Jamie Walker

264 Pages·2010·29.58 MB·English

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Bom in Ayr in 1963, Jamie Walker was educated in Townsville
and has studied economics at the University of Queensland.
After a cadetship on the Courier-Mail he worked for the Daily
Sun and was news editor of the South China Morning Post in
Hong Kong. He joined the Australian in 1989, establishing its
North Queensland bureau in Calms, and is currendy the paper s
biueau chief in Perth. He has also worked as a political reporter
for the Australian in the Canberra press gallery.
In memory of my grandmother, May O'Shea Walker,
and for my mother, Margaret, and my sister, Kath.
GOSS
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Jamie Walker
University of Queensland Press
JNIVERSITY OF QUEENSUANQ UBW«>
First published 1S)95 by University of Queensland Press
Box 42, St Lucia, Queensland 4067 Australia
©Jamie Walker 1995
This book is copyright. Apart from any fiiir dealing
for the purposes of private study, research, criticism
or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no
part may be reproduced by any process without written
permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher.
Typeset by University of Queensland Press
Printed in Australia by McPherson's Printing Group, Victoria
Distributed in the USA and Canada by
International Specialized Book Services, Inc.,
5 804 N. E. Hassalo Street, Pordand, Oregon 97213-3640
Cataloguing in Publication Data
National Library of Australia
Walker, Jamie Qames), 1963-
Goss: a political biography
Includes index.
1. Goss, Wayne. 2. Premiers — Queensland — Biography.
3. Queensland — Politics and government — 1965- . I. Tide.
994.3063092
ISBN 0 7022 2720 X
Author's Note
This is an autliorised biography. It has been researched with the
cooperation of Wayne and Roisin Goss, the Goss family and
their friends. The account is based largely on personal interviews
conducted by the author throughout 1994 and early 1995.
Other references are acknowledged in the text.
I wish to express my gratitude to the many people who helped
me with interviews, including members of the existing Goss
cabinet, serving and past MPs — on both sides of politics — a
number of federal ministers and dozens of others. I would also
like to thank Wayne Goss himself, who has given generously of
his time throughout the project. Goss, initially, was reluctant to
become involved. At our first meeting to discuss the book, he
told me that he was hesistant because of his desire to protect his
family's privacy. I think the reason he ultimately agreed to
cooperate, after consulting Roisin, was out of frustration with
his somewhat one-dimensional image. I have tried to put flesh
on the bones of the public persona. However, I should stress that
the opinions expressed in the book are mine alone.
I would also like to thank the following: the editors of the
Australian newspaper, especially Roy Eccleston, who allowed me
to juggle the research and writing of this account with my work
responsibilities; Patrick Hamilton and David Sproule, also of
the Australian, whose photographs grace the cover of the book;
copy person Miriam Sproule and editorial secretary Dodie
Cronin, both of whom provided invaluable assistance with
photocopying and other time-consuming tasks; Peta Blackford
for her tireless transcribing efforts; the librarians at the Courier-
Mail and News Ltd, Sydney; Wayne Sanderson, David Pagan,
vi Author's Note
Quentin Dempster, Paul Kelly, Manfred Cross and Phil Dickie
for reading the manuscript, in full or in part, and offering their
suggestions.
I am also indebted to Tenee Wakefield, without whose faith
and encouragement I would probably never have embarked on
this project, and to my tree-loving mate, Scott. Last, but by no
means least, my heartfelt thanks go to Kirsten MacGregor, who
somehow puts up with me.
Jamie Walker
June 1995
Contents
Authors note vi
Introduction xi
The Boy from Inala 1
Growing Up 12
The Revolutionary Socialist 20
Fighting the System 30
The Labor Lawyer 45
The Politician 58
Shake the Tree 71
Changing the Guard 85
Labor Leader 103
Premier 121
Waynes World 134
The Goss Paradox 145
The Armageddon Option 165
The Goss Gloss 187
Labor's Two Believers 205
Epilogue 223
Index 229