Jim Elder discusses the origins of the Smart State strategy and the origins of State Development as a super department. He discusses the appointment of Ross Rolfe as the Director General of State Development and Trade. He discusses the implications of having economic development in Treasury and the decision to move the commercial arm out of Treasury.
Gerard Bradley notes the tension when the Beattie Government created the new Department of State Development. He describes the challenges of energy policy at the time with the National Electricity Market and the ability of the State government to intervene in this.
John Strano lists the departments he worked in. He notes the implications of having the same industry focused role in each case but being pushed into different departments.
Peter Beattie discusses the work his government did to establish Queensland as a base for major companies like Virgin, and the impact that increased airline competition had on travel and the Queensland economy.
Ross Rolfe discusses the budgetary process in the Beattie Government, and the ability of the Department of State Development to finance some of its own inititaives through ownership of industrial land. He discusses his relationship with other departments including Health, Main Roads, and Queensland Rail and the implications of the resources boom for rail and port infrastructure.
Ross Rolfe discusses his work after 1996 in the private sector, especially in the gas and petroleum sectors and his decision to return to the public sector in 1998 as Director General firstly of Environment and then of State Development and CoG. He enjoyed his role in the economic development strategy with the Beattie Government, including delivering resources infrastructure, promoting investment in minerals and agricultural industries. He discusses his role in reforming the timber industry, phasing out native forest logging and investing in plantation based industry.
