Terry Hogan describes the tensions that existed between the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment & Heritage when Rod Welford was Minister for both portfolios. He speaks about chairing an intergovernmental committee dealing with state and federal interests in resource management.
Rod Welford describes the challenge of the two competing areas of environment and natural resources that made up his portfolio. He notes the importance of this combined portfolio that allowed natural resources practitioners to see the area from a sustainable development perspective, to see the stewardship of natural resources for long-term financial gain. He notes that some senior public servants in natural resources did not like this approach and moved from the department while others were keen to take up the challenge.
Rod Welford discusses his portfolio in the first Beattie Government. He notes that he was excited about rejuvenating environment and natural resources policy in Queensland and that his ambitions for becoming premier came and went over a number of years as he became more senior.
Rod Welford discusses the leadership of different premiers. He describes the public relations skills of Peter Beattie and notes that Beattie was very consultative, and this marks a significant difference with Wayne Goss. He outlines how he received the Environment, Heritage and Natural Resources portfolio.
Tom Barton outlines becoming Minister for Environment and Heritage in the context of the 1995 election commitments made by the Goss Government, the Coastal Protection Management Act and the Daintree Rescue Project.
Desley Boyle discusses taking on the Environment portfolio in addition to her other responsibilities, and the challenges posed by this additional role. She outlines the Daintree land buy-back scheme, and how unpopular it was with some parts of her electorate.
Brian Head contrasts the Beattie Government with the Goss Government in terms of their impact on the public service. He states that while the Goss Government carried out large-scale, modernising reforms, the Beattie Government made much smaller scale, mainly political changes. He discusses his position as Public Service Commissioner in the Beattie Government, including the conflict with the Premier which eventually lead to his redeployment to the Environment Department in 2000.
Ross Rolfe discusses the relationship between the Department of Environment and Heritage and the Cabinet Office and the changes in the public service on the election of the Goss and then Borbidge governments. He discusses the hit list against public servants prepared by the coalition when in opposition and its methodical implementation in 1996. He describes the process of being stood down as Director General of the Department of Heritage and Environment and receiving a weekly letter for 6 months until his contract was terminated in July 1996.
