’Formidable, ruthless, compassionate’: Peter Beattie’s friends and foes on his legacy
Peter Beattie’s political contemporaries from both sides of politics have shared their thoughts on his formidable legacy as Queensland’s 36th leader.
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Modernising Queensland with the Smart State initiative, uniting a warring Labor to secure an unlikely victory and encouraging more women into Cabinet are some of the legacies of Peter Beattie’s government, according to his political contemporaries.
A self-described media tart, “completely ruthless when needed” and able to escape political tight spots unscarred with “that extraordinary Peter Beattie smile” are some of the ways friends and foes alike described the Labor luminary.
Anna Bligh, who served as his deputy, Treasurer and succeeded him as Premier, said Mr Beattie had exceptional skills and enthusiasm and governed for the whole state, not just the southeast.
“I learned a lot from him about the tyranny of distance and the experience of living a long way from the centres of power, an essential ingredient in a successful Queensland Government,” Ms Bligh said.
“A self-declared ‘media tart’ he relished the opportunity to be in the media spotlight.
“Like everyone who had the chance to watch him at work at press conference after press conference I learnt the value of staying calm, sticking to your message and remembering that you are talking to the whole Queensland audience, not just to the journalists in front of you, regardless of how annoying they could be at times.”
She said he had his active support during her political career, with Mr Beattie committed to gender equality and encouraging more women into the party and Cabinet.
“Unlike some men of his generation, Peter wasn’t threatened by women in senior positions, he actively sought out the views of the women in his Cabinet and he deeply understood the growing power of women voters,” she said.
The Smart State will be his great legacy to the state, but Ms Bligh said he also tackled tough issues including decriminalising marijuana, legalising brothels, approving stem cell research and eliminating legislation that discriminated against LGBTQ people.
Former Opposition leader and “father of the LNP” Lawrence Springborg fought two elections against Mr Beattie, but said he was always affable and dignified in their engagements.
“I doubt in contemporary times that there’s ever been a more agile, nimble practitioner of politics in the state than Peter Beattie,” Mr Springborg said.
“Even if he ended up in a political tight spot, either of the government’s making or the opposition’s, he would be out of it in no time.
“It was quite extraordinary to see him navigate troubled political waters only to watch him come out unscathed and unscarred with that extraordinary Peter Beattie smile on his face.”
Former Beattie Government Minister Robert Schwarten said Mr Beattie modernised Queensland, delivered on Labor’s education agenda, but “didn’t wreck the economy to do it”.
“He was completely ruthless if he had to be, but he was empathetic and compassionate when that all worked,” he said.
“You could have a blue with him and it was all over and done with. No grudges held.
“The thing with Beattie is, in many ways, he was a one-man band, but one of his strengths was he let Ministers get on and do their job.”
PETER BEATTIE’S OWN PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS
1. The Smart State Policy, which saw the Prep year introduced into Queensland schools and the establishment of world leading research institutes in partnership with UQ, QUT and Griffith Universities, such as UQ’s AIBN, IMB, Brain Institute, the TRI and QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation. Smart State was multifaceted, but focused on innovation and commercialising research from medical to mining.
2. Winning the establishment of the headquarters of Virgin Airlines in Queensland and the hundreds of jobs that came with it, leading to a boost in air services interstate and to regional cities such as the Whitsundays.
3. A gas policy that saw the establishment of the massive LNG industry in Queensland and a focus on renewable energy. It also included an expansion of the mining industry.
4 Environmental protection policies that helped protect the Great Barrier Reef, wild rivers, regional forests and farm land.
5. A massive capital works program that saw the building of the Children’s Hospital, a new medical school on the Gold Coast, Suncorp Stadium, GOMA, the new State Library, the Esplanade in Cairns and the Strand in Townsville, and commencement of work on the duplication of the Gateway Bridge, Tugun Bypass and so on.
6. Oversaw the expansion of the role of women in key roles in parliament, the ministry, the courts, as Governor and in the public service.
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