Bob Anderson speaks of his community and family involvement with trade unions, including men he grew up with who were members of the Australian Workers Union, and an uncle, Paul Tripcony, who was vice-president of the Federated Liquor Trade Employees Union during the mid-1930s.
Anne Warner describes the underpinning issue of social justice as an important theme that held the department together and gave her purpose. She states Aboriginal affairs was a significant issue, not only for policy makers but for Australian identity. She says she took a sense of achievement from opening women's refuges and childcare centres in remote areas. She was also proud of the juvenile justice legislation that was passed.
Ross Rolfe comments that he studied history at the University of Queensland and then joined the graduate program of the Commonwealth Public Service in Canberra in the federal Department of Aboriginal Affairs. When the Queensland government changed in 1990 he moved to the equivalent department in Queensland, the Department of Family Services and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs.
Judy Spence responds to a question on the approach of the Borbidge Government to Aboriginal and Islander Affairs. She states that it had a low profile under Borbidge, but that when she became minister (1998) she identifed spending of $1.5 million per annum on the Indigenous Advisory Council. She abolished this and other advisory boards that were using government money and not getting services to where they were needed. She states that as she had two terms as Aboriginal and Islander Affairs Minister (1998-2004) she was able to tackle some of the tough issues.
