REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Friday, December 6, 1991

THE Criminal Justice Commission was hampered by state MPs during its year-long investigation into travel allowances, said its chairman Sir Max Bingham.

“There were intimidations and threats from George Street in a number of subtle and notso-subtle ways,” Sir Max said.

He said he had been “saddened, but not surprised” by the politicians’ evasive strategies. Some had initially refused to co-operate or claimed they had destroyed documentation after losing office or destroyed it after moving from opposition to government in 1989.

“But we have no real evidence of destruction of a paper trail because I don’t think there was a proper trail in the first place,’’ he said.

However, Sir Max said state MPs and former politicians who had abused travel entitlements would not be prosecuted because “Queensland has seen enough blood in the city square’’.

The travel rort affair would ultimately claim several scalps including former premier Russell Cooper who resigned as opposition leader.

The shake-up linked with Cooper’s departure led to the rise of Rob Borbidge as Nationals leader and his eventual two years as premier.

Both Police Minister Terry Mackenroth and Health Minister Ken McElligott exited Premier Wayne Goss’ cabinet after it was revealed they were among at least five Labor MPs who had misused travel entitlements.

The scandal failed to notably damage the Goss Government, which was returned to office in the 1992 election.