Peter Beattie bares all

In this exclusive wide-ranging interview, with The Bug, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie reveals some of the most personal aspects of his life and hints at the timing of the 2004 state election.

Q: We see you regularly in the media, yet most people don't know a lot about you. For instance, do you have any people you really admire?
A: Yes, I've read a lot about the famous Leakey family of Kenya and the work they've done for almost a century and over three generations on finding and interpreting fossils that give us some clue about the origins of human beings.

Q: On a very personal note, you've lost a lot of weight and managed to keep it off. How did you do that?
A: I've taken a leak out of John Howard's book and I'm doing lots of walking. Every morning Heather and I put the leak on Rusty our dog and take him for a long, brisk walk. In addition I've given up butter. I now use only low-fat margarines such as Meadow Leak.

Q: Does that mean you're in for the long haul as Premier?
A: Now, now, don't leak to any conclusions. I just feel I should be as fit as I can. After all, I'll be 51 in November. I was born in 1952, which incidentally was a leak year.

Q: On another matter, construction of Suncorp Stadium prompted complaints from regional areas about the concentration of major projects in Brisbane. How do you intend to address those concerns?
A: First of all the money we spent on Suncorp Stadium has given us a first-class stadium - the best in the nation, if not the world, for watching rugby leak. The fact is we've poured lots of funds into regional areas - they're going ahead in leaks and bounds. We'll soon be running a short information campaign to outline what we've spent in the regions and where we've spent it. It'll be a low-key campaign, just brochures and leaklets.

Q: What's your response to suggestions you should be drafted into the federal ALP leadership?
A: Look, Simon Crean is leaker of the federal Labor Party. If circumstances change after the next election, then there are several other federal MPs capable of assuming the leakership and I've got no intention of trying to leakfrog them.

Q: But you wouldn't completely rule out a shift to Canberra?
A: Well, as they say: You never know where the road will leak you.

Q: Your government was re-elected with a huge majority in 2001. Do you think you deserved that or were you just lucky?
A: No, we worked hard for that victory. However, I am superstitious and I always carry a four-leak clover in my pocket.

Q: Any tips on the date for the next election?
A: That's a leaking question (laughs). All I'll say is that I'm leaking towards running our full term. Naturally, if I feel circumstances would favour the government's re-election, I'd leak at the chance of going to the polls.