What secret cabinet papers reveal about ‘most pivotal year’ in state’s history

Lydia Lynch reports in the Brisbane Times (1.1.20) about the release of Queensland cabinet minutes from 1989, a year in which three premiers and two governments held office in this state, punctuated by the handing down of the Fitzgerald Inquiry report.

‘The year was 1989. The Berlin Wall was torn down, the internet came to Australia, Bob Hawke and John Howard led the country’s two major parties and 32 years of conservative rule in Queensland came to a dramatic end after the release of the Fitzgerald Inquiry report.

‘Three decades later, Digital Technology Minister Mick de Brenni described 1989 as one of “the most pivotal years in Queensland political history”, at the release of the year’s cabinet minutes.

‘”The papers set the tone politically, socially and economically for the next three decades,” he said.

‘The minutes, which can now be released after 30 years of cabinet confidentiality, cover the reigns of three premiers, three cabinets and two governments.’

The TJRyan Foundation does not guarantee the accuracy, currency or completeness of any information or material available on this website. The TJRyan Foundation reserves the right to change information or material on this website at any time without notice. Links from this site to external, non-TJRyan Foundation websites should not be construed as implying any relationship with and/or endorsement of the external site or its content by the TJR Foundation, nor any commercial relationship with the owners of any external site. Should any TJRyan research project be funded by an individual or organisation the source of funding will be stated beside the research report. In all other cases contributions are provided on a pro bono basis.
Receive the latest news

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get notified about new articles

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.