Opinion: Peter Beattie shares final foray into political cesspit

Once described as a ‘media tart’, former premier Peter Beattie has revealed why he’s now bowing out of political commentary.

Today I celebrate my 70th birthday. Unless it is about the NRL or BioCatalyst, I have avoided commenting on political issues in recent days. I will continue to do that. But turning 70 allows me an exception for my final foray into the political cesspit.

QUEENSLAND’S FUTURE

The state’s strengths will always ensure we succeed. The choice is between excelling to a global leadership position and the benefits which come from that or business as usual.

Queensland is now in the box seat to provide clear leadership to Australia. All the ingredients for our success are clear.

We have: the 2032 Games, a great climate, an innovative spirit, a positive attitude, world class research facilities in powerful universities, strong business, mining, tourism and agricultural sectors, and the potential for significant interstate migration to fire up the economy.

Indeed, the higher cost of living in Sydney and Melbourne is driving Australians to Queensland.

Peter Beattie says he will only speak publicly about rugby league and innovation. Picture: Britta Campion / The Australian

The result will be a big boost to the Queensland economy. The key is taking advantage of the skills of these interstate migrants.

In particular, the Olympics will see a long overdue partnership between the Federal and State governments to fund the vital infrastructure so necessary for Queensland’s growth.

Without the Olympics, interstate rivalry would limit the amount any Federal Government could allocate to one state. The Olympics give Queensland a once in a lifetime opportunity to build the infrastructure Queensland needs. This will bring forward funding by at least 20 years!

Every time I walk through the Brisbane CBD lately I see a world class city which is becoming more attractive every day.

INNOVATION

I will never lose my passion for innovation, scientific research and biotechnology. That is Queensland’s and Australia’s future in an unstable world, particularly with the emergence of China as a super power.

The reality is that Queensland needs the Smart State strategy now more than ever.

With our modest population of just under 26 million, commercialising our brain power will give us the edge we need in our region and the world. It will also give us a leadership role in Asia and the world.

The former premier says Queensland needs to focus on innovation. Picture: Mike Burton

Australia has always been good at innovation from the Hill’s clothes hoist to Wi-Fi. However, we have been terrible at commercialising these opportunities. That is now slowly changing. This is where Queensland should be focused.

Innovations in health, medical research, critical minerals, mining services, energy, technology, space, the environment and defence can make Queensland a world leader in these areas. The opportunities in hydrogen are endless particularly at the world class port of Gladstone.

Partnering with industry and our great universities such as UQ, QUT, Griffith and James Cook is a key part of maximising innovative outcomes and then commercialising that research. Queensland has some of the best research institutions in the world. It also has a number of wealthy entrepreneurs who are driving innovative companies like Superloop and Novonix.

I am a Director of Brandon BioCatalyst in Melbourne (medical research), an NRL Commissioner (sport innovation) and a senior advisor at Bondi Partners (defence innovation). All are key areas of innovation.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Queensland has become a powerhouse in the federal government. Having a Queenslander as federal Treasurer is a real bonus for Queensland. I have faith in Jim Chalmers as Treasurer and new young ministers like Anika Wells and Murray Watt.

All these ministers are young Queenslanders who have a big future and Queensland’s interests at heart. They are smart and thoughtful, something often missing in politics today.

The fact that the alternative Prime Minister, Peter Dutton, also comes from Queensland adds to the state’s political clout. We need to take advantage of it with some bipartisanship in energy and defence innovation.

Peter Beattie with Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli at a State of Origin game in Brisbane.

17TH NRL TEAM

The Dolphins join the competition in 2023 and Queensland will have four NRL teams in the competition. This is a long overdue recognition of Queensland as a rugby league powerhouse. With more games at Suncorp stadium, this will also have economic benefits for Queensland.

The game will also expand with additional test matches in the Pacific from which Queensland will be a major beneficiary. Samoan pride after the Rugby League World Cup final will drive a Pacific growth in Rugby League.

ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK

I repeatedly get asked how I feel about Annastacia Palaszczuk passing my time in office.

My answer is easy; Records are meant to be broken. When AP serves longer than me, which she will, she will have my warm congratulations. She has repeatedly proven the detractors wrong. Politics is a tough job where a large section of the populace will disagree with you regardless of how hard you work or what you achieve. That is the strength of our democracy and a citizen’s right.

Nevertheless, Queensland now has four-year terms and I expect premiers to serve longer and longer in the top job.

How long you serve as premier is the wrong question. I served longer than Wayne Goss but he was a better premier. It is not the time you serve that matters but what you do with that time that is important.

Performance and results means more than time served. I retired at a time of my own choosing because I believe leaders should implement their policy agenda, groom a successor and then hand over the baton. Government should always be about what’s good for the people and the nation not the leader.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with Beattie in the lead up to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Picture: Dave Hunt

SOCIAL MEDIA

Sadly social media has made politics ugly, vicious and extremely difficult for longevity at the top. It actively discourages good people from going into politics.

I am so pleased I retired before social media became the destructive force it is. It has allowed the ugly hollowness of politics into the open totally unfettered. That is destructive to the social fabric so essential for a healthy society.

Sadly, at the same time, mainstream media has been degutted of resources. This has directly impacted newsrooms. Political leaders with their own social media teams could potentially remain in office indefinitely because of the reduced scrutiny. This not good for the health of our democracy. The end never justifies the means.

I will always love Queensland and I am very positive about its future.