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The first overt opposition to the Country party's dominance from within the Liberal party came from [[John Murray (Queensland politician)|John Murray]], the member for [[Electoral district of Clayfield|Clayfield]], in 1964. Murray publicly criticised the land policy of the government, as well as the Country party's dominance of government business in the legislature, which often disadvantaged the Liberals just as much as the nominal Labor opposition. At around the same time, the Liberal party had begun establishing local branches in Country party held seats, particularly on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], a development that some in the Country party found provocative.<ref name="reynolds" /> |
The first overt opposition to the Country party's dominance from within the Liberal party came from [[John Murray (Queensland politician)|John Murray]], the member for [[Electoral district of Clayfield|Clayfield]], in 1964. Murray publicly criticised the land policy of the government, as well as the Country party's dominance of government business in the legislature, which often disadvantaged the Liberals just as much as the nominal Labor opposition. At around the same time, the Liberal party had begun establishing local branches in Country party held seats, particularly on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], a development that some in the Country party found provocative.<ref name="reynolds" /> |
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Further discontent became evident following the 1968 by-election in the seat of [[Electoral district of Landsborough|Landsborough]], caused by the retirement of former Country party Premier [[Frank Nicklin]]. While Landsborough was at the time a regional seat, nearby urban growth was changing the demographics of the area, and some in the Liberal party began to agitate for a Liberal party member to run at the election. This was theoretically permitted by the coalition agreement with the Country party, which permitted so-called "three cornered contests" where there was no sitting member in place. After heated debate at the party's convention, Liberal party President Dr A. W. Hartwig declared that the party would not contest the election, but then added that he personally disagreed with the decision. [[Charles Porter]], an MLA who would later become identified with the Ginger Group, declared that the decision not to contest the election was "flabby, craven, and lacking in confidence."<ref name="reynolds" /> |
Further discontent became evident following the 1968 by-election in the seat of [[Electoral district of Landsborough|Landsborough]], caused by the retirement of former Country party Premier [[Frank Nicklin]]. While Landsborough was at the time a regional seat, nearby urban growth was changing the demographics of the area, and some in the Liberal party began to agitate for a Liberal party member to run at the election. This was theoretically permitted by the coalition agreement with the Country party, which permitted so-called "three cornered contests" where there was no sitting member in place. After heated debate at the party's convention, Liberal party President Dr A. W. Hartwig declared that the party would not contest the election, but then added that he personally disagreed with the decision. [[Charles Porter (Australian politician)|Charles Porter]], an MLA who would later become identified with the Ginger Group, declared that the decision not to contest the election was "flabby, craven, and lacking in confidence."<ref name="reynolds" /> |
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==Rebellion and takeover== |
==Rebellion and takeover== |
Revision as of 14:01, 27 June 2011
The ginger group, in Queensland politics was a group of Liberal Party of Australia MLAs during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, who despite nominally being a part of the government, were opposed to some of the policies of their senior coalition party, the National Party of Australia. Initially a small informal grouping within the Liberal party, the group came to wield greater and greater power within the Liberal partyroom, culminating in Terry White's leadership challenge in 1983, and the party's subsequent defeat and loss of influence at the 1983 election.
Background
After the second world war, the politics of the Australian state of Queensland was dominated by the Australian Labor Party and the Country Party. A system of electoral malapportionment meant that regional areas held significantly more political power in the Legislative Assembly than their populations would have suggested. This arrangement initially benefited the Labor party, but beginning in the 1950s, voting patterns in rural and regional electorates began to shift and the Country party came to dominate state politics. In the middle was the Liberal party, whose support base was concentrated in the urban areas of the state capital Brisbane, and who were at a significant electoral disadvantage from the malapportionment.[1][2]
The coalition between the Country party and the Liberals was harmonious at first, as both were determined to drive the Labor party from office and establish a conservative government in their place. The first indications of trouble came in 1963, when the Liberal party insisted on the introduction of preferential voting in Queensland. The Country Party resisted this move, fearing that a change in the electoral system would work against their electoral interests. These fears were confirmed to be baseless at the 1963 election, when it was shown that preferential voting did not noticeably alter the outcome in all but a few seats, and the Country party dropped their opposition. Nevertheless, the dispute showed that there was the potential for disagreement between the two electoral allies.[3]
Growth
The first overt opposition to the Country party's dominance from within the Liberal party came from John Murray, the member for Clayfield, in 1964. Murray publicly criticised the land policy of the government, as well as the Country party's dominance of government business in the legislature, which often disadvantaged the Liberals just as much as the nominal Labor opposition. At around the same time, the Liberal party had begun establishing local branches in Country party held seats, particularly on the Gold Coast, a development that some in the Country party found provocative.[3]
