REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Thursday, June 7, 1984

THE Coast’s theme parks were in the firing line of the BjelkePetersen government.

The State Government ordered a full report into the conduct of Sea World and Andalucia Park over breaches to Anzac Day trading laws.

Both opened their gates at normal times rather than the state-mandated start of 1.30pm and were subsequently threatened with legal action.

The government’s initial posturing, however, did not amount to much, with employment and industrial affairs minister Vince Lester forced to admit there was insufficient evidence to mount a prosecution.

The decision prompted ridicule from the Labor opposition as well as local National Party MP Doug Jennings.

Opposition leader Keith Wright called for the government to prosecute or change the law.

“My personal view is we should not have to restrict trade that way,” he said.

“But if it is a constraint of law my interest is in why certain people are allowed to continue and others are not.

“It is strange there is not enough evidence given thousands of people supposedly flocked to the parks.”

About 5000 people attended Sea World on Anzac Day 1984.

Under the laws, race courses were exempted and were allowed to open from 12.30pm.

State RSL president Sir Albert Abbott demanded a full explanation from Mr Lester.

The standoff over Anzac Day trading continued into the late 1980s when regulations over businesses was finally loosened.