REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Wednesday February 18, 1987

PREMIER Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen said it was only a matter of time before the federal Coalition split.

He forecast the disintegration in Brisbane shortly after a disagreement over taxation policy during a joint Liberal-National party meeting of federal MPs in Canberra.

After receiving telephone reports on the Canberra meeting the Premer described it as “another win” for his federal campaign. “He said the federal National Party was facing “the only alternative”.

It would force the break from the Coalition because of the Liberals’ commitment to the introduction of a VAT or consumption tax.

“It’s now only a matter of time,” he said confidently.

And in another Canberra development which put Sir Joh close to his goal of leading the federal parliamentary National Party without being a member of it, deputy leader Ralph Hunt failed to secure a pledge of loyalty to the party leader Ian Sinclair from Nationals MPs.

Outside the parliamentary arena, Sir Joh’s campaign was making rapid ground.

A group of southern businessmen was due to fly into Brisbane to meet the Premier and discuss his campaign.

Sir Joh was buoyed by the message of support from federal Nationals MPs at their meeting and the resulting back down by Mr Sinclair. But he insisted they must go further and step out of the Coalition.

According to Gold Coast politicians, the public support was beginning to rill in behind Sir Joh.

Albert MP Ivan Gibbs said offers of help for the Premier’s campaign were coming into his office from around the country.