Mike Reynolds

Interviewed by
Sue Yarrow
Aug 01 2011
Mike Reynolds
Labor politician and Speaker (2006-09) Mike Reynolds discusses the events leading up to the federal intervention in the Queensland Labor Party in 1980.
Biography
Time Summary Keywords
00:00:06 Mike Reynolds discusses his passion for social justice and joining the ALP in 1970. He comments on the power of the branches, the excitement of the Whitlam period, and running for state parliament in 1972. Gough Whitlam, Jack Houston, Tom Burns, Townsville
00:04:13 Mike Reynolds recalls his strongly Labor background, his early interest in politics, and the impact of the 1957 Labor Party split. He discusses the changing Labor membership in the 1970s, as it moved away from its traditional trade union base. unions
00:08:12 Mike Reynolds describes former Labor leader and union stalwart Jack Egerton. Jack Egerton
00:10:35 Mike Reynolds details social change in the 1960s and 1970s in conservative North Queensland and the effect that it had on the Labor Party. Bjelke-Petersen Government 1968-87, DLP, Townsville
00:14:25 Mike Reynolds recalls his time as the President of Young Labor in Townsville, his involvement with other activist groups, and the growing divide between the conservative Labor executive and progressive party members in the 1970s. Bjelke-Petersen Government 1968-87, Jack Egerton, Percy Tucker, Young Labor
00:18:19 Mike Reynolds outlines the dominance of the conservative Labor Inner Executive, and attempts to make the party more progressive and the state executive more representative. factions
00:21:52 Mike Reynolds recalls the relatively good electoral results for Labor at the 1972 election and the difficulty of regaining electoral momentum after the rout at the 1974 election.  He discusses Labor's dysfunction throughout the 1970s, focusing on poor candidate selection and campaign strategies. campaign strategy, Jack Houston, Percy Tucker, Tom Burns
00:26:36 Mike Reynolds details the Labor Party reforms he advocated in the mid-1970s, including the democratisation of the organisational structure and modernisation of the membership. Gough Whitlam
00:32:16 Mike Reynolds describes his involvement with the reform group based in Brisbane, and the Bardon meeting, where 800 members met to call for federal intervention in the state party. Denis Murphy, Peter Beattie
00:35:40 Mike Reynolds describes rallying local support for intervention after the Bardon meeting, the resistance offered by the ETU, and personal intimidation. media, Townsville, unions
00:39:44 Mike Reynolds discusses the growing momentum for reform generated at the 1977 and 1979 Labor conferences and the Bardon meeting, and the resistance mounted by the Old Guard. factions
00:43:59 Mike Reynolds outlines some of the tactics used by Labor dissidents to promote intervention and expose the failings of the Old Guard. campaign strategy, Mickey Spillall
00:46:20 Mike Reynolds describes the leaders of the Labor Old Guard and the dissenting New Guard. Bill Hayden
00:49:35 Mike Reynolds discusses the possibility of a Labor split during the turbulent 1970s, the legal case mounted by the Old Guard following intervention, and the dual administrations maintained by the Old and New guards. Bill Hayden, Tom Burns
00:52:37 Mike Reynolds recalls northern Labor's response to the intervention, concern with the public discord that resulted, and the role of interstate support in mounting the intervention. Bill Hayden, factions, Percy Tucker
00:56:36 Mike Reynolds discusses the development of Labor factions in Queensland during the period of the intervention, particularly the Centre Left. factions
01:00:01 Mike Reynolds details the development and functioning of the Labor factions after intervention, particularly the Centre Left and the Socialist Left. factions
01:05:40 Mike Reynolds provides analysis of how the intervention was brought about.
01:07:50 Mike Reynolds reflects on the ongoing turmoil in the Labor Party in the 1980s, the way this impacted on the party electorally, and the divisive qualities of Peter Beattie. 1989 election, campaign strategy, Peter Beattie, Wayne Goss, Wayne Swan
01:12:45 Mike Reynolds discusses the decision to allow the AWU to return to Labor and the impact this had on the party. corruption, factions
01:15:45 Mike Reynolds discusses the benefits of the intervention, including democratisation, and the areas that still need improvement, such as affirmative action. affirmative action, women
01:18:39 Mike Reynolds reflects on the intervention and its lessons for Labor.
01:20:31 Mike Reynolds discusses his concern with the growing power of the Parliamentary Labor Party and its threat to the democracy wrought by the intervention. He discusses the challenge posed by changing attitudes to politics and political parties.
01:28:12 Interview ends.
Position:
Labor, Politician
Bailiwick:
Child Safety, Emergency Services, Speaker
Decade:
1980s, 2000s
Sound byte: 

Mike Reynolds

Biography

Mike Reynolds

Having served in local government in Townsville, Labor politician Mike Reynolds entered state politics in 1998 and served as Minister for Emergency Services, Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland, and Minister for Child Safety before becoming parliamentary Speaker in 2006.

Born in Manly, NSW in 1946, Mike Reynolds moved with his family to Queensland when he was four years old. He was educated in Townsville, and went to work at the Invicta Sugar Mill at 16. He then took up a position as a laboratory assistant at James Cook University in the late 1960s, at the same time beginning a mathematics degree.

Reynolds joined the Labor Party in the early 1970s and ran for the newly created seat of Townsville in the 1972 election, which he failed to win. Reynolds instead stood for a place on the Townsville City Council in 1973 and remained as a Councillor for 16 years, serving as Deputy Mayor from 1976, and then Mayor from 1980. 

Reynolds stood for the state seat of Townsville in the 1998 election and was this time successful, taking up a parliamentary secretary role in the incoming Beattie Government. In 2001, Reynolds entered the ministry, becoming the Minister for Emergency Services as well as the Minister for Assisting the Premier in North Queensland, and then Minister for Child Safety in 2004.

Reynolds moved from the ministry in 2006, taking up the role of the Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly until his retirement from politics in 2009.

Copyright © The Centre for the Government of Queensland, the University of Queensland, 2011.

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Associated interviews: 
Bill Hayden
Associated interviews: 
Peter Beattie