|
| |
Queensland under Bjelke-Petersen
State development
Bjelke-Petersen abolished state duties on deceased estates (inheritance taxes),
leading to a steady flow of retired people moving from the southern states of
Victoria and New South Wales to Queensland, particularly the Gold Coast. All
other Australian states and territories had abolished this tax by 1981 in
attempt to stem the flow of people to Queensland. The rapid rise in population
in the Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast led to a building boom that
has lasted for three decades.
The development boom was particularly noticeable in the tourist area of the Gold
Coast, where developers were vigorously encouraged in a heady entrepreneurial
environment. Environmental restrictions on planning were virtually unknown and
high-rise apartment blocks flourished in the once sleepy seaside towns. The
Bjelke-Petersen government worked closely with a clique of influential property
developers, known derisively as "the white shoe brigade", to construct resorts,
hotels, a casino and a system of residential developments built beside canals
dredged through wetlands on the Gold Coast.
Considerable development of the state's infrastructure took place during the
Bjelke-Petersen era. Airports, coal mines, power stations, and dams were built
throughout the state. James Cook University was established. In Brisbane, the
Queensland Cultural Centre, Griffith University, the South East Freeway, the
Captain Cook, Gateway and Merivale bridges were all constructed, as well as the
Parliamentary Annexe that was attached to Queensland Parliament House. Brisbane
landmarks, such as the Bellevue Hotel and the Cloudland dance hall, were subject
to demolition by the Deen Brothers demolition company, in the early hours of the
morning, to make way for new developments.
Relations with the media
Bjelke-Petersen was remarkably successful at controlling media coverage, using
paid-for advertorials on commercial networks and fobbing off journalists with
irrelevant non-answers in a performance he called "feeding the chooks". A number
of times he responded to unfavourable media coverage by suing for defamation. In
1989, the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, found that in 1986 Bjelke-Petersen
had placed then Channel 9 owner Mr Alan Bond in a position of 'commercial
blackmail' when Bond improperly agreed to pay $400,000 as an out-of-court
defamation settlement.Meanwhile, Queensland historian, Ross Fitzgerald was
threatened with criminal libel when he sought to publish a critical history.
Joh's catchphrase answer to intrusive queries, "Don't you worry about that," was
widely parodied.
| |
|