Further discontent became evident following the 1968 by-election in the seat of Landsborough, caused by the retirement of former Country party Premier Frank Nicklin. While Landsborough was at the time a regional seat, nearby urban growth was changing the demographics of the area, and some in the Liberal party began to agitate for a Liberal party member to run at the election. This was theoretically permitted by the coalition agreement with the Country party, which permitted so-called "three cornered contests" where there was no sitting member in place. After heated debate at the party's convention, Liberal party President Dr A. W. Hartwig declared that the party would not contest the election, but then added that he personally disagreed with the decision. Charles Porter, an MLA who would later become identified with the Ginger Group, declared that the decision not to contest the election was "flabby, craven, and lacking in confidence."[3]
Rebellion and takeover
As time wore on, and the period of Country party dominance continued, some figures within the Liberal party became more and more outspoken in their opposition to government policy. Discontent arose from differences of opinion on policies (including on then-premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen's controversial street march policies, and the midnight destruction of Brisbane's Belle Vue Hotel), as well as Liberal resentment at their junior status within the coalition. In 1975, the Country party changed its name to the National Country Party, and later to the National Party, in an attempt to attract voters in urban areas a move that made them an electoral threat in the eyes of some Liberals. However, the Liberal party leaders of the era, William Knox and later Llew Edwards adopted a "wait and see" approach, preferring to wait until the popular Bjelke-Petersen's retirement or electoral defeat before making a move against the Nationals.[4]
The Ginger Group were not happy with this approach however, and continued to make public their opposition to many government policies. In 1982, they were sufficiently emboldened that Angus Innes, a leading member of the group and the member for Sherwood challenged Edwards for the leadership of the Liberal party. Bjelke-Petersen publicly stated that he would not work in a coalition with Innes leading the Liberal Party, and that he would form a minority government if necessary. Edwards was able to defeat the challenge, but the close margin (12-10)[5] showed that the Ginger Group was gaining increasing power and influence within the Party.[4]
At this point, although the Ginger Group was never a formal faction within the party, the following MLAs were widely perceived to be a part of the group:[4]
- Angus Innes, member for Sherwood
- Terry White, member for Redcliffe
- Guelf Scassola, member for Mt Gravatt
- Ian Prentice, member for Toowong
- Terry Gygar, member for Stafford
- Rosemary Kyburz, member for Salisbury
- Rob Akers, member for Pine Rivers
- Bill Hewitt, member for Greenslopes
All eight represented electoral districts either in or near to Brisbane. White and Hewitt were ministers[6], and the group was supported from outside parliament by John Herron, then the state president of the Liberal Party.[7]
1983 election
Matters came to a head in 1983 when the Ginger Group crossed the floor of parliament over the establishment of a public accounts committee, which had been longstanding demand. Bjelke-Petersen was furious, and Edwards quickly sacked White from his cabinet portfolio over the affair. White, in turn, challenged Edwards for leadership of the party, which he managed to secure with the assistance of the other Ginger Group members. Angus Innes was at the same time elected deputy leader. Like with Innes however, Bjelke-Petersen was not willing to work with White, and dissolved the coalition agreement between the parties. In response, White moved the Liberal party to the crossbenches, but Bjelke-Petersen advised the Governor to adjourn parliament, so a National party minority government was able to remain in place until the election without having to face any confidence motions from White.[8]
The subsequent 1983 election was disastrous for the Liberal party and the Ginger Group, with the party losing fourteen seats and being reduced to only eight members, two of whom defected to the National party shortly after the election. Significantly, from the Ginger Group, only White and Innes survived, with both of them being blamed by the media and many supporters for the loss.[9] Bjelke-Petersen was able to form government in his own right, and the coalition agreement with the Liberals was not reformed. White resigned as leader soon afterwards[9], although Innes later managed to become leader of the Liberal party in time for the 1989 election, which saw the Labor party take power for the first time in decades.[10]
See also
References
- ^ Short, John. An Introduction to Political Geography. Routledge. pp. 123–124. ISBN 9780203418727.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Ross. A history of Queensland: from 1915 to the 1980s. University of Queensland. pp. 260–261. ISBN 9780702219573.
- ^ a b c Reynolds, Paul (2002). Lock, stock & barrel: a political biography of Mike Ahern. University of Queensland Press. ISBN 9780702232947.
- ^ a b c Wear, Rae (2002). Johannes Bjelke-Petersen: the Lord's premier. University of Queensland Press. pp. 164–165. ISBN 9780702233043.
- ^ Whitton, Evan (1989). "19". The Hillbilly Dictator. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ "Queensland Parliament Members Register" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
- ^ "Coalition ends with a bang". The Age. 19 August 1983. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
- ^ Australian politics and government: the commonwealth, the states, and the territories. Cambridge University Press. 2003. p. 97. ISBN 9780521532051.
{{cite book}}
: Cite uses deprecated parameter|authors=
(help) - ^ a b Koch, Tony (2010). A Prescription for Change, The Terry White Story. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press. ISBN 9780702237423.
- ^ Goss, Wayne. "Parliamentary Committees in Queensland" (PDF). p. 5. Retrieved 14 February 2010.