Public servant David Williams was CEO of the government-owned Queensland Events Corporation and at other times Director General of departments responsible for tourism, sport, racing, gaming, liquor licensing and fair trading from 1989 to the early 2000s. Here he reflects on the development of Queensland’s events and tourism industries under different governments and during a period of increasing government marketing and corporatisation.
Public servant Paul Fennelly was Queensland's Coordinator General (2002-05) and Director General of the Department of State Development (2002-06) during the Beattie Government period. In this time he helped implement elements of the government's Smart State strategy and oversaw several major projects of economic significance.
Unionist and State Labor politician Grace Grace was the first woman General Secretary of the Queensland Council of Unions, serving from 2000-07. Prior to working in this position, Grace served in several union positions as well as being an advisor to Gary Johns, Assistant Industrial Relations Minister in the Keating federal government. Following the retirement of Premier Peter Beattie in 2007, Grace campaigned for and won the State electorate of Brisbane Central in a by-election and held the seat for the ALP until 2012.
Trade Unionist Wallace Trohear was a member of the Building Workers Industrial Union (amalgamated into the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union in 1991) from 1973 to 2006. During that time he held a number of key positions in the union, including Queensland State Secretary from 1987-2006. He reflects on his many years experience in the building and construction industry and discusses the issues and challenges he faced during his career, from wage disputes to royal commissions.
Unionist John Battams was the General Secretary of the Queensland Teachers Union for 21 years, from 1990-2011. A member of the QTU since 1976, he has been part of and witnessed many changes within the QTU and the teaching sector including the transformation of the QTU from a conservative, letter-writing organisation to a dynamic union. John Battams has been President of the Queensland Council of Unions since 2009.
Public servant Terry Hogan worked in both the Commonwealth and Queensland public sectors for over 20 years, ending as Director General of Queensland’s Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy. While he held this role the Department undertook significant and contested policy reforms in the areas of Native Title negotiation, land clearing and water resource management.
Scientist Professor Peter Andrews AO reflects on his appointment by Peter Beattie as Queensland's first Chief Scientist from 2003-10. In particular he focuses on his role in supporting the Beattie Government's Smart State strategy.
Labor politician Matt Foley was the member for Yeerongpilly from 1989 to 2004. During this period he was Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations (1992-95), Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Industrial Relations and the Arts (1995-96), Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and the Arts (1998-2001), Minister for Employment, Training and Youth and the Arts (2001-04).
Queensland Independent MP Liz Cunningham reflects on her time on the cross benches in the Queensland parliament. As the Independent Member of Gladstone in 1995 she was instrumental in bringing the Borbidge minority government to power following the 1996 Mundingburra by-election. She reflects on her decision to become an Independent MP rather than join a political party.
John Hay was the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Queensland (1996-2007) during a time of rationalisation in the higher education sector and increasing university engagement with the state government. During this period a number of world-class research institutes were built in Queensland, with funding from The Atlantic Philanthropies, Queensland Government Smart State monies and the Australian Government.
