A tribute to Sir Joh

Sir Joh was a great man indeed, in my estimation Queensland’s greatest. Sir Joh, or just Joh as he was affectionately known by thousands of Queenslanders, had a deep and abiding faith in God and an absolute commitment to his family.

This strong Christian faith and absolute commitment to his family underpinned and guided the values which Sir Joh not only believed, but also practiced in his day to day life - either in his early upbringing, with its associated pre-depression hardships, or his battle with polio or his daylight to midnight work ethic, which he practised as a young man and later as an MP, a minister and the Premier.

Sir Joh believed absolutely, that you mean what you say and you do what you say.

These values drove an enormous energy, which achieved extraordinary things within the community, whether it be local, state, or for that matter nationally.

He was this State's longest serving premier and that was no accident. Sir Joh was the architect of modern Queensland. Sir Joh became premier in the year that I was born and was premier for the first two decades of my life. Therefore his effect on me was profound.

I like many of my colleagues were drawn to his values and his no-nonsense get-on-with-the-job style. Even if you disagreed with him, you respected him, because he knew were he stood on every issue. On balance you could be assured that what he did would be good for Queensland and would be good for Queenslanders.

In the last week, the usual grab bag of historical revisionists, who questioned Sir Joh’s contribution in life, continue to question it after his passing. If they are having trouble understanding his success, it is as simple as this. Sir Joh knew what was important to the everyday Queenslander and delivered what was important to everyday Queenslanders.

This grab bag of historical revisionists would never accept his success, because it was outside their self cloaked paradigm of intellectual superiority. These historical revisionists, who will never achieve even 1 per cent of his extraordinary legacy, should never be taken seriously.

The only people that never make a mistake are the people that never do anything. To be successful in politics, you must understand what people actually want - to have an affinity for them and with them and to deliver for them.

Sir Joh was a man of the people, who delivered like no other premier, for the people. During Sir Joh's premiership, Queenslanders wanted safer communities. Sir Joh delivered safer communities.

During Sir Joh’s premiership, Queenslanders wanted a free hospital system, which was efficient. Sir Joh delivered a free hospital system, which was efficient.

During Sir Joh’s premiership, Queenslanders wanted a low tax state. Sir Joh delivered a low tax state.

During Sir Joh’s premiership, Queenslanders wanted Sir Joh to build dams, roads, bridges and railway lines. Sir Joh delivered, he built dams, roads, bridges and railway lines.

Sir Joh’s numerous achievements also include defying the doomsayers and abolishing death duties in Queensland, forcing all other Australian Governments to follow - for this alone, the whole country should be eternally grateful.

During Sir Joh’s term as premier he oversaw the construction of Griffith and James Cook Universities; he secured Expo 88 for Queensland; the one and only Indigenous person ever elected to the Queensland Parliament was elected as a member of the Nationals in 1974; the first woman cabinet minister Yvonne Chapman was sworn in; South Brisbane’s vast cultural precinct, including the Art Gallery, Performing Arts centre and Museum were constructed. Sir Joh trebled the area of Queensland’s National Parks.

He passionately promoted the Sunshine State as Australia’s prime tourist destination and a great place to live. He also opened up the states enormous mineral resource potential.

Sir Joh also achieved much, much more. Sir Joh just didn’t govern Queensland, he built Queensland.

By anyone’s estimation the mark of a successful premier is to leave an indelible print on your state, Sir Joh has done that and he has done it for the better.

Sir Joh and Lady Flo where a great team - an unbelievable partnership, in marriage, in family, in politics, in service and in the community.

To Lady Flo and the Bjelke-Petersen family, I simply say thank you for letting Queenslanders be a part of your life, in the good times and the sad times.

Sir Joh hasn’t been premier of this great state for almost a generation, yet he is talked about by Queenslanders, including young Queenslanders, as though he was premier just yesterday.

Most politicians, including premiers are hardly mentioned even a term after their departure from the political stage but not Sir Joh, his name is still there larger than life.

Whilst he sadly no longer graces us with his physical presence, Sir Joh’s great contribution to this state, to his local community and his family, will live on for generations to come and for that all Queenslanders will be forever grateful.