Jim Soorley served as popularly elected Labor Lord Mayor of the Brisbane City Council from 1991-2003. He reflects on how his Council introduced the City Cat ferries on the Brisbane River, expanded the city's busway network and reformed the superannuation entitlements of BCC Councillors and staff.
Public servant Gerard Bradley was appointed Under Treasurer in 1995-96, in the final year of the Goss Government. He was reappointed as head of Treasury in 1998 after the Beattie Government won office. He oversaw government corporatisation processes and a budgetary reform agenda during a period of high growth and economic diversification in Queensland.
Labor Party politician Geoff Smith served as a minister during the Goss Government. He held a range of portfolios, including Manufacturing, Commerce, Regional Development and Lands. During his time as Lands Minister the department implemented the Land Rights Act.
Public servant Frank Peach reflects on his diverse career as Director General of several departments including Education, Corrective Services and Families. He comments on the role of government and the public service in developing and implementing policy, highlighting the frustrations incurred due to a persistent tension between limited resources and increasing demand for social services.
David Watson was leader of the Liberal Party, Minister of Public Works and Housing during the Borbidge era and was the Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Communications and Information.
Academic Colin Hughes discusses the development of political science as a discipline as well as providing insights into Queensland politics and his involvement with EARC.
Ken Smith worked in the Queensland public service over the twenty-year period of intense professionalisation – starting in the Goss years, dismissed in the Borbidge years, and returning to serve Beattie and Bligh. His key contributions have been in delivering better family services and stimulating different policy perspectives in education.
John Strano was a senior member of the Queensland public service with a firm belief in the community benefits from private investment. He was a leading figure in attracting private capital to the state during the Beattie Government era.
Former Police Commissioner Jim O'Sullivan reflects on a career in the Queensland Police Service which stretched from the 1950s to the early 2000s, and saw him rise from the lowest rank in the service to the highest. He focuses on his involvement with the Fitzgerald Inquiry, and the ongoing challenge of keeping the police service and political system free from corruption.
Public servant Jim Varghese was the Director General of Main Roads, Employment and Training, Education and Primary Industries and Fisheries and was involved in developing and implementing policy reforms during the Borbidge, Goss and Beattie eras. He discusses several key policy reforms in each of these portfolios and outlines some of his strategies for change management.
