Australia Talks

Right now, Queensland is at the epicentre of national power. The Prime Minister, the federal Treasurer, the Governor General are all from Queensland. And the state is growing like there's no tomorrow - vast numbers of overseas and interstate migrants mean it's practically bursting at the seams. And it's got a burgeoning cultural sector - of which the Writer's festival is evidence. These days Queensland's the smart state.

But it wasn't always this way. How many of you remember when it was the Moonlight State? A mere twenty years ago Queensland was better known for its vice, cronyism, corruption and misconduct. The Fitzgerald Inquiry led to former government ministers and the police chief being thrown in jail. The state, back then, was a national embarrassment.

So how did it all turn around? Where is Queensland at now? And how did that era affect today's Queensland? No talkback today ... but Australia Talks ponders these question's ... some of them addressed in Hidden Queensland - the title of the Spring edition of the Griffith Review.

Guests

Mike Ahern - former Queensland National Party premier

David Solomon - author, journalist and former chairman of the electoral and administrative review committee

Wayne Goss - former Queensland Labor premier

Further Information

Griffith Review

Report of the FOI review Independent Review Panel

Crime and Misconduct Commission Queensland

Music: Cattle and cane by The Go-Betweens, Beggars Banquet Records

Presenter

Paul Barclay

Story Researcher and Producer

Karin Zsivanovits