Denver Beanland

Interviewed by
Helen McMonagle & Roger Scott
Jan 09 2012
Denver Beanland

Liberal Party politician Denver Beanland was elected to the State seat of Toowong in 1986 following a 10 year term on the Brisbane City Council. He was leader of the Liberal Party in Queensland 1990-91 and held various ministries and shadow ministries before his defeat in 2001. In 1997 a vote of no-confidence was passed against him as Attorney-General over his role in the Carruthers and Connolly-Ryan Inquiries.

Biography
Time Summary Keywords
00:00:06

Denver Beanland recounts his early life, schooling in Kilcoy and his move into the Liberal Party.
00:02:40

Denver Beanland recalls the emerging interest of the Liberal Party in the Brisbane City Council and the reason for his standing for a seat in the ward of Auchenflower in the 1976 local election.

 Brisbane City Council, Clem Jones
00:05:01

Denver Beanland discusses his time in local government as Alderman for Auchenflower and Toowong from 1976 to 1986.

 Brisbane City Council
00:06:49

Denver Beanland describes his time as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in the Brisbane City Council 1983-86, and his term as Vice Mayor from 1985-86.

 Brisbane City Council, Brisbane Lord Mayor, local government, Sallyanne Atkinson
00:08:10

Denver Beanland discusses the relationship between local government and the Bjelke-Petersen government. He outlines the emergence of the Brisbane Area Water Board.

 Bjelke-Petersen Government 1968-87, local government, Russ Hinze, water policy
00:10:05

Denver Beanland outlines the relationship between local government and federal government, particularly in the area of loan funding for capital works. He discusses the abolition of the Death Duty by the Bjelke-Petersen government, and the surplus funds created by the coal industry.

 Capital Works, coal, death duties, Gordon Chalk, QPAC
00:13:24

Denver Beanland comments on the role the AWU played in the Labor Party in 1950s and 1960s. He details the introduction of coal export trade for Queensland at Moura.

 coal, Francis Nicklin, Gordon Chalk, unions
00:17:59

Denver Beanland discusses the history of Queensland's rail networks and the burden they placed on the State budget and the introduction of private enterprise.

 Queensland Rail
00:21:32

Denver Beanland discusses the role of Gordon Chalk in developing the Performing Arts Complex in the 1970s. He also discusses the promotion of the Arts throughout Queensland and how the budget surplus helped local government.

 Arts, Gordon Chalk, QPAC
00:23:15

Denver Beanland discusses his move from local to state government, winning the seat of Toowong from the National Party.
00:27:41

Denver Beanland recalls his campaign to win the 1986 State election, especially the tension between the Liberal and National Party due to the disintegration of the coalition in 1983.

 1986 election, Coalition
00:29:43

Denver Beanland describes how he became Deputy Leader and then Leader of the Liberal Party in May 1990. He discusses becoming Attorney-General for Queensland.

 Angus Innes, Attorney General, David Watson, leadership
00:33:37

Denver Beanland discusses the creation of a coalition between the Liberal and National parties in 1992.

 1992 election, Coalition, Mike Ahern, Russell Cooper, Wayne Goss
00:35:30

Denver Beanland comments on the PSMC, changes in the structure of government and the public service in general.

 Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Public Sector Management Commission, public sector reform, Wayne Goss
00:43:07

Denver Beanland discusses the fall of the Goss Government and the importance of having an experienced and knowledgeable public sector.

 Goss Government 1989-96, Public Sector Management Commission, Wayne Goss
00:46:40

Denver Beanland describes law reform and the Queensland justice system during his time in office, in particular the Juvenile Justice Act and amendments to the Criminal Code.

 Justice, juvenile justice, Liz Cunningham
00:55:33

Denver Beanland discusses his style of leadership when at the head of the Liberal Party. He also discusses his relationship with Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

 Joh Bjelke-Petersen, leadership
00:57:50

Denver Beanland outlines losing the leadership of the Liberal Party and the forming of a coalition.

 Coalition, leadership
01:00:48

Denver Beanland describes his role after being deposed as leader, and his support for Joan Sheldon.

 Joan Sheldon, leadership
01:02:37

Denver Beanland discusses the 1996 Mundingburra by-election, the Memorandum of Understanding and the Connolly-Ryan Inquiry.

 Connolly-Ryan Inquiry, Liz Cunningham, Memorandum of Understanding, Mundingburra by-election 1996
01:04:15

Denver Beanland describes the administrative confusion he faced at the start of the Borbidge government.

 Borbidge Government 1996-98, Denis Murphy, induction
01:09:06

Denver Beanland discusses the Justice portfolio, and explains the difficulties he faced due to the 1996 federal election.

