve. Spinal Injuries Unit, Townsville General Hospital Mr Rodgers from 1,336 petitioners, requesting the House to provide a 24-26 bed Acute Care Spinal Injuries Unit at the new Townsville General Hospital in Douglas currently under construction. Left-Hand Drive Vehicles Mrs D. Scott from 233 petitioners, requesting the House to lower the age limit required to register a left-hand drive vehicle. Mater Children's Hospital Miss Simpson from 50 petitioners, requesting the House to (a) urge that Queensland Health reward efficient performance, rather than limit it, for the high growth population in the southern corridor, (b) argue that Queenslanders have the right to decide where their child is treated without being turned away, (c) decide that the Mater Children’s Hospital not be sent into deficit for meeting the needs of children who present at the door and (d) review the current funding system immediately to remedy this. PAPERS MINISTERIAL PAPER The following ministerial paper was tabled— Hon. R.
[Show full text]
5309T1510.Pdf
How different would unlikely choice. He was not a good public speaker short. The coalition was re-elected in 1969 only Queensland have been if Jack and, even as a youngish backbencher, he was a because voters did not want a dull and limited Pizzey, who had a university degree problem for the party whips. His first cabinet Labor Party led by a dull and limited Jack Houston, and the experience of life gained portfolio was Works. It was ideal, because bridges, about whom the most exciting thing to be said was by serving as a World War II roads, schools, police stations - all the great items of that he judged dog shows. Queenslanders had not artillery officer, had not died in state government spending - could be dispensed to warmed, either, to Bjelke-Petersen, a curious man August 1968? For with his electorates. And Bjelke-Petersen never forgot the with a convoluted speaking style, a difficult name death, Johannes Bjellce- backbenchers concerned owed him a favour. and the reputation of being - not to put too fine a Petersen became premier. In 1968, those favours were called in. point on it - a wowser and a Bible basher. Bjelke-Petersen seemed an Bjelke-Petersen's premiership was nearly very Late in October 1970, Bjelke-Petersen was in 1920 copper fields; threaten >> 1922 state-wide industrial government for three Disquiet over Labor viability of industry. Death of George Silas turmoil (to 1929). Depression years; policies including bids > Australian Workers Curtis, left, > Qld conservatives Country National to abolish upper house; Union gains 44-hour Rockhampton's martyr merge as Country and Party leader Arthur Labor returned with week in Qld; to separation Progressive National Moore is premier.
[Show full text]
Legislative Assembly Hansard 1989
Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER 1989 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 1722 19 October 1989 Standing Orders Committee THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER 1989 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. K. R. Lingard, Fassifem) read prayers and took the chafr at 10 a.m. PETITIONS The Deputy Clerk announced the receipt of the foUowdng petitions- Police Manning Strength; Police Station, Sunnybank From Mr Gygar (160 signatories) praying that the Pariiament of Queensland wiU take urgent steps to increase the number of police and establish a police station in the Sunnybank area. Compulsory Pre-registration Period, Medical Students and Practitioners From Mr Beanland (290 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland wdU reject changes to the Medical Act which extend the compulsory pre-registration period for medical students and practitioners to two years. Jet-ski Areas, Tallebudgera Creek-Snapper Rocks From Mr Gately (537 signatories) praying that the ParUament of Queensland wdU legislate to provide separate areas for the use of motorised jet skis from TaUebudgera Creek to Snapper Rocks. Petitions received. PAPERS The foUowdng papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed— Reports— Commissioner of Main Roads for the year ended 30 June 1989 and companion document Department of Employment, Vocational Education and Training for the year ended 30 June 1989 Queensland Employment, Vocational Education and Training Board for the year ended 30 June 1989 Department of Community Services and Ethnic Affairs for the year ended 30 June 1989. The foUowing paper was laid on the table— Order in CouncU under the Electricity Act 1976-1988. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE Adoption of Report Hon.
