The Fitzgerald Inquiry: How Corruption Toppled Queensland's 32-Year Rule

In May 1987, Queensland's government ordered a public inquiry into police corruption that would ultimately uncover decades of systemic abuse of power, jail a police commissioner and three ministers, and end the National Party's three-decade stranglehold on state politics.

The investigation, formally titled the Commission of Inquiry into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Police Misconduct, was triggered by explosive media reports. Journalist Phil Dickie had published a series of investigations in *The Courier-Mail*, while the ABC's *Four Corners* program broadcast "The Moonlight State," a damning documentary by Chris Masters on 11 May 1987. Together, these reports revealed the extent of police involvement in illegal gambling and prostitution operations.

Acting Premier Bill Gunn ordered the inquiry on 12 May 1987 while Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen was out of state. The task fell to Tony Fitzgerald QC, a respected barrister whose integrity would prove crucial to the inquiry's credibility.

## The Scope of Corruption

What began as an investigation into police misconduct rapidly expanded into a comprehensive examination of systemic political corruption and abuse of power throughout Queensland's institutions. When formal hearings commenced on 27 July 1987, few anticipated the inquiry would continue for almost two years—far exceeding initial expectations of a six-week process.

The scale was extraordinary. Over 238 public sitting days, the inquiry heard testimony from 339 witnesses. The resulting 630-page Fitzgerald Report, tabled in Queensland Parliament in July 1989, contained more than 100 recommendations for systemic reform.

## The High-Profile Casualties

The inquiry's findings had immediate and severe consequences for the state's leadership. Police Commissioner Sir Terence (Terry) Lewis, who had commanded Queensland's force, was convicted of corruption and imprisoned. He was stripped of his knighthood—a rare and humiliating punishment for a former senior official.

Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who had led Queensland since 1968, resigned in the face of allegations. He was subsequently charged with perjury, though his trial ended in a hung jury and was aborted. In total, four ministers were jailed as a result of the inquiry's investigations and prosecutions.

## Reshaping Australian Governance

The Fitzgerald Inquiry's impact extended far beyond Queensland's borders. It established precedents that would influence how Australian inquiries operated, most notably the use of prosecution indemnities—protections that encouraged witnesses to testify without fear of self-incrimination.

The inquiry's recommendations led to the establishment of two new oversight bodies: the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission and the Criminal Justice Commission (later renamed the Crime and Misconduct Commission, now the Crime and Corruption Commission). These institutions were designed to prevent the entrenchment of power and the systematic abuse that had flourished under the previous regime.

## Political Earthquake

The corruption exposed by the inquiry triggered political upheaval. In December 1989, Queensland voters decisively rejected the National Party, ending their 32-year control of the state. The Australian Labor Party won power for the first time since 1957, signaling a complete rejection of the old order.

The inquiry also necessitated two by-elections as further consequences of the investigations became apparent.

## Legacy

More than three decades later, the Fitzgerald Inquiry remains a landmark moment in Australian governance. It demonstrated that systematic corruption—even when entrenched in state institutions—could be exposed and addressed through determined investigation and public accountability. The inquiry's institutional legacies continue to shape Queensland's approach to integrity and oversight today.

## Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitzgerald_Inquiry https://www.ccc.qld.gov.au/about/about-ccc/our-history/fitzgerald-inquiry https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/media-reports-spark-investigation-australian-police-corruption https://www.oqpc.qld.gov.au/about/our-history/fitzgerald https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/87809