Extract from ABC News
Updated
Former Queensland premier Wayne Goss's election in 1989 heralded a cultural revolution in the Sunshine State.
In the wake of the Fitzgerald Inquiry, Mr Goss, who has died aged 63 following treatment for brain cancer, was determined to rid Queensland of the "cancer of corruption".He campaigned consistently to change the image Queensland had developed after 32 years of the National Party in government.
Known as Mr 70 Per Cent for his high public approval rating, Mr Goss was considered by some to be aloof and arrogant, a quality not unlike his favourite comic book hero, The Phantom.
The eldest of six children, Wayne Keith Goss was born on February 26, 1951, in Mundubbera, Queensland, to Allan and Norma Goss.
In 1954 the family moved to the outer-Brisbane suburb of Inala, where Wayne attended Inala Primary School and Inala State High School.
His father had a barber shop in Annerley and the young Wayne worked behind the counter on weekends and after school.
The barber shop was also a comic and book exchange and it was here Wayne first became a fan of comic book hero The Phantom.
Wayne Keith Goss
- Born February 26, 1951
- Educated at Inala State High School and University of Queensland
- Entered Queensland Parliament as member for Logan in 1983
- Became Labor leader in 1988
- Led Labor to victory in 1989 after 32 years in opposition
- Resigns as premier in 1996 after Labor loses majority
- Diagnosed with brain tumour in 1997
- Adjunct professor at UQ's School of Business since 2008
- Survived by wife Roisin and children Ryan and Caitlin
"I learned a lot in Inala," he said in a 2011 interview.
"You've got to work hard to get out. Inala was very socially and geographically isolated."
After purchasing a small scooter, he discovered Brisbane and other worlds, obtaining a job as an article clerk with a law firm.
At the same time, he attended the University of Queensland, graduating with a law degree.
As a young lawyer, Mr Goss became involved in the Labor Lawyers Association and in establishing the Caxton Street Legal Service.
It was while establishing the Aboriginal Legal Service in 1973 that he met law student Roisin Hirschfeld, who would become his wife.
He was initially reluctant to join the Breakfast Creek branch of the Labor Party, considering them to be too conservative.
However, on the day Gough Whitlam was sacked in 1975, he insisted on joining and eventually the party convinced him to run for parliament.
He was elected to Queensland's Legislative Assembly in 1983 as the Member for Salisbury and became the Member for Logan in 1986.
'He gave Queensland back its dignity'
Photo:
Wayne Goss claims victory in the 1989 state election. (AAP Image/Queensland ALP - file photo)
With the National Party damaged following the Fitzgerald corruption inquiry, Mr Goss led Labor to power at the state election on December 2, 1989, ending the party's 32 years in opposition.
Mr Goss's popularity, which peaked at more than 75 per cent, remained high during his first term.
His government introduced a range of reforms, including the abolition of the electoral gerrymander, lifting street march bans and protecting Fraser Island.
He also prided himself on jobs growth and economic development.
Peter Beattie, who succeeded him as Labor leader, said Mr Goss was Labor's best premier since TJ Ryan (1915-19).
"He led Queensland from the national embarrassment of a corrupt state to an honest one," Mr Beattie said.
"Under Wayne the state became respected again. He gave Queensland back its dignity. Queenslanders will always be indebted for his contribution".
He led Queensland from the national embarrassment of a corrupt state to an honest one.Peter Beattie
But critics, within and without, believed it was a socially conservative government that placed too much emphasis on economic outcomes.
In his first term, the mistakes were few, with a travel rorts affair one of the notable exceptions.
An inquiry by the then-Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) led to the resignation from Cabinet of Ken McElligott and Terry Mackenroth and signalled an increasingly troubled relationship between the Goss government and the CJC.
Loss of the Goss gloss
Despite the travel rorts inquiry, Mr Goss led Labor to a convincing victory at the 1992 election.He pursued a steady-as-she-goes approach, insisting the electorate would accept only gradual change.
That frustrated Labor's Left faction and led to internal divisions that helped weaken Mr Goss's authority.
He also struck trouble in his relationship with Brisbane's then-Labor lord mayor Jim Soorley, with verbal barbs being exchanged regularly.
Internal party strife and transport issues proved contentious for Mr Goss. A plan to cut country railway services backfired and forced a backdown from the government after a massive public outcry.
After that, it was the eastern tollway plan in Brisbane that saw major protests and a loss of seats for the government at the 1995 election.
It gave weight to claims Mr Goss was arrogant and unresponsive to community demands - his community standing had lost that "Goss gloss".
In an extraordinary two-term turnaround, Labor's majority had been reduced to just one seat.
A court challenge to Labor's win in the Townsville seat of Mundingburra led to a by-election, which Frank Tanti won for the Liberals.
The result gave the balance of power to Gladstone independent MP Liz Cunningham, who decided to support the Coalition on February 12, 1996.
The writing was on the wall for Mr Goss. He resigned his commission on February 19, 1996 and National Party leader Rob Borbidge was sworn in as premier.
Mr Goss also announced his resignation as Labor leader after eight years. He was replaced as leader by Mr Beattie.
Mr Goss claimed stable economic management, electoral reform and law reform among his successes.
He ended his resignation announcement with the words: "Thank you, Queensland. You've been good to me. I hope I've left you a better place."
Brain tumour diagnosis
Staying in parliament as a backbencher, Mr Goss considered offers to leave state politics and contest the seat of Oxley at the 1998 federal election.However, while campaigning in north Queensland in 1997, he was diagnosed with a low-grade malignant brain tumour and underwent surgery.
He knew straight away he was finished with politics and it was time for the next phase of his life.
I think what happened with the brain tumour is it makes you refocus on what's important.Wayne Goss in 2005
"I think what happened with the brain tumour is it makes you refocus on what's important, so it's things like family and the things you haven't done. And you don't waste time," he told the ABC in a 2005 interview.
"I'm much more relaxed ... I'm looking for new things to do, for different things to do to have a richer experience."
He quit politics to focus on managing a business consultancy, and from there he took on several directorships.
Since 2008 Mr Goss had been an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland's School of Business.
He also attained the rank of major in The Phantom Army, the fan club dedicated to the comic book hero.
Mr Goss had a passion for blues music, photography - particularly black-and-white industrial landscapes - and for long-distance running.
He underwent further brain surgery to remove low-grade tumours in 2002 and 2013.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years Roisin and their two children Ryan and Caitlin.
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