The release of the 1993 Queensland Cabinet Minutes on New Years Day sheds light on the dynamic era led by Premier Wayne Goss, marking a significant chapter of transition and progress in Queensland’s history.
Against the backdrop of a changing world, the government addressed various issues relating to the environment, responses to the Mabo High Court decision, and the protection of whistleblowers.
Legal reforms in 1993 included the introduction of a new offence of stalking in the Criminal Code, which was developed in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Women’s Policy Unit and law enforcement agencies.
In the aftermath of the Fitzgerald Inquiry, whistleblower protection took centre stage, as well as the establishment of comprehensive parliamentary committees.
The Mabo decision of 1992 had profound implications, compelling the Queensland Government to develop interim administrative procedures post-June 30, 1993.
The government had to manage land and mining tenures validly while adhering to the principles of the Mabo decision.
Cabinet decisions in 1993 also highlight the government’s determination to protect the environment and Queensland’s heritage, including the relocation of the old Port Douglas courthouse, believed to be the state’s second oldest timber courthouse.
Minister Leeanne Enoch said the release of the 1993 Cabinet Minutes serves as an important window into the decision-making process of the Queensland Government in 1993.
“Whether it was expanding protections for whistleblowers, amendments to the Criminal Code introducing stalking as an offence, working out how to navigate land use and rights after the Mabo decision, and making changes to tree clearing laws as well as the strategic acquisition of the Starcke pastoral property in Cape York – these archived records provide a comprehensive view of a government navigating challenges, embracing reform and striving for a balance between economic development, environmental conservation, and social justice,” she said.
The Cabinet Minutes can be viewed at the Queensland State Archive, Runcorn, or online at www.archives.qld.gov.au from Tuesday 2 January 2024.
