Jim O'Sullivan

Interviewed by
Ann Scott & Roger Scott
Dec 11 2010
Jim O'Sullivan
Former Police Commissioner Jim O'Sullivan reflects on a career in the Queensland Police Service which stretched from the 1950s to the early 2000s, and saw him rise from the lowest rank in the service to the highest. He focuses on his involvement with the Fitzgerald Inquiry, and the ongoing challenge of keeping the police service and political system free from corruption.
Biography
Time Summary Keywords
00:00:00 Jim O'Sullivan recalls his decision to join the QPS in 1959, his training at the Petrie Terrace Barracks, his first posting in Mitchell, and sharing a train carriage with then-premier Vincent Gair. He describes his early life, his marriage and family and his transfer to Goondiwindi in 1961. Police, Vincent Gair
00:03:54 Jim O'Sullivan describes joining the Criminal Investigation Branch in 1965 and being transferred to Innisfail about 1976, where he combated illegal activities, such as SP Bookmaking thought to involve senior police officers. He goes on to comment that his actions were unpopular with some in the Queensland Police Service. corruption, gambling, Police
00:06:24 Jim O'Sullivan summarises his postings before being asked to join the Fitzgerald Inquiry in 1987. He discusses the environment that permitted corruption to flourish, and the difficulty of finding police to work with the inquiry who were untouched by the corruption. corruption, Crime and Misconduct Commission, Criminal Justice Commission, Fitzgerald Inquiry, Police, Tony Fitzgerald
00:10:50 Jim O'Sullivan discusses the establishment of the Fitzgerald Inquiry following media exposure of the corruption, the initial difficulty of assembling evidence, and political pressure to end the inquiry. Bill Gunn, Bjelke-Petersen Government 1968-87, corruption, Courier mail, Fitzgerald Inquiry, Four Corners, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, media, Police, Tony Fitzgerald
00:13:55 Jim O'Sullivan discusses the difficulties of dealing with corruption in the pre-Fitzgerald era, and the pressure placed on him by the Queensland Police Service during the inquiry. He goes on to argue that the inquiry did not put an end to corruption, but rather made it easer to deal with. corruption, Fitzgerald Inquiry, Police, Tony Fitzgerald
00:19:40 Jim O'Sullivan discusses his role following the Fitzgerald Inquiry. He discusses the appointment of Victorian Noel Newnham as Police Commissioner. He describes Noel Newnham's resignation as Police Commissioner, his own appointment as the new Commissioner, and the implementation of the Fitzgerald reforms. corruption, Fitzgerald Inquiry, Noel Newnham, Police, Police Commissioner
00:24:12 Jim O'Sullivan discusses his relationship with Police Minister Paul Braddy, and the difficulties of dealing with intrusive ministerial staffers during the Goss era. He discusses the 1995 change of government, his difficult relationship with the Borbidge Government, and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Police Union and the then opposition coalition party. Borbidge Government 1996-98, Goss Government 1989-96, Memorandum of Understanding, ministerial staff, Mundingburra by-election 1996, Paul Braddy, Police, Police Commissioner, police union, Rob Borbidge, Russell Cooper
00:27:38 Jim O'Sullivan recalls confronting the Police Minister over proposed changes to Queensland Police Service appointments. He discusses the CJC inquiry into the Memorandum of Understanding between the Police Union and the coalition party, and the slew of inquires that resulted. Borbidge Government 1996-98, Carruthers Inquiry, Carter Inquiry, Connolly-Ryan Inquiry, corruption, Criminal Justice Commission, Frank Clair, Max Bingham, Memorandum of Understanding, Police, police union, Russell Cooper
00:32:01 Jim O'Sullivan outlines the dedicated implementation of reform under the Goss Government, particularly the introduction of merit-based appointments, and the Borbidge Government's less enthusiastic promulgation of the reform agenda. Beattie Government 1998-2007, Borbidge Government 1996-98, Connolly-Ryan Inquiry, Goss Government 1989-96, merit based selection, Police, police union, Russell Cooper
00:35:25 Jim O'Sullivan discusses the incoming Beattie Government Police Minister, Tom Barton, and his decision to retire as Police Commissioner in 2000 rather than renew his contract. Beattie Government 1998-2007, Police, Police Commissioner, Tom Barton
00:37:15 Jim O'Sullivan comments on Terry Lewis and Raymond Whitrod as Police Commissioners. corruption, Francis Bischof, Police, Police Commissioner, police union, Raymond Whitrod, Terry Lewis
00:41:40 Jim O'Sullivan discusses the influence that the Police Union wielded during the Bjelke-Petersen era, and its circumvention by the Fitzgerald Inquiry. Bjelke-Petersen Government 1968-87, Fitzgerald Inquiry, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Police, police union
00:43:28 Jim O'Sullivan reflects on the positives and negatives of his career, naming his appointment of Dick Warry to head up a civilianised Queensland Police Service corporate section as his best decision, and the impact on his family as the greatest cost. Dick Warry, Paul Braddy, Police
00:46:53 Jim O'Sullivan outlines his career after resigning as Police Commissioner, and his decision to keep his distance from the QPS. He discusses the continuing modernisation of the police force throughout Australasia, the increased mobility of public servants and the importance of merit based appointments. Goss Government 1989-96, merit based selection, Police
00:50:20 Jim O'Sullivan reflects on the difficulty of maintaining the separation of powers between the police service and the government, particularly in the pre-Fitzgerald era. Crime and Misconduct Commission, Police
00:52:55 Interview ends
Position:
Public Servant
Bailiwick:
Police Service
Decade:
1990s
Sound byte: 

Jim O'Sullivan

Biography

Jim O'Sullivan

Jim O’Sullivan was Police Commissioner from 1992 to 2000, a period of large scale reform in the Queensland Police Service following the recommendations of the Fitzgerald Inquiry.

Jim O’Sullivan was born in Kingaroy in 1939 and joined the Queensland Police Service (QPS) in Brisbane in 1959, largely because of the stability of employment it offered. He served in a number of rural areas before returning to Brisbane in 1965 and joining the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB). In 1977 he was posted to Innisfail, where he uncovered a wide network of criminal activity, including SP Bookmaking, which had apparently existed with the knowledge, and perhaps participation, of local police. O’Sullivan effectively closed down the network, earning the ire of many in the Queensland Police Service and establishing his reputation as an opponent of police corruption.

O’Sullivan was subsequently posted to Redcliffe, where he took charge of the CIB, and was then placed in charge of the Brisbane CIB. In 1987 he was invited by Tony Fitzgerald to head up the investigations for the Commission of Inquiry into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Police Misconduct. The resulting 'Fitzgerald Report’ brought about the downfall of a number of prominent police officers, including Police Commissioner Terry Lewis being sent to gaol, and led to large scale reform throughout the Queensland government, public service and police service. 

At the completion of the Fitzgerald Inquiry, O’Sullivan re-entered the Queensland Police Service, and was quickly promoted to Assistant Commissioner in 1990, and then Commissioner in 1992, which enabled him to oversee the Fitzgerald reforms. O’Sullivan remained Commissioner until his retirement from the QPS in 2000, and has since sat on a number of boards of inquiry. In 2001 he became a Companion of the Order of Australia.

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