David French | 26/06/2009 9:19:11 AM

This article was originally published in The Morning Bulletin on 1 April 2009.

Before every election my phone rings. Clients and business associates hang on the end of the phone muttering about the need for change. It’s always difficult to say something sensible. Of course we need change, but will a 1950’s time warp fit the bill?

Queensland is the only state without an Upper House, popularly known as the House of Review. According to Dr. Paul Williams of Griffith University’s Department of Politics, that lack of review has meant that Queensland has for most of the last 70 years, been burdened with “authoritarian and at times corrupt” Government. It took until the Fitzgerald Enquiry in the 1980’s for some real checks and balances to be put in place. LNP supporters should not take undue offence at that - much of the problem was instigated by the Labor party. All up, Queensland’s politics has been a disgrace. From education to business this has permeated all levels of society and left the state worse off.

Not only does the lack of effective upper house representation prevent review, it also stops good ideas from taking root. Until they went all touchy-feely, the Democrats kept the bastards honest. Even the Greens and the sometimes kooky independents can have something worthwhile to say. In Queensland if it’s not in the platform of Labor or the LNP, think snowball in Hell.

The biggest problem with the system is that it takes a crisis to instigate change. Capable politicians though they are, Wayne Goss and Peter Beattie would never have gotten in, if it wasn’t for the lingering stench of the Joh era. More than 20 years on, that is why Lawrence Springborg can’t make it stack up. And if you doubt Springborg’s credentials, can I quote my politics textbook – printed in 1980 – “The open warfare between the National Party and the Liberal Party in Queensland has not yet managed to intrude into the national sphere….”. What determination and talent to mend that - for now anyway.

While I appreciate the calls, I am surprised that the callers come to me. My little column does not rate with such august journals as the Courier Mail, which in the absence of a strong opposition, declared that it was going to fulfill that role for Queenslanders. Despite the Courier’s valiant efforts, the much touted “knife-edge” poll looked like a rusty rasp. Anna, Schwarto and friends are firmly ensconced for the foreseeable future.

What will they do with all that power? What about something unambiguously in the interests of all Queenslanders? Put up a genuinely supported referendum to reinstate the upper house. At the very least it will create 100,000 jobs!

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