REMEMBER WHEN

IF THERE is one thing voters really hate, it’s politicians rorting the system.

Decades before Bronwyn Bishop took her notorious helicopter ride, state Opposition Leader Russell Cooper offered to refund $2500 after identifying himself as one of those mentioned in the Criminal Justice Commission report on travel entitlements.

The admission that he was “Member l” referred to in the document placed his leadership in jeopardy when the National Party decided to hold a special meeting following the declaration.

Mr Cooper revealed he was the politician who took his wife for a seven-day trip to Hamilton Island in 1986 to escape media speculation about his future.

According to the report, Mr Cooper refused to admit the journey was a holiday, claiming he was there on business.

“While at the island he was able to conduct inquiries in relation to tourism, and in particular, enhance his experience of island integrated resorts, this island being one of the first of this kind,” the report said. “Asked with whom he discussed these matters he could only nominate the name of the owner.”

Mr Cooper left the leadership of the National Party as a result of the scandal while several other ALP members were also caught up in the matter.

Mr Cooper remained on in parliament through the rest of the Goss Labor Government.

He then became Police Minister in the Borbidge Government, serving until the Coalition lost power in 1998.

He finally retired from parliament at the 2001 election after 18 years in politics.