1990 Cabinet Papers released: Queensland was ahead of its time

The issues dominating the new Goss Cabinet were not too far removed from today, but vital reforms were being pushed through as Queensland hit 1990 and looked forward to a new decade.

THE perennial issue of daylight savings was being trialled, homosexual law reforms were afoot and legislation was introduced to roll out red light cameras.

The year was 1990 in Queensland and with a new decade, came a new premier and a progressive agenda which voters ultimately embraced in years to come.

The Sunshine State was coming out of the dark ages, pushing ahead with gay rights legislation and improving the position of women, as it put the ‘Joh’ years behind it.

Around the world, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, Margaret Thatcher resigned as the UK’s prime minister and Madonna’s timeless hit Vogue was released.

For the newly elected Goss Government, it wanted “to settle the (daylight saving) issue once and for all”.

Former Queensland Premier Wayne Goss.

The release of 1990 Cabinet papers have revealed Goss’ Cabinet agreed to introduce daylight savings across the state permanently, following a trial over the 1989-90 summer period which was instigated by former Premier Mike Ahern.

Cabinet later allowed local governments flexibility around school and working hours.

The Summer Time Bill was introduced in early October, with the time switch to begin at 2am on the last Sunday in October until 2am on the first Sunday in March the year following.

“No department foresees any great difficulty with the introduction of summer time nor with any flexible arrangements which might be introduced,” Cabinet papers read.

A summer time unit with three staff was established, with government agreeing that advertising the start of the period was needed so Queenslanders knew to wind their clocks forward an hour.

Gold Coast Mayor Lex Bell, Brisbane Mayor Jim Soorley and Albert Shire Mayor Bill Laver at Dreamworld campaigning for daylight saving. Picture: The Courier-Mail archives

But ultimately, daylight savings was not to be in Queensland, with the state abandoning it following a referendum in 1992.

Twenty-eight years on, Digital Economy Minister Leeanne Enoch said it wasn’t a priority of the Palaszczuk Government.

“The Premier’s obviously talked about this in past years, it’s not a priority of this government,” she said.

“It is interesting of course, many of my vintage will remember the trials of daylight saving and of course the ultimate referendum that saw the Queensland public say they didn’t want that but it’s not been a priority in the discussions thus far.”

Goss’ extraordinarily progressive agenda saw homosexuality decriminalised in 1991, after his Cabinet agreed in the previous year that the government needed to publicly clarify its position.

It followed protests which supported decriminalisation during the 1989 state election and into 1990.

On June 25, 1990, Cabinet decided that, “The Government’s view that reform of the laws in respect of acts committed by consenting adults in the privacy of their own homes is supported and will be considered as part of the list of reforms proposed by EARC.”

Acting Police Minister Bob Gibbs prepared a media statement detailing the government’s position while supporting street marches as long as they abided by the law and were not “designed to offend certain sections of the community”.

Wayne Goss pulls a beer in 1990. Picture: The Courier-Mail archives

On November 19, Cabinet decided a Bill should be prepared to decriminalise “certain sexual activities between consenting [male] adults” with the age of consent to be 18.

This was contrary to a recommendation from the Parliamentary Criminal Justice Committee which recommended the age be 16.

A Cabinet memorandum from November says the PCJC’s recommendations “are that the offences contained in the Criminal Code for this type of behaviour should be gender neutral and that the amendments should in no way adversely affect the existing law in relation to protecting children or the need to guide public decency.”

Supreme Court Justice Margaret Jean White.

Goss’ progressive agenda was also apparent with the creation of the Women’s Policy Branch, and on May 28, Cabinet decided the branch would be responsible for implementing government policy to improve the position of women across Queensland.

“The head of the Branch be known as the Director and Women’s Adviser to the Premier and that the position be a senior one with a level determined by CED assessment,” the Cabinet agreed.

And Margaret Jean White became the first woman to be appointed to a judicial office in Queensland in 1990, taking on the role as Master of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

“As the proposed Master would be the first female to be appointed to a judicial office in the history of this State, there will be considerable interest expressed in the appointment and in particular the appointment will be welcomed by various community groups and the general community,” Cabinet papers read.