Peter Ellis describes his move to Executive Chairman of the Queensland Coal Board. He notes his earlier work on the Savage Committee. He goes on to note the review of the coal board and the abolition of the coal board. He discusses Wayne Goss's coming to power and the perceptions of the public service by senior ministers at the time. He notes his own personal feelings from within the public service at this time of change.
Molly Robson discusses the strategic planning processes that underpinned state development during the Goss era. She comments on the various strategies employed by the government to encourage business to Queensland.
Molly Robson discusses the role of caucus secretary and the role of caucus committees within the Goss Government. She discusses the strategies she used for raising contentious issues in caucus.
Pat Weller discusses the initial decision to create the CSC following a series of incidents at Boggo Road Gaol, and the factors that led to its failure, including a lack of public interest.
Pat Weller discusses his time with the CSC, focusing on the issues surrounding Indigenous people and prisons, the involvement of the CSC in planning new prisons, and the privatisation of prisons.
Pat Weller recalls his involvement with the transition team that oversaw Labor's move into government after the 1989 election, including the creation of new public service departments and the management of cabinet business.
Mal Grierson discusses the time it took to rebuild the knowledge base in the public service after the sweeping changes that the Goss Government enacted. He describes the end of the Goss era and the polarised relationship that occurred between the Premier and the public service. He contrasts Goss with the style of Peter Beattie.
Mal Grierson details the transition from Goss to Borbidge to Beattie. He notes that the Borbidge win appeared as a surprise. He also got the impression that machinery around Borbidge was not ready to take government. In his view, Borbidge then turned to the people he knew had experience, such as Peter Ellis and Kevin Davies. He notes that the return of these senior public servants was quite surprising to many people in the public service. He notes the removal of Under Treasurer Gerard Bradley and many other removals that caused dismay in the public service.