[Show full text]
The Ayes Have It: the History of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989
10. Commanding the Parliament, 1972–1975 The fortieth Parliament began its first session on 1 August 1972. It would run until 1 November 1974, sitting for 193 days in the two and a half years it existed. Fifteen new members made their appearance in the House—almost one- fifth of the Assembly. They included, from the ALP: Tom Burns, Bill D’Arcy, Roy Harvey, Kevin Hooper, Gerry Jones, Ken Leese and Les Yewdale; from the Country Party: Des Frawley, Bill Gunn, Lindsay Hartwig, Donald Neal, Ted Row and Bruce Small; and from the Liberal Party: Dr Llewellyn Edwards and Dr Norman Scott-Young. The Country–Liberal Coalition had been in office for 15 years and was starting to become more than a little cocky in government. There were occasional telltale signs in the Parliament during question time or in debates in which ministers were summarily dismissive of opposition concerns. While the government’s electoral position was not threatened, there was evidence of seething tensions brewing within the Coalition itself. These tensions would gradually increase during the 1970s, leading to an eventual breakdown of the Coalition in early 1983. The third Bjelke-Petersen ministry was sworn in on 20 June. It consisted of 14 ministers, again split eight to the Country Party and six to the Liberals. The Transport Minister, Bill Knox, a businessman by profession, was promoted to the vacant Attorney-General’s portfolio. Vic Sullivan took over the vacant Primary Industries portfolio and two new members were elevated into the ministry: Keith Hooper (Lib., Greenslopes) and Henry McKechnie (CP, Carnarvon).
[Show full text]
The History of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989
The Ayes Have It: The history of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989 The Ayes Have It: The history of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989 JOHN WANNA AND TRACEY ARKLAY THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY E P R E S S E P R E S S Published by ANU E Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at: http://epress.anu.edu.au/qldparliament_citation.html National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: The Ayes Have It: History of Queensland Parliament 1957-1989 / John Wanna and Tracey Arklay ISBN: 9781921666308 (pbk.) 9781921666315 (pdf) Notes: Bibliography. Subjects: Politics, Australian Politics History of Australian politics, Queensland Parliament History from 1957 - 1989 Other Authors/Contributors: John Wanna and Tracey Arklay All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU E Press All images supplied by the Queensland Parliamentary Library. Printed by Griffin Press. This edition © 2010 ANU E Press Contents Acknowledgments . .vii 1 . Inside the Queensland Parliament . 1 Part I 2 . Parliament’s refusal of supply and defeat of Labor, 1957 . 29 3 . The early Nicklin years, 1957–1963 . 57 4 . Safely in the saddle: the Nicklin government, 1963–1968 . 87 5 . The Nicklin government’s legislative program . 125 6 . The oppositional parties in the Parliament, 1957–1968 . 167 7 . The Pizzey–Chalk interlude, 1968 . 203 Part II 8 .
[Show full text]
The Doldrums in Opposition, 1968–1989
13 . The doldrums in opposition, 1968–1989 By 1968, after 10 years in opposition, Labor was finally getting its act together, presenting itself as a viable alternative to the government. While Labor had regrouped and seen off the rival QLP–DLP challenge, the Coalition government had entered a period of instability. In 1968, Frank Nicklin, the ‘Gentleman Premier’, had finally retired and his successor, Jack Pizzey, died suddenly after only six months in office. The new Premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, had difficulties convincing his colleagues that he had the wherewithal to lead the government and be electorally competitive. Labor had replaced the veteran Jack Duggan with Jack Houston, who was finally making some impression with voters. Labor’s vote had been increasing but was no threat to the conservative Coalition’s hegemony. Yet Labor was afflicted with bouts of internecine conflict and found it difficult to present a unified image to the electorate. It appeared that the parliamentary party (and its union wing) was perpetually feuding and driven largely by enmity, unfit to govern and incapable of denting the Coalition’s popularity. Over successive elections, Labor looked divided, presented dull and predictable campaigns and had bland leaders who spent their time looking over their shoulders. As one contemporary commentator noted: ‘The Labor Party, with wondrous inventiveness, manage[d] to find new ways to stab itself in the back’ (The Age, 29 November 1980). Labor’s three decades in opposition were not due entirely to the government’s constraints or the gerrymander; Labor would have to share some of the blame for its internal disarray and factional brawling.
