Dean Wells

Interviewed by
Robin Sullivan & Rodney Sullivan
Feb 01 2012
Dean Wells

Labor politician Dean Wells held a number of portfolios during his long parliamentary career (1986-2012) including Attorney-General (1989-95), Minister for Justice (1992-95), Arts (1992-95), Education (1998-2001) and Environment (2001-04). In this interview he reflects on his legal reform agenda.

Biography
Time Summary Keywords
00:00:00

Dean Wells discusses his main objectives and achievements from his time as Attorney-General. He highlights the importance of ending the gerrymander, legalising homosexuality and freedom of information legislation among other reforms.

 electoral redistribution, Fitzgerald Inquiry, gerrymander, homosexuality, law reform, Police
00:06:41

Dean Wells discusses law reform in Queensland.

 Freedom of Information, law reform
00:07:44

Dean Wells reflects on his relationship with the department during his time as Attorney-General. He notes the enthusiasm within the public service about the possibility for reform. He was the first Attorney-General to introduce legislation banning discrimination against breast feeding mothers.

 Equal Opportunity Policies, equity, law reform
00:11:03

Dean Wells reflects on the failure to introduce a Simple Offences Act and to proclaim the new criminal code. He discusses the changes introduced to the criminal code by the Borbidge government.

 1995 election, Borbidge Government 1996-98, Goss Government 1989-96, law reform
00:14:34

Dean Wells describes his passion for education and becoming education minister in the first Beattie government.

 Education Department
00:15:56

Dean Wells provides his opinion on the Borbidge government's Leading Schools program. Wells discusses realigning spending priorities to supply teacher aides to improve literary standards. He also discusses his support for the state school system and the introduction of a prep year.

 Anna Bligh, Borbidge Government 1996-98, Education Department, education reform, schools
00:20:32

Dean Wells explains his support for the anti-bullying taskforce. He discusses further the dismantling of the Leading Schools program and reallocating the funds.

 Education Department, education reform
00:23:19

Dean Wells discribes his interaction with interest groups as Education Minister. He also highlights his high regard for the profession of teaching and comments on non government schools.

 Education Department, Teachers Union
00:27:01

Dean Wells discusses the origins of the Smart State agenda. He states that the Smart State was more to do with technology and innovation than education.

 Peter Beattie, Smart State
00:29:41

Dean Wells explains how he became the Environment Minister. He describes the importance of coastal legislation and the process and challenges of negotiating with developers. He describes how an original cause regarding canal development was a sticking point and the amendments that were made to circumvent this issue.

 Brian Littleproud, canal estates, development, Environment, Molly Robson, Pat Comben, Rod Welford
00:35:48

Dean Wells discusses the management of dingoes on Fraser Island. He explains the cull of dingoes after the death of a young boy on the island.

 Environment, Fraser Island
00:42:10

Dean Wells discusses the policy positions he pursued after he moved to the backbench. He discusses his concerns about Section 280 of the Criminal Code and his aims to reform this part of the code.

 backbench, law reform
00:47:56

Dean Wells reflects on the declining membership of the ALP and the decline of volunteerism in Queensland. He discusses the problems associated with declining party membership, in particular the impact on policy initiatives.
00:51:42

Dean Wells discusses his greatest achievements and the reforms he would like to see implemented. He describes his children as his greatest achievements.

 human rights
00:53:58

Interview ends.
Position:
Labor, Politician
Bailiwick:
Arts, Attorney-General, Education, Environment, Justice and Attorney General
Decade:
1990s, 2000s
Sound byte: 

Dean Wells

Biography

Dean Wells

Labor politician Dean Wells held a number of portfolios during his long parliamentary career (1986-2012) including Attorney-General (1989-95), Minister for Justice (1992-95), Arts (1992-95), Education (1998-2001) and Environment (2001-04).

Dean Wells was born in 1949 on an army base in Japan. He attended Springvale High School and then completed a higher degree at Monash University. Wells lectured at Saint David’s University College in Wales and at the University of Queensland in Philosophy, before making the decision to run for parliament. He initially stood for federal parliament as the Labor Federal Member for Petrie; however, his career as a federal parliamentarian was short lived (1983-84). In 1986 Wells successfully ran for the state seat of Murrumba and held this seat until 2012.

When Labor returned to power in the wake of the Fitzgerald Inquiry, Wells was appointed Attorney-General and Minister for Justice. He implemented a substantial reform agenda seeking to repair Queensland’s reputation and bring the state into the modern era. Under Wells the prohibition against homosexuality was removed and he introduced the State’s first Freedom of Information laws.

During his time as Minister for Education he sought to improve literacy standards and implemented anti-bullying measures. He left the ministry in 2004 but continued to be an active member of parliament. He lost his seat in 2012 LNP landslide.

Copyright © Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland, 2012

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