Labor politician Manfred Cross represented the seat of Brisbane in the federal parliament from 1961-75, and again from 1980-90. He was associated with the federal intervention into the Queensland Labor Party in 1980.
Llew Edwards was leader of the Queensland Liberal Party and Deputy Premier in the Bjelke-Petersen Government (1978-83), Queensland Treasurer (1978-83), Queensland Minister for Health (1974-78) before retiring in 1983. He was appointed the Executive Chair of the World Expo '88 Committee.
Lesley Clark was a Councillor in the Mulgrave Shire before running for the Queensland state parliament. She represented the electorate of Barron River from 1989 to 1995 and then again from 1998 to 2006. She has a particular interest in environmental, social welfare and women's issues.
Jim Soorley served as popularly elected Labor Lord Mayor of the Brisbane City Council from 1991-2003. He reflects on how his Council introduced the City Cat ferries on the Brisbane River, expanded the city's busway network and reformed the superannuation entitlements of BCC Councillors and staff.
Bill Hayden, federal Labor Party leader (1977-83), discusses his experiences as a member of the Labor Party with particular reference to the 1980 intervention into the Queensland branch of the party.
Labor Party politician Geoff Smith served as a minister during the Goss Government. He held a range of portfolios, including Manufacturing, Commerce, Regional Development and Lands. During his time as Lands Minister the department implemented the Land Rights Act.
David Watson was leader of the Liberal Party, Minister of Public Works and Housing during the Borbidge era and was the Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Communications and Information.
Bill Hewitt was a Liberal Member of Parliament from 1966-83, first in the seat of Chatsworth and from 1977 in the seat of Greenslopes. He served as the Chair of Committees (1975-80), the Minister for Environment, Evaluation and Administrative Services (1980-83) and Minister for Welfare Services (1983).
Labor politician Jim (Demetrios) Fouras discusses his long involvement with Queensland politics, beginning with his appointment to the shadow ministry in 1977, and ending with his retirement from the seat of Ashgrove in 2006. He focuses on his work for social justice, particularly during the Bjelke-Petersen years, his passionate belief in equality, and his personal experience as a migrant.
Labor politician Desley Boyle discusses her career that began in 1988 as a Councillor on the Cairns City Council before moving into state politics. She ended her ministerial career in 2011 as Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and stepped down from her parliamentary seat in 2012. She discusses the challenges she faced in each of her portfolios, and focuses on her passion for the environment and good planning.
