John Strano describes aviation as a key aspect of the Smart State strategy. He notes the collaboration between QUT, the CSIRO and Smart State funding on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). He describes the aviation companies that were attracted to Queensland but also the work of the government in setting up training facilities and organisations like Aviation Australia. He discusses call centres as an example of a cluster of economic development.
John Strano lists some of the companies that had deals with the government and moved to Queensland. He describes the reasons they moved to Queensland and the snowball effect. He uses the example of airport land and a CSR factory to describe some of the ways government facilitated investment in the early 2000s.
John Strano details the push to investment attraction in Queensland prior to the Beattie Government. He notes the situation in Sydney in the 1990s that encouraged Queensland to do the same. He describes some of the things that attracted investors, for example low rates of staff turnover.
John Strano notes that Borbidge and Beattie had a very good relationship. He notes examples in the transition to the Beattie Government when investment deals still went ahead. He describes the importance of early investment projects, such as with Boeing, that led to Queensland being the Smart State before being labeled thus.
John Strano describes his experience in the public service when the Borbidge Government came to power. He notes the hit list at this time. He goes on to describe his ambivalence about working in the trade role, and generally about the approach of state governments pursuing trade. Under the Borbidge Government he notes that he was in charge of running an investment team where he had greater access to senior bureaucrats to facilitate investment. He describes the initial talks between Boeing and the government.
Ross Rolfe reflects on the relationship between premiers and universities, including Peter Beattie and Mike Ahern, and Peter Beattie's ability to convince the media of its importance. He describes the spread of Smart State-ism to other activities including 'clean coal' technologies, gas, coal seam methane, and aviation. He describes the failure in the synchrotron bid and the resulting initiative with Paul Greenfield of the University of Queensland to get federal funding for the AIBN.
