sir johannes bjelke-petersen kcmg

Today is an extremely sad day in our State's history. the architect of modern Queensland is no more.

Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen... a true statesman. a true leader. a true Queenslander. has passed away.

To Lady Florence Bjelke-Petersen and the entire family the thoughts and prayers of all Queenslanders go. We all know, above all else, Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen cherished his family and was the champion of family values.

It doesn't matter which side of politics you stand on, Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen's contribution to this State and to this nation was an undeniably positive one. a contribution that no other state leader has ever matched or probably ever will match. His time in State Parliament alone spanned more than 40 years (3rd May 1947 - 1st December 1987) - 19 of which were as Premier (8th August 1968 - 1st December 1987).

He had a vision like no one before him and no one since. determination like no one before him and no one since. He had that all important common-touch like no one before him and no one since. And he had a passion for Queensland and Queensland families that is hard to surpass.

Sir Joh, as he was affectionately known by Queenslanders, was the architect of modern Queensland. His leadership and vision has left a magnificent legacy that we must not squander or take for granted.. a legacy for urban, regional and rural communities.

To understand that, we need to look at Queensland's massive landscape and look at how Sir Joh carved out that landscape with bridges, dams, roads, highways, universities and power stations.

We had a free hospital system that worked efficiently and was free from the day-to-day crises that we currently witness. Queensland had an effective and efficient public sector focused on delivering outcomes not bureaucracy.

We need to remember the things we now take for granted: the free preschools, the abolition of death duties, the booming tourism trade and the success of our export industries - all have their foundations with the vision and decisions of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

When city commuters go home on the electric rail system tonight, they will do so thanks to Sir Joh. When tourists fly into our international airports - whether they be in Brisbane, Cairns or Townsville - they will do so thanks to Sir Joh who promoted Queensland as the Sunshine State as part of the most successful tourism push ever undertaken in Australia.

Simple things like turning on a tap or flicking-on the light switch were never more reliable than after Sir Joh and his National Party Government built the Burdekin, Wivenhoe, Hinze, Beardmore, Haig, Fairbairn, Bjelke-Petersen and Eungella Dams and the Tarong, Swanbank, Callide and Collinsville power stations.

He championed the modernisation of politics. appointing the first woman to Cabinet and campaigning to see the State's first and only ever Aborigine elected to State Parliament.

It was this record of hard work and achievement that resulted in Queenslanders re-electing him time and time again, decade after decade, with an ever-increasing majority.

But his achievements went way beyond the borders of Queensland. There is little doubt that one of the greatest services he did for all Australians - past, present and into the future - was to save us from the certain and inevitable disaster of the Whitlam Government.

Sir Joh was elected to State Parliament in 1946 and became Premier in 1968 until his retirement in 1987.

For me personally Sir Joh - who became Premier in the year I was born - was my inspiration to join The Nationals and to ultimately seek election to State Parliament. To this day, there exists no greater role model.

Like all political Leaders, Sir Joh had his critics. But there is no doubt that we owe a debt of gratitude to him for his service to the people of the State he loved so dearly and dedicated his life to serving.

Today, all Queenslanders farewell the man who was not only our greatest ever citizen. but our greatest leader.



Lawrence Springborg