Flashback: Sir Joh’s threat to colleagues as his final downfall began in October 1987

SIR Joh Bjelke-Petersen ruled Queensland with an iron fist for nearly 20 years. But when his colleagues demanded he retire, the conservative icon made a threat which shocked his fellow MPs.

Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen in late 1987 at the Parliamentary Annexe. Picture by Craig Shaw

THE FINAL downfall of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen was a long time coming and began 30 years ago this week.

The long-reigning premier had held the reins in Queensland for nearly 20 years but by October 1987, things were not going well.

Despite winning yet another term in power just a year earlier, Sir Joh found himself skating on thin ice and facing a revolt from his own party.

The long-time premier was facing his furious colleagues.

Central to their concern was his long absence from the state earlier in the year during his failed ‘Joh for PM’ campaign which ended up putting a full-stop the federal Liberal-National Coalition and keeping the Opposition from the government benches for another nine years.

The constant and astonishing revelations spinning out of the Fitzgerald Inquiry detail the government’s corrupt and close relationship with police and vice figures were also proving to be highly damaging.

After a particularly bad meeting of the parliamentary party on October 7, 1987, Sir Joh moved to avert the immediate threat of a leaderships spill by warning his colleagues ‘if I go, you go”.

He told the Nationals they would face another election if he was challenged for the leadership, sparking fears of a constitutional crisis.

But Gold Coast MP and Local Government Minster Russ Hinze, a self-declared contender for the premiership when Sir Joh retired, said he was prepared to bet on his boss opening Expo 88.

Sir Joh insisted on staying through Expo 88.

Under pressure, Sir Joh was forced to make a dramatic announcement — he would step down as Premier on August 8, 1988, his 20th anniversary in office.

“I was always against setting a date,” he said.

“However, to end confusion and speculation, I do so now.

“The date chosen means I will still play my role at Expo, also in the Cape York spaceport, the eastern European coal deals and a new coal port in our state and many other projects that are planned.”

Sir Joh thought he was averting his political funeral but he just put off the inevitable. Photo by Anne Livingston.

Two senior ministers and eight backbenchers told the Bulletin the August date was “unacceptable” to the party.

A backbencher said Sir Joh was so unpredictable he would not like to see him continue for nearly a year.

Some were so upset by his threat they were pushing for him to be gone before the end of parliamentary sittings that month.

Tom Burns with then-opposition leader Nev Wharburton. Picture by Peter Barnes.

Labor leader Nev Warburton asked Sir Joh if he had held preliminary discussions with the government about holding an early pole.

“Doesn’t this irresponsible threat of an election show that your only concern is, and has been, for yourself and not for Queensland as you would have people believe?” he asked.

The relief for Sir Joh would prove short-lived — he remained in office another seven weeks before he was forced out by his own colleagues.