The Bug's political editor Don Gordon-Brown talked to long-term personal friend and Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie, about his recent extraordinary election victory and his government's reform program for the years ahead.

Kicking the Bjesus out of the Opposition

The Bug: Mr Beattie, thanks for your time today.
Premier: That's BJeattie?
The Bug: Bjeattie?
Premier: No. BJeattie. With a hard J.
The Bug: How come?
Premier: I just found out myself. As you know, I'm just a humble lad from the Atherton Tableland simply trying to do the best by his fellow Queenslanders. But a search of my family tree has revealed that there's a fair bit of Danish in there somewhere. No-one ever told me but apparently BJeattie's my real surname.
The Bug: Okay. Mr BJeattie it is, then.
Premier: Good. But, please, let's not be so formal. You and I go back a long way to when I was just the humble secretary of the all-powerful Queensland Railway Station Officers Union and, as the industrial roundsperson for the Courier-Mail, you were employable.
The Bug: Okay then. Peter it is.
Premier: Peter San, actually.
The Bug: Peter San?
Premier: Apparently. It seems that even though I'm just a humble lad from the Atherton Tableland trying to do the best by his fellow Queenslanders, there's a fair bit of Japanese in my breeding too. My ancestors must have worked on the north Queensland goldfields.
The Bug: But that means on future ballot papers your name will be shown as BJeattie Peter San!
Premier: Goodness gracious me. I never thought about that. But as a humble lad from the Atherton Tableland simply trying to do the best by his fellow Queenslanders, I'm rather pleased if people in any way link me with the former long-serving Premier, that's for sure.
The Bug: That's for sure?
Premier: Good, strong stable government. That's all the people want. Sir Johannes knew that. And he delivered, despite all his faults.
The Bug: By the way, what's with the Broncos jersey?
Premier: You're a Brisbane lad, aren't you? I thought you'd be a Broncos supporter.
The Bug: Can't stand the bastards.
Premier: Yeah, prima donnas, eh? So who do you follow then?
The Bug: No one really. I adopted St Kilda one season when I was working in Melbourne.
Premier: I'll be right back.

The Bug: Ah, there you are. Looks good. But I meant to say St Kilda let me down big time.
Premier: Bastards. Fucking aerial ping pong. Who'd follow that shit, eh? So who do you support now?
The Bug: You won't believe this but I actually follow the Oonoonba Ladies side in north Queensland netball.
Premier: I'll be right back.

The Bug: Ah, there you are. Looking good. I think lavender suits you. Nice pleats too.
Premier: Thanks. I actually prefer the colour of their away stripe but it must be at the drycleaners.
The Bug: You've got no shame, have you?
Premier: None whatsoever.
The Bug: As I was saying, you've always been rather fond of him, haven't you?
Premier: Who?
The Bug: Bjelke-Petersen.
Premier: Sure. No problems there. No problems at all.
The Bug: In fact, you said at the outset of the recent state campaign that all you wanted to do was continue the sound economic management that Bjelke-Petersen delivered during his 18 years as Premier?
Premier: Of course. For sure.
The Bug: You have absolutely no shame at all, have you?
Premier: None whatsoever.
The Bug: Can you understand that old Labor leaders like Bart Lourigan and Jack Houston must be spinning in their graves hearing you talk up the party's greatest-ever foe?
Premier: Like a top. But seriously, though, it's just words. It's just politics. I thought we were really on the nose because of the rorts affair and I had to say something to get regional people to vote for me and Rort-free Labor.
The Bug: So you'll say anything to get a vote?
Premier: Absolutely.
The Bug: So not only are you a self-confessed media tart, but you're a vote slut as well?
Premier: Drop the merest hint of throwing a vote my way and I'm on my back counting ceiling tiles.
The Bug: Media tart. Vote slut. Policy slattern. That's not a bad trifecta?
Premier: Got me in three. No, but seriously though, I'm just a humble lad from the Atherton Tableland simply trying to do the best by his fellow Queenslanders and you can't do that if you don't get elected in the first place.
The Bug: But you actually didn't mind Bjelke-Petersen did you?
Premier: Not too bad an old goat, really. Got a rural background, you know. He was just a humble lad....
The Bug: You did rush up to his property when you were ALP state secretary and try to help him out when his own party had the knives out for him.
Premier: Well sure. That was the way to go at the time.
The Bug: And no regrets whatsoever?
Premier: About not playing myself in the movie or sequel?
The Bug: About going up there?
Premier: None whatsoever. My gosh, is that the time? Could you excuse me for a minute?

The Bug: Ah, there you are. Hey, what's with the outfit?
Premier: It's nothing really. I've got to go up to the Lockyer Valley and address some local farmers. Most of them are German, you know. Settled there straight after the war. One Nation supporters to their jackbootstraps.
The Bug: You've really got no shame at all, have you?
Premier: None whatsoever. But then, politics is a nazi business, eh? But seriously though, I'm just a humble lad from the Atherton Tableland simply trying to do the best by his fellow Queenslanders, that's all. Care for another pumpkin scone? Heather can pop another tray in the oven after you finish these.