 Justice
01:13:59

Denver Beanland discusses his time as Minister for Consumer Affairs and Justice.

 Consumer Affairs, John Sosso, Justice
01:16:05

Denver Beanland discusses the Memorandum of Understanding, the Carruthers Inquiry and the Connolly-Ryan Inquiry.

 Carruthers Inquiry, Connolly-Ryan Inquiry, Criminal Justice Commission, Memorandum of Understanding
01:25:39

Denver Beanland comments on corruption within the government and public service, and the effectiveness of the CJC and CMC.

 corruption, Crime and Misconduct Commission, Criminal Justice Commission
01:30:45

Denver Beanland discusses the outcome of the Memorandum of Understanding investigation and the motion of no-confidence which was passed against him.

 Liz Cunningham, Memorandum of Understanding
01:33:53

Denver Beanland details the Borbidge government's losing office after 1998 election, with particular emphasis on the influence of One Nation and the introduction of gun laws. He discusses the impact of poor decisions by the government, such as floating the TAB and the amalgamation of Suncorp Metway.

 1998 election, gun laws, Joan Sheldon, One Nation, Suncorp Metway
01:38:38

Denver Beanland discusses the rise of One Nation and the 1998 state and federal elections.

 1998 election, One Nation, Peter Beattie
01:42:29

Denver Beanland describes how parliamentary processes have changed since the Bjelke-Petersen government. He distinguishes the differences between the CJC and the CMC, and how the public service has changed.

 Crime and Misconduct Commission, Criminal Justice Commission, Fitzgerald Inquiry, public sector reform
01:45:47

Denver Beanland discusses what actions he believes future governments need to undertake in order to ensure Queensland's success and prevent widespread corruption.

 corruption, Criminal Justice Commission
01:49:38

Denver Beanland discusses his regrets from his time in parliament, particularly losing the 1998 election and the Heiner Enquiry.

 1998 election, Heiner Enquiry
02:00:58

Denver Beanland recalls getting elected and re-elected as the highlights of his political career.
02:02:10

Interview ends
Further reading: 

John Wanna, ‘The passing of no-confidence in Attorney -General Denver Beanland’, Australian journal of politics and history 44/2, 1998, pp.262-70

Position:
Liberal
Bailiwick:
Justice and Attorney General
Decade:
1980s, 1990s
Sound byte: 

Denver Beanland

Biography

Denver Beanland

Liberal Party politician Denver Beanland was elected to the State seat of Toowong in 1986 following a 10 year term on the Brisbane City Council. He was leader of the Liberal Party in Queensland 1990-91 and held various ministries and shadow ministries before his defeat in 2001. In 1997 a vote of no-confidence was passed against him as Attorney-General over his role in the Carruthers and Connolly-Ryan Inquiries.

Denver Edward Beanland was born in Kilcoy, Queensland on 26 January 1945. He attended primary school at Kalangara State School, Stoney Creek and high school at Caboolture State until his junior year. 

Prior to entering politics Beanland worked for the National Bank of Australasia, joining the Liberal Party in 1966. In 1976 he was elected to the Brisbane City Council as Alderman for the ward of Auchenflower (renamed Taringa in 1985), and in 1985 he was made Deputy Mayor of Brisbane under Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson.

In 1986 Beanland stood for State politics, successfully challenging Earle Bailey for the Seat of Toowong, becoming Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in 1989 and Leader in 1990. He was appointed as Shadow Attorney General and Shadow Minister for Justice 1992-96. Beanland retained these portfolios after the Coalition won the Mundingburra by-election in 1996, adding Consumer Affairs to his responsibilities. In 1997 a vote of no-confidence was moved against Beanland in parliament due to his role in the Carruthers and Connolly-Ryan Inquiries. The vote passed with the support of Independent Liz Cunningham. Beanland remained in government with the support of Premier Rob Borbidge. After the Coalition lost the 1998 election he held a number of shadow portfolios, including: Shadow Minister for the Arts, Shadow Minister for Disability Services, Shadow Minister for Families, Youth and Community Care and Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs. He remained in parliament until 2001 when he lost his seat to Labor candidate Ronan Lee.

Beanland has been involved in community affairs, elected President of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland 2007-09, Chairman of Heritage Advisory Committee for the Brisbane City Council since 2007, Member of the Brisbane City Hall Restoration Project Executive Group since 2007 and is a former Patron of the Centenary Theatre Group, Brisbane.

After politics he completed his Bachelor of Arts and PhD (2007) in history at the University of Queensland.

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

The copyright holder of this material grants users permission to access the material on this website for the following purposes only: research and study, education, other non-commercial and non-public uses.

Associated interviews: 
Joan Sheldon