Paul Fennelly talks about his department's role in supporting development projects and investment in Queensland's traditional primary industries, and the department's relations with this sector. He outlines the importance of the role of Coordinator General in determining support for certain projects, but notes that this process may have become overused by state governments.
Paul Fennelly describes the addition of the Innovation portfolio to the State Development Department under the Beattie Government. He comments on the machinery of government changes following elections generally, and on the changes specifically to State Development while he was Director General.
Paul Fennelly outlines his department's role in supporting the Research & Development sector and attracting high-technology industries and researchers to Queensland. He comments on the success that university vice-chancellors enjoyed in lobbying the Beattie Government. He states that this 'innovation' agenda was driven by Premier Beattie who enjoyed close links with research industry figures.
Paul Fennelly describes his department's role in implementing the Beattie Government's Smart State agenda. He gives his impressions of how the strategy was being received by industry and within the government, and how funding for initiatives was procured and dispersed. He reflects on the department's achievements in attracting new industries to Queensland.
Paul Fennelly gives his impressions of the early Beattie government and its relations with industry and the business sector in Queensland. He comments on that government's strong relations with the university sector, and how these as well as its industry links helped to establish the Smart State agenda. He describes how, after three years with the AI Group in Victoria, he returned to enter the Queensland public service.
Terry Hogan outlines education reforms that coincided with the early phase of the Smart State strategy. He recalls that some education initiatives of this period were proposed earlier during the Goss years. He adds that Smart State helped build stronger relationships between the government and universities.
Peter Andrews talks about the successes of the Smart State strategy as well as the platform established for further advances in scientific research. He lists some of the individuals playing key roles in the research sector.
Peter Andrews describes the workings of the Office of the Chief Scientist. He details the operating budget of the Office and the output of the Smart State Council.
Peter Andrews describes the state of scientific research in Queensland upon his arrival in the late 1980s. He recalls his first impressions of the University of Queensland and its research community.
