Anecdote 1 - If You want a loyal Friend in Politics, ....

 Anecdote 1 - "If you want a Loyal Friend in Politics ...

(Written by Warren Maloney on 27th June 2021)





1989 and the Queensland people had at last voted out the very, very corrupt National Party Government under Joh Bjelke-Petersen. It had taken a Royal Commission to expose the large and frequent bribes and corrupt practices that had ruled Queensland for 21 years, The Labor Party, led by Wayne Goss, was elected. The Nationals were furious and shredded everything (even technical office manuals) in their last few days and instructed Public Servants not to assist the new Government. 


My good Friend, Deane Wells, was elected and chosen to be the new Attorney General and Minister for Justice. I flew up to Brisbane to help him as a temporary Chief of Staff for the first few weeks.

 

Day 1 - Whilst trying to sort out staff and equipment (and keep Deane busy), I received a phone call from "the leading" good guys Legal firm (the ones with the white hats and the white horses) and its NSW Senior Partner explained the high costs (travel/accommodation/time away from office) they would have in getting a number of their Partners sworn in the Queensland Supreme Court to help us out. However, the Attorney General apparently had a little-used power to quicken the process and could do this by discretionary appointment. "Now if Deane could do that, we could contribute $10,000 to help with Deane's new Office costs". 


I was speechless for 30 secs then paid out on the stupidity and criminality of this. The phone call ended abruptly. Strangely, 2 days later, a reporter for the Brisbane Courier Mail rang me to tell me he had had a background confidential briefing on how I was seeking private and corporate funds to help with Ministerial costs. Fortunately, the reporter had moral scruples.


That evening I took a hip flask of whisky and walked to a local park to find a dog to pat!

 

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