[Show full text]
Technical and Further Education in Queensland: a History 1860-1990
TECHNICAL FURTHER EDUCATION IN QUEENSLAND A HISTORY 1860-1990 Historical Perspectives on Contemporary Issues in Queensland Education No. 7 Eddie Clarke Department of Education, Queensland and Bureau of Employment, Vocational and Further Education and Training, Queensland 1992 Historical Perspectives on Contemporary Issues in Queensland Acknowledgments Education This series of reports provides historical perspectives intended to contribute to an objective understanding of current issues in Queensland education. The analysis and interpretations in each Department of Education monograph belong to the author, and do not necessarily represent the Keith Cordwell, when Senior Education Officer, Pro- views of the Department of Education. motions and Investigations Branch, Division of TAFE, recommended that this history should be written. Dr Titles published: Corporal Punishment in Queensland State Schools (no. 1, 1980) Norm Pyle, former Deputy Director (Planning and Sex Education in Queensland: A History of the Debate 1900-1980 (no. 2, 1980) Development) Division of TAFE, and Greg Logan, Female Teachers in Queensland State Schools: A History, 1860-1983 (no. 3, 1985) Manager, Educational History Unit, Department of Assessment in Queensland Secondary Schools: Two Decades of Change, 1964-1983 Education, helped to keep the project on track. (no. 4, 1987) Education Regions in Queensland: Towards a Philosophy and Practice, 1937-1988 (no. 5, 1988) Bureau of Employment, Vocational and Further Sex Education in Queensland: A History of the Debate Since 1900 (no. 6, 1991) Titles in preparation: Education and Training A History of Drug and Alcohol Education in Queensland, 1880- Ian McGaw, Executive Director, and Ron Dunglison, 1990 Acting Executive Director, Human Resources, Finance Parents and the Community in Queensland State Education, and Administration, were very supportive of the project.
[Show full text]
Legislative Assembly Hansard 1989
Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly WEDNESDAY, 9 AUGUST 1989 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 124 9 August 1989 Papers WEDNESDAY, 9 AUGUST 1989 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. K. R. Lingard, Fassifem) read prayers and took the chair at 2.30 p.m. PETITIONS The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Proposed Port Livistona Resort and Marina Complex on South Stradbroke Island From Mr Ahern (4 757 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will request Cabinet to withdraw endorsement of the proposed Port Livistona resort and marina complex on South Stradbroke Island and proclaim the area an environmental park. Capital Punishment From Mrs Gamin (455 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will not allow capital punishment but legislate so that those convicted of bmtal and vicious murders are never released. Aerial Ambulance Service in Wide Bay/Burnett Region From Mr Campbell (104 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will ensure the continuation and support of the 24-hour aerial ambulance service in the Wide Bay/Burnett region. Infrastructure Agreement between QEC and Fitzroy Shire Council From Mr Vaughan (350 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will take action to urgently arrange for a revised infrastmcture agreement between QEC and the Fitzroy Shire Council. Petitions received. PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed— Reports— Raine Island Corporation for the year ended 30 June 1988 Registrar of Co-operative and other Societies for the year ended 30 June 1988 Registrar of Commercial Acts on the Administration of the Credit Societies Act 1986 for the year ended 30 June 1988.
[Show full text]
Split, Intervention, Renewal: the ALP in Queensland 1957 – 1989 Susan Terrencia Yarrow Bachelor of Arts
Split, intervention, renewal: The ALP in Queensland 1957 – 1989 Susan Terrencia Yarrow Bachelor of Arts A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2014 School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics Abstract On 1 March 1980, the National Executive of the Australian Labor Party intervened in the affairs of its Queensland Branch, dissolving the existing party arrangements, seizing the financial statements and party assets, and creating a new administration. The conflict that precipitated this drastic step followed years of internal division and publicly aired disputes while the Queensland leadership delivered poor electoral results at both state and federal elections. This thesis examines the conflict in detail, its causes (including the lasting impact of the 1957 split), the combatants, and what the intervention reforms eventually delivered. In this thesis, I analyse the factors that led to intervention including the nature and outlook of the Queensland leaders, the ‘Old Guard’ often referred to as the Trades Hall Group, and the background and motivations of the reformers, the ‘New Guard.’ The Old Guard finally succumbed to reform, threatened from within by the influx of new members clamouring for change, and by the federal intervention from without. I examine how, over time, the party reformed, modernised and adapted to change and in so doing re-invented and renewed itself sufficiently, after 32 years in opposition, to once again win government in Queensland for 21 of the next 23 years. ii Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text.
[Show full text]