60-464: Anna Bligh was sworn in as Premier of Queensland on 13 September 2007 with her first ministry, replacing Peter Beattie , who had retired from politics, and his ministry . She subsequently won the 2009 state election with a reduced majority against the newly merged Liberal National Party of Queensland . Shortly thereafter, on 26 March 2009, Bligh reshuffled the ministry. She conducted a second reshuffle on 21 February 2011. Following her party's loss at
120-607: A Labor Party MLA in 1983 for the electoral district of Salisbury and, from 1986 onwards, for Logan . Along with others, Goss was a key figure in the 1970s–1980s civil liberties fight against the Bjelke-Petersen Government , pursuing legal and political strategies against Bjelke-Petersen. He was elected Leader of the Opposition in March 1988. Goss led Labor into the 1989 state election against
180-401: A September party-room coup, two months before the writ was dropped. Goss seized on National ads that argued his plans to decriminalise homosexuality would result in gays flooding into Queensland. He replied with ads painting Cooper as a wild-eyed reactionary and a carbon copy of Bjelke-Petersen. Goss and Labor won a strong majority government at the 1989 election, scoring a 24-seat swing,
240-555: A customer's credit rating. Bligh described the loan deferrals as “a multi-billion dollar lifeline” for customers. Bligh attributed the banks’ response to COVID-19 to their strong “financial firepower” and their role in the wake of the Royal Commission. On 8 June 2013, Bligh announced that she had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma . Bligh's memoir, " Through The Wall ", was published in April 2015. In 2017, Bligh
300-426: A government from office in an election. The next day, with Labor's defeat beyond doubt, Bligh announced she was retiring from politics. She had intended to stay in parliament, but said that the severity of Labor's defeat made her realise the party could not "develop an effective opposition" with her even as a backbencher. She resigned as both premier and state Labor leader that day, and handed her resignation to Wensley
360-612: A likely successor to the long-running Premier Peter Beattie , and he publicly endorsed her as his replacement when he announced his retirement from politics on 10 September 2007. She was subsequently nominated unopposed by the Labor caucus in a deal that saw Paul Lucas from the Right faction succeed her as Deputy Premier. She became the leader of the Labor Party on 12 September. After Beattie formally resigned on 13 September 2007, Bligh
420-525: A member of a business task force dealing with the aftermath of the 2010-11 Queensland floods . He lived in Brisbane with his wife, Roisin (née Hirschfeld). Roisin's father was Konrad Hirschfeld (a Rhodes Scholar in 1927) and her grandfather Eugen Hirschfeld (a member of the first University of Queensland Senate in 1910). Wayne and Roisin Goss had two children, Ryan and Caitlin, both of whom attended
480-404: A number of changes, including; Bligh announced the privatisation of five government owned corporations: More than 3,000 workers were to be offered voluntary redundancies, just three months after the privatisation of QR National. Queensland Motorways Limited and Forestry Plantations Queensland were not being sold, but rather being leased for an estimated 50-year lease. Since this announcement,
540-449: A positive 49–43. Bligh's recovery in the polls was a factor behind Langbroek being forced to stand down in favour of Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman . Newman had become a national figure during the floods, and polling showed he was the only non-Labor politician who even came close to matching Bligh's popularity during that time. However, Newman was not a member of parliament, and a by-election could not be arranged to allow him to get
600-479: A result of this, as well as the increasing unpopularity of Goss's management style (widely thought to be authoritarian) and growing anger at the federal Labor government, Labor was severely punished at the polls. Notably, it lost several seats in Brisbane's Bayside area, known as 'the koala seats' because of the passion stirred up by a belief that the new road would destroy the habitat of koalas . While Labor lost
660-622: A right-to-march rally in King George Square where people were being hit over the head by the police. Bligh's first involvement in activism was student protests against the Vice-Chancellor Brian Wilson's controversial administrative restructuring within the university. She then went on to be involved in the Women's Rights Collective which campaigned for legalised abortion against the anti-abortion policies of
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#1732793263427720-535: A seat in the chamber. For this reason, Jeff Seeney was elected as interim parliamentary leader of the LNP while Newman led the LNP's election team and simultaneously contested the Labor-held seat of Ashgrove . Bligh harshly criticised Newman's move, saying it was irresponsible for Newman to "cut and run" from his post as Lord Mayor while Queensland was still rebuilding. She also hinted that she might call an election
