Martin Tenni delves into the challenges of decentralisation and raising issues of importance. He notes those in cabinet who would support north Queensland issues.
Ruth Matchett outlines the role of Minister Yvonne Chapman (1986-87) in establishing the Domestic Violence Taskforce, followed up by Minister Peter McKechnie (1987-89). The taskforce recommendations were adopted by the coalition government under Russell Cooper as premier. She describes the challenge of preparing the recommendations so that they would be accepted by the government. Discusses how the removal of firearms from perpetrators of domestic violence was dropped from the recommendations so as not to create public debate on gun laws and so jeopardise all the other recommendations.
