LAVER’S LONG RUN AT HELM
It’s 25 years this week since council heavyweight called time on an enduring career in local government
A WEEK is a long time in politics.
This week Australia witnessed the Coalition government’s hold on power become increasingly fraught as it lost another MP in the days after the Liberal Party was trounced in the Victorian state election.
The past decade has seen first-term governments fall suddenly and Commonwealth Governments of both stripes struggle as prime ministers are repeatedly dispatched by their own parties.
This 10-year stretch makes the longevity of previous political figures seem all the more incredible.
This week marks 25 years since one of those careers came to an end on the Gold Coast.
Bill Laver was a giant of Gold Coast politics, having spent 30 years in local government and more than 20 at the peak of power at Albert Shire Council.
He announced in early December of 1993 that he would not stand again at the 1994 council elections, bringing down the curtain on a career which dated back to the 1960s.
Cr Laver announced he was bowing out of politics as fellow long-serving Gold Coast Mayor Lex Bell was preparing to step down from the city’s top job.
Cr Laver was 64 years old when he stood at the beginning of the council’s final meeting of the year to confirm his future plans.
“It is my intention not to seek nomination for the council elections in March,” he said.
“I feel after nine years as deputy chairman and 12 years as chairman it is time to give someone else of a younger ilk a go.
“I’d just like the opportunity to thank the councillors and thank the staff for their support over the years.
“It’s been a very challenging time and it’s been a very interesting time for us all.”
Cr Laver, who represented Mudgeeraba before moving into the leadership roles, said he had been “long enough” on the council.
He said he was flattered people thought he could continue for another term.
“I’m rather surprised that everybody is surprised I’m not standing again but I said three years ago this (term) was going to be the last,” he said.
He said career highlights included the restructuring of the council since 1991.
Cr Laver said he was proud to have led the fastest-growing local authority in Australia.
‘To be able to maintain a council in all that period with considerable degree of unity is quite an achievement,” he said.
He said there was a “level of vindictiveness” creeping into other councils but that Albert Shire had remained a united body despite disagreements.
He also slammed the planned amalgamation of the Gold Coast City and Albert Shire councils.
“When I first got in, Logan was part of Albert Shire and I was the guy who moved the motion which put everything in train to create Logan City,” he said.
Cr Laver vowed to return to his dairy farm at Mudgeeraba and travel during his retirement.
His colleagues used the day to pay tribute to his long career.
“Your decision brings us to the conclusion of a very important era in Albert Shire,” said Deputy Chairman Joh Handley.
Cr Merv Craig told Cr Laver: “You have set a benchmark and quite obviously it will be quite an effort to find a successor.”.
The political veteran is still alive 25 years after his retirement and today continues to live in Mudgeeraba.
He was succeeded as Shire Chairman by future MP Ray Stevens in March 1994 but his time at the top was short-lived – Albert Shire was amalgamated with Gold Coast in March 1995.