780-479: A state funeral, a private funeral was held, and a public memorial service was organised by the family at the upper level open spaces areas of the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art . Goss's wife Roisin shared recollections about his life as a private citizen and his favourite saying at family gatherings or just lounging outside on a sunny day: "This Is Good". Close friend and former State Attorney-General,
840-484: A year before it was due. She had previously promised not to call an election for 2011 to focus on recovery, but was concerned that the unorthodox leadership arrangement on the opposition side could make the co-operation necessary for the recovery effort impossible. On 25 January, Bligh announced an election for 24 March. It was the first time in Queensland history that the voters knew the election date in advance of
900-461: The 2010–11 Queensland floods was widely approved. Labor had been well behind the LNP, led by John-Paul Langbroek , for most of the time since the fall of 2010. However, the following Newspoll saw a record turnaround in Bligh and Labor's fortunes. Labor rose from a two-party deficit of 41–59 to a lead of 52–48, with Bligh's personal satisfaction-dissatisfaction standing going from a negative 24–67 to
960-709: The 2012 election suffered a landslide defeat and announced her retirement from politics. From 2010 to 2011, Bligh was National President of the Australian Labor Party . Bligh was born in Warwick, Queensland . She is a descendant of William Bligh , who is famous for the Mutiny on the Bounty and being the 4th Governor of New South Wales . Bligh grew up on the Gold Coast . Her parents separated when she
1020-504: The 2012 state election , she soon resigned as Premier to make way for the Newman Ministry . The first Bligh ministry was sworn in on 13 September 2007. On 26 March 2009, following the 2009 election , Bligh's reshuffled ministry was sworn in. Bligh again reshuffled the ministry on 21 February 2011. Anna Bligh Anna Maria Bligh AC (born 14 July 1960) is an Australian lobbyist and former politician who served as
1080-535: The Bjelke-Petersen government . Bligh's next role was as Women's vice-president of the Student Union . She then ran an election ticket called EAT (Education Action Team) in an unsuccessful bid to oust the faction in charge, headed by the future Goss government identity David Barbagallo . Law student Paul Lucas , Bligh's future deputy premier, was a part of Barbagallo's team. Her 1982 team included
1140-551: The Hon. Matt Foley gave a detailed testimonial about Goss's friendship and their days in political office. Over a thousand mourners attended the service, some accommodated in overflow rooms with views to monitors and speakers. A central building at the Griffith University Logan City campus is named after Goss in recognition of his work as an “education visionary”. The rainforest tree genus Gossia in
1200-667: The Liberal Party (the two non-Labor parties went out of coalition in 1983, but resumed the coalition after the 1992 election). Before the 1995 election the Goss Government announced a plan to clear sensitive bushland for an alternative to one of south-east Queensland's major roadways. This prompted the Greens Party to do something it had never done before: it recommended that its supporters not give their second preference, on voting ballots, to Labor. Partly as
1260-491: The National Party government of Russell Cooper . The Queensland Nationals were still reeling from revelations of the rampant corruption of longtime premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen , and polls showed Labor had its best chance of winning power in years. Labor had been in opposition since 1957 , and last made a serious bid for government in 1972 . Cooper had toppled Bjelke-Petersen's immediate successor, Mike Ahern , in
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#17327932634271320-578: The Parliament of Australia . In marking Goss' death, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described Goss as Queensland's "greatest postwar Premier"; former Premier Peter Beattie described Goss as "Labor’s best premier since T. J. Ryan in 1915"; former Premier Anna Bligh stated that "Wayne Goss was the father of modern Queensland". The then Liberal National Premier Campbell Newman acknowledged Goss' "amazing contribution to Queensland". Instead of
1380-694: The Queensland Art Gallery for 3 terms from 1999 until 2008, a period which included the development of the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), and served a term as a Director of the Brisbane Broncos NRL rugby league team. Goss received a Centenary Medal in 2001. In business, Goss served as National Chairman of the Australian section of Deloitte from 2005–2013. Goss was also Chairman of engineering firm Ausenco from 2002 until 2013. From 2003 to 2007, Goss
1440-487: The Queensland Legislative Assembly at the 1995 state election , winning the seat of South Brisbane . She was promoted to the ministry in 1998, under Peter Beattie , and became deputy premier in 2005 and state treasurer in 2006. Bligh succeeded Beattie as premier in 2007 – Queensland's first female premier and Australia's third. She led Labor to victory at the 2009 state election , but at
1500-776: The Queensland Public Service . Bligh was the secretary of the Labor Party's Fairfield branch in 1987. Bligh was first elected to parliament at the 1995 election to the safe Labor seat of South Brisbane , succeeding Anne Warner . A member of the Socialist Left faction of the Labor Party, she was promoted to the ministry following the election of the Beattie government in 1998 as Minister for Families, Youth and Community Care and Disability Services. In 2001, Bligh became Queensland's first female Education Minister. She assumed additional responsibility for
