In
a world-exclusive, The Bug secured the first post-mortem interview
with former larger-than-life Queensland politician Mal Colston.The Bug: Mr Colston, thanks for your time today.
Colston: My pleasure.
The Bug: Before we start, may I just say … and I hope you're not offended by this … … but boy, the old Spanish really knocked you around, didn't it?
Colston: Well, I always said I had it yet no-one ever believed me.
The Bug: You must be down to, what, 400lb max?
Colston: Even a bit less, I think.
The Bug: A couple of other things I couldn't help noticing….
Colston: The whiskers?
The Bug: Well, yes, now that you mention it.
Colston: And the pointy nose?
The Bug: Noticed that too. And the pelt.
Colston: It's a bit loose fitting, what with the cancer and everything.
The Bug: Appreciate that. Your appearance … how can I put this tactfully … there's got to be some karma at work here?
Colston: I suppose so. I did follow religion fairly devoutly in my mortal life.
The Bug: Buddhism?
Colston: Frequent flying.
The Bug: The other thing I couldn't help noticing is that you, ah, ahem, look more than just a little bit like Peter Beattie.
Colston: Yes, and that is the thing I'm really furious with. I mean it's totally uncalled for. Beattie ratted on the ALP much more than I ever did.
The Bug: But to be fair he ratted on factions though. You ratted on the party as a whole.
Colston: Well, maybe, but I still think the whole thing stinks.
The Bug: Noticed that too. But you've got to accept that Labor people had good reason to despise you. You had a plum job in the Senate for a long time because of the party, and then you left as soon as they took that job away from you.
Colston: But I was doing a bloody good job. There wasn't a single person who didn't know me.
The Bug: Throughout Queensland?
Colston: No, the parliamentary dining room and Canberra restaurants.
The Bug: The ALP did claim you were fairly lazy and never did anything.
Colston: I was a senator, for God's sake!
The Bug: Point taken.
Colston: Always gave some stamps for mailouts during elections, if I was in the country, of course. Fact-finding trips took me away a lot.
The Bug: Finding out facts of benefit to Queenslanders.
Colston: How far frequent flier points could take