REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Monday October 17, 1988

IT was the beginning of a new era for the Bulletin.

The Gold Coast’s own newspaper, then in its 103rd year, published its first Monday edition in more than five years, bringing plenty of front page news for the city’s consumption. The Monday paper was introduced in late 1982 along with a Sunday edition but was cancelled within six months because of the faltering economy.

Meanwhile a manhunt was under way for a gunman who opened fire at Tweed Heads shopping centre, forcing onlookers to take cover behind rubbish bins.

Horrified onlookers watched as a gunman fired seven shots at a man and woman

Roadblocks were put in place in both NSW and Queensland, with the police helicopter also used.

At the same time, former South Coast MP and “Minister for everything” Russ Hinze was rumoured to take the stand and give evidence at the Fitzgerald Inquiry into police corruption.

Hinze had been forced to resign from parliament in disgrace earlier the same year after he was implicated by the inquiry. Both he and former premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen were tipped to be called before the inquiry after its staff were spotted by the Bulletin visiting the office of lawyers linked to the case.

The Australian Labor Party’s conference was also held in Brisbane the same weekend, with leaders voting to force drink drivers to help care for their victims, or those maimed as a result of car crashes, however it didn’t become law following the election of the Goss government in 1989.