1560-522: The writ of election for South Brisbane was returned, meaning that a by-election would be too late to coincide with the Brisbane City Council election. But on 2 April, she was declared the winner, and a writ was subsequently issued for the by-election. In 2014, Bligh was appointed CEO of YWCA New South Wales , a not-for-profit organisation striving to end domestic violence and build a safer world for women and children. In 2017, she
1620-493: The 35-day campaign. She began the race as an underdog ; the LNP had regained a substantial lead in polling since Newman took the leadership. Bligh was dogged throughout the campaign by the perception that she'd misled voters about the asset sales. With Labor sinking in the polls, Bligh conceded in a 13 March interview with the Brisbane Times that in all likelihood, Labor would not be re-elected. The final Newspoll of
1680-619: The 37th Premier of Queensland , in office from 2007 to 2012 as leader of the Queensland Labor Party . She was the first woman to hold either position. In 2017, she was appointed CEO of the Australian Banking Association . Bligh was born in Warwick, Queensland , and studied at the University of Queensland . Before entering politics she worked for various community organisations. Bligh entered
1740-550: The Arts portfolio in 2004. As Education Minister, Bligh introduced a number of reforms, including a universally available Prep year in every Queensland Primary school, which added a thirteenth year of education and brought Queensland schooling into line with other Australian States for the first time. She lifted the entry age of schooling, while also transforming early childhood education which led to an increase in kindergarten programs from 28% of 3-4 year olds to 94%. Bligh also oversaw
1800-401: The Australian Labor Party for the 2010–11 financial year. Bligh's leadership came to national and international attention in 2011 as she led the response and recovery effort to devastating natural disasters – a series of catastrophic floods across 78% of Queensland, including Brisbane – followed by a category 5 cyclone. In an emotion-charged speech during a media conference at the height of
1860-544: The Coalition's Frank Tanti . However, several irregularities were discovered, the most serious being that several servicemen serving in Rwanda did not have their votes counted. The Supreme Court of Queensland , sitting as a Court of Disputed Returns , ordered a by-election for February 1996, which Tanti won. This outcome brought about a hung Parliament , with both the Coalition and Labor on 44 seats. The balance of power
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1920-454: The House gave him a standing ovation on his return from surgery —Goss retired from politics at the 1998 Queensland state election . After his retirement from politics, Goss served in a variety of community and business roles. He was awarded an MBA at the University of Queensland . Goss was also awarded honorary doctorates (DUniv) by QUT and Griffith University . Goss was Chairman of
1980-536: The International Banking Federation (IBFed). Wayne Goss Wayne Keith Goss (26 February 1951 – 10 November 2014) was Premier of Queensland from 7 December 1989 until 19 February 1996, becoming the first Labor Premier of the state in over thirty two years. Prior to entering politics, Goss was a solicitor , and after leaving politics he served as Chairman of the Queensland Art Gallery and Chairman of Deloitte Australia. He
2040-554: The Labor Party on 19 February 1996, Goss returned to the back benches of the Opposition under new Opposition Leader Peter Beattie and assumed something of an "elder statesman" role. He had begun the process of seeking preselection as the Labor candidate for the federal seat of Oxley in the 1998 election . However, a diagnosis of a brain tumour (uneventfully, partially removed) forced him to scale back his activities. Despite support from both sides of Parliament—evidenced when
2100-500: The Queensland ALP's eighth consecutive election win; the party has been in government for all but two years since 1989. In winning the election, Bligh became Australia's first popularly elected female premier. The two previous female premiers, Carmen Lawrence ( Western Australia 1990–93) and Joan Kirner ( Victoria 1990–92), became premiers following the resignation of male premiers (as Bligh did), but both were defeated at
2160-565: The Queensland Government announced plans to sell Queensland Rail to the public. Revenues from privatisation were estimated at $ 15 billion, to go towards balancing Queensland's state budget. The sale of these assets aimed at removing significant overheads from the Queensland government's debt portfolio, allowing further growth of the government's capital assets, as well as aiding the government to return to its AAA credit rating. Bligh faced resistance from both within her party and
2220-540: The Queensland public service, created new National Parks and oversaw a new regime of economic and budgetary management" It also introduced social reforms such as decriminalising homosexuality, appointing Queensland's first female Governor , abolishing the Queensland Police Special Branch and Imperial honours , and made provision "to buy thousands of extra university places and hire thousands of new teachers". Goss' Chief of Staff as Premier
2280-534: The University of Queensland and were awarded Rhodes Scholarships to attend the University of Oxford in 2007 and 2009 respectively. Goss battled a recurrent brain tumour for 17 years, undergoing four operations to manage it. He died aged 63 at his home in Brisbane on 10 November 2014, with his wife and children present. Condolence motions were moved in the Queensland Parliament and in
2340-421: The campaign appeared to confirm this, showing Labor's support had sunk to only 39.2 percent. At 24 March election, Labor suffered one of the largest electoral wipeouts in Australian history, and the worst defeat that a sitting government in Queensland has ever suffered, double the previous record-holder of the 1989 election . Labor was reduced from 51 seats to seven, suffering a swing of more than 15 points. This
2400-498: The crisis, Bligh rallied the state, declaring, "We are Queenslanders. We're the people that they breed tough, north of the border." Bligh led a major reconstruction program, including a legislated Reconstruction Authority administering a $ 6bn rebuilding budget. As Treasurer and Premier, Bligh held responsibility for a state budget of almost $ 50 billion. Her reforms include: As Minister for Families, Youth and Community Care and Disability Services and later as Premier, Bligh oversaw
2460-640: The following respective state elections. However, Bligh is not Australia's first popularly elected female head of government. Rosemary Follett and Kate Carnell were both popularly elected as Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory , and Clare Martin was elected as Chief Minister of the Northern Territory . In 2009, Bligh was elected to the three person presidential team of the Australian Labor Party, to serve until July 2012. She served as National President of
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2520-530: The former Minister for Education, Training and the Arts Rod Welford . Anne Warner , who was a future Minister in the Goss Government , was an office holder at the time in the Union. Warner soon become one of Bligh's key political mentors. She subsequently worked in a number of community organisations, including child care services, neighbourhood centres, women's refuges and trade unions as well as in
2580-525: The implementation of many of the reforms of the landmark Fitzgerald Inquiry into police corruption . The Goss Government introduced several electoral and public sector reforms, the most notable being the elimination of the " Bjelkemander " malapportionment that had helped keep the Queensland Nationals in power. In addition to reforming the state’s electoral laws and boundaries, the Goss Government "introduced merit-based appointments to
2640-585: The industry from a selling culture to a service culture. She oversaw the development of an updated Banking Code of Practice and worked with the industry to deliver significant reform. In 2020, Bligh led the banking sector's response to COVID-19. For the first time, Australian banks agreed to a unified response to assist customers experiencing hardship as a result of the pandemic. Banks agreed to pause loan repayments on almost one million mortgage and business loans for at least six months. The ABA also worked with regulators to ensure that deferred loans would not affect
2700-721: The introduction of “Earning or Learning” laws, requiring all young people aged 15 to 17 to be enrolled in school or in full-time work – effectively lifting the school leaving age from 15 to 17 - the first such laws in Australia. In July 2005, the retirement of the Deputy Premier and Treasurer Terry Mackenroth forced a cabinet reshuffle, which saw Bligh promoted to the office of Deputy Premier and Minister for Finance, State Development, Trade and Innovation. Bligh's appointment as Deputy Premier coincided with her election to parliament ten years earlier. Bligh had long been touted as
2760-480: The parliament being dissolved. Bligh made this decision after learning that the Commission of Inquiry into the 2010–11 Queensland floods would not release its final report until 16 March, rather than the middle of February as originally planned. She wanted Queenslanders to see the report before they went to the polls. Bligh asked Governor Penny Wensley to dissolve parliament on 19 February, formally beginning
2820-605: The popular vote to the Rob Borbidge -led Coalition, Labor managed to win 31 out of 40 seats in Brisbane while most of the Coalition's majority was wasted on large majorities in National heartland. This seemingly allowed Labor to salvage a knife-edge majority of one seat. After the 1995 election, Labor's majority hung on the Townsville seat of Mundingburra , which had been won by Labor's Ken Davies by only 12 votes over
2880-413: The same afternoon, to take effect from 30 March 2012. Bligh had intended that the timing of her resignation would allow a by-election to be held on 28 April 2012, the same day as local government elections. She was ultimately succeeded as state Labor leader by her Transport Minister, Annastacia Palaszczuk . Later reports suggested that Bligh would not be able to formally resign from Parliament until
