Letters:

Your No 1 family newspaper doesn't normally cover politics, but we have been astounded by the number of letters and emails that have flooded into our office about former Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen's claim for compensation. Here's just a sample.

Compensation
Former Premier Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen is spot on with his claim for compensation for lost business opportunities arising from the Fitzgerald witch-hunt.
The stigma he suffered from that inquiry forced him to pull out of a number of lucrative deals he had just about concluded with myself and other Asian businessmen - deals, I might add, that would have set him up for life.
Liu Kee Shore
Hong Kong

Pay dearly
God bless and look after you, Sir Johannes, and your beautiful wife Lady Florence.
May the good Lord make those who have sinned against you pay dearly for their abominable actions that have also put shame on the House of the Lord.
(Rev) Llew K Shore.
Brisbane

Newcomer
As a newcomer to Queensland, I know little about the 19 wonderful years when Sir Joh was premier.
But I have read enough to know he was an honest, God-fearing man who worked tirelessly to provide nothing more than good, strong stable government for the people of this state.
The least the current socialist Beattie Labor Government should do is give Sir Johannes everything he has asked for.
Lou Kashore
Capalaba

Wonderful man
What the Labor Government did to that wonderful, wonderful man borders on criminal harassment.
If Wayne Goss and his cronies are ever put on trial, I'd love to be on the jury. I know that it would be a fluke sure for that to happen, but I'd even selflessly put myself forward as foreman to ensure deliberations were balanced, untainted by pre-trial convictions or prejudices and addressed only the facts.
Only in this way could we ensure that justice was not only done, but seemed to be done for the greatest and most humble man ever to lead this state.
Name withheld by request
Brisbane

Fair treatment
There has been a lot of conjecture about how my government will react to the request by former Premier Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen for compensation for any damage to his good name and business standing arising out of the Fitzgerald Inquiry.
Any decision will come only after a thorough investigation is undertaken as to how many former National Party seats I might be able to cling on to by continuing my practice of sucking up to Sir Johannes.
Peter Beattie
Parliament House

Outrageous
You think Sir Joh's claim is outrageous? Just wait till you see the one I lodge for (temporary) loss of appetite.
Former Senator Mal Colston
Brisbane

Another bid
Just letting you know that we the undersigned would also like to make a claim for compensation.
The late Ray Whitrod and all honest cops who didn't take bribes; business operators who didn't pay bribes; taxpayers shortchanged by official corruption; and voters marginalised by the gerrymander.