DANIEL BACKHAUS
Former Queensland Premier Wayne Goss has died, aged 63.
The man who took over from Russell Cooper, ending the National Party’s long tenure over the state, served as the 34th Premier of Queensland from 1989 to 1996.
Taking the reins of State government in the wake of the Fitzgerald Inquiry into corruption in Queensland, Goss implemented sweeping changes to the administrative, judicial and police arms of the state.
The Goss government oversaw the abolition of the ‘gerrymander’, which became infamous under former Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen and saw electoral boundaries set to favour rural areas. Goss was also responsible for the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the shutting down of the notorious ‘Special Branch’ within the Queensland Police.
The Mundingburra by-election in 1996 caused the downfall of the Labor government, robbing the Goss government of its majority and leading to the return of the National Party under Rob Borbidge.
Goss has battled ill health in recent years, and has had several surgeries for brain tumour in the past 17 years. He is survived by his wife Roisin and children Ryan and Caitlin.