Environmental protection and First Nations land rights were among the history-making reforms of the Wayne Goss-led Government, the release of the 1992 Queensland Cabinet Minutes show.
Forging ahead after the fallout from the Sir John Bjelke-Petersen era, the minutes show the Goss government was responsible for a significant shift in the way Queensland protected its natural areas and recognised the rights of First Nations people.
Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch said the introduction of Queensland’s Heritage Act was an important development for the state.
“In March, extensive heritage protection legislation was passed, providing Queensland with its first substantial, legislated heritage protection framework,” she said.
“The bill also provided for the establishment of a Heritage Council consisting of qualified people responsible for assessing nominated sites’ cultural heritage.”
The government also boosted its environmental credentials with the passage of the Nature Conservation Act that allowed for the declaration and management of protected natural areas.
With the High Court handing down its ground-breaking Mabo decision in June, Cabinet in early November heard a submission from the Premier about the ruling’s implications for land use in Queensland.
This came after the government legislated a state-based land rights framework in the previous year through the Aboriginal Land Act and Torres Strait Islander Land Act.
Cabinet noted the establishment of an interdepartmental working group chaired by the Cabinet Office to negotiate with the Commonwealth on ‘Mabo-related’ policy issues.
“These steps represented a major change in the way this state recognised the rights of First Nations people,” Ms Enoch said.
“Along with Prime Minister Paul Keating’s ‘Redfern speech’ in that same year, 1992 was the year the conversation about land rights in this country changed forever.”
The Minister said the release of the 1992 Cabinet Minutes offered a fascinating insight into Queensland’s history and the workings of its government 30 years ago.
“Following a prolonged period of public speculation about alleged jury tampering during the previous year’s perjury trial of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) in October confirmed its intention to undertake an inquiry into the trial’s jury selection,” she said.
“The CJC’s investigation commenced public hearings in mid-November – featuring evidence from an array of ‘star’ witnesses, including a former ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Party minister and a party state director as well as jury foreman Luke Shaw and Sir Joh’s defence lawyers – and carried its proceedings on into the next year.”
Ms Enoch said 1992 was an election year in Queensland, unfolding against a backdrop of significant national and international events, and the Goss government’s continued implementation of the reforms of the previous year.
“Following the redrawing of the state’s electoral boundaries late in the previous year, a draft electoral bill was introduced in April which would, among other things, establish an Electoral Commission of Queensland to oversee the electoral process for the first time”, she said
“The passing of the much-anticipated Peaceful Assembly Bill in July saw an end to a ‘repressive and violent chapter of Queensland’s history’ and enshrined a legal right to protest peacefully.
“Similarly, a Freedom of Information Act was passed that established a qualified right of public access to government documents.”
Early in the year, Cabinet approved amendments to the structure and operations of the State Counter-Disaster Organisation to better manage counter-disaster responses and activities in Queensland.
“This was a great assistance to the employees as they stood up to help Queenslanders during the climatic extremes that were felt in various parts of the state during the year,” Ms Enoch said.
Near the end of July, Sir Walter Campbell ended his seven-year stint as Queensland Governor and was succeeded by Leneen Forde, the first woman in this state.
The state election in September saw the Goss government re-elected for a second term with a strong majority government.
At the beginning of November, months of speculation were put to rest when the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ and Liberal parties agreed to formally re-enter a coalition arrangement, with Liberal leader Joan Sheldon deputy to the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s’ Rob Borbidge as Opposition leader.
The Cabinet Minutes can be viewed at the Queensland State Archive, Runcorn or from Tuesday 3 January 2023.