2940-464: The subsequent federal election; it was cut down to only two seats there, its worst result in the state since being reduced to only one seat in 1975 . Goss later said that Queensland voters had turned so violently on then-Prime Minister Paul Keating that they had been "sitting on their verandas with baseball bats" waiting for the writs to drop, a phrase that has since entered the Australian political lexicon. After resigning as Premier and Leader of
3000-492: The trade union movement, but defended her privatisation plan as 'not negotiable'. The 2009 annual state conference of the Australian Labor Party – Queensland Branch, passed a motion, moved by then Treasurer Andrew Fraser MP, seconded by Parliamentary Secretary for Healthy Living Murray Watt MP, supporting the sale of the assets, recognising that the sale would allow the Queensland Government to grow its asset portfolio, and retire debt. Bligh's management of and performance during
3060-566: The worst defeat of a sitting government up until that time in Queensland. This was fuelled by a massive Labor wave that swept through Brisbane; Labor won all but five of the capital's 36 seats. His election win, which ended 32 years of Coalition /National Party rule, was seen as "the end of the Bjelke-Petersen era" and the beginning of a new era, with The Courier-Mail declaring "Goss the Boss". Once installed in office, he presided over
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#17327932634273120-484: Was 13. She attended Catholic schools until Year 9 and considered becoming a nun . One of her aunts became a nun and another had entered a convent. However, the church's attitude towards divorced people (her mother was no longer permitted to take Communion) reportedly estranged her and her mother from the church. Studying at the University of Queensland from 1978, Bligh gained a Bachelor of Arts . Bligh traces her politicisation to her first year at University, observing
3180-553: Was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to the Parliament of Queensland, particularly as Premier, to infrastructure development and education reform, as an advocate for the role of women in public life, and to the not-for-profit sector. Bligh holds Honorary Doctorates from the University of Queensland and Griffith University. She is a non-executive director of Medibank Private and a board member of
3240-659: Was born at Mundubbera , Queensland , and grew up at Inala where he was educated at Inala State High School and the University of Queensland where he earned a bachelor of laws degree. He worked as a solicitor and then with the Aboriginal Legal Service before setting up his own practice, but did not become a member of the Australian Labor Party until the dismissal of Gough Whitlam in November 1975. Goss entered state politics as
3300-483: Was former diplomat Kevin Rudd , later leader of the federal Labor Party and Prime Minister of Australia , and Goss' 1989 campaign director was Wayne Swan , subsequently Deputy Prime Minister of Australia . Glyn Davis also worked in senior roles during the Goss governments. Goss won a second term at the 1992 state election, maintaining the same 19-seat majority he won in 1989 over the National Party and
3360-472: Was held by Gladstone 's newly elected Independent member, Liz Cunningham . Nine days after the by-election, Cunningham announced that she was going to support the Coalition on the floor of Parliament, leaving Goss with no alternative but to resign as Premier on 19 February 1996. Goss' defeat proved to be a harbinger of federal Labor's massive defeat in the federal election held a month later . Federal Labor suffered particularly heavy losses in Queensland at
3420-518: Was largely because of a near-total meltdown in Brisbane, which had been Labor's power base for over two decades. The party lost all but three of its seats in the capital, in some cases suffering swings of over 10 percent. Bligh herself suffered a 9-point swing in South Brisbane, and she only overcame her LNP challenger on Green preferences. Ten members of her cabinet were defeated. It was only the sixth time since 1915 that Queenslanders have thrown
3480-558: Was made CEO of the Australian Banking Association . As CEO, Bligh led the industry's response to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry , setting out to strengthen bank culture and rebuild trust. When the Royal Commission interim report was released, Bligh described it as a “day of shame” for the industry and vowed to do “whatever it takes” to regain trust and move
3540-506: Was on the board of Ingeus Limited , the company founded by Thérèse Rein , the wife of former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd , his former chief-of-staff. Further, Goss was Chairman of FreeTV Australia , the lobby group representing the free-to-air television companies in Australia, from 2008 until 2011. Goss was also an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation , and
3600-462: Was sworn in by the then Governor Quentin Bryce . Bligh led Labor to victory in the 2009 state election . Bligh lost eight seats from the large majority she'd inherited from Beattie, and also suffered an eight-percent swing on the two-party vote. Nonetheless, due largely to taking 34 out of 40 seats in Brisbane, Labor still won 51 seats out of 89, enough for a comfortable majority. The election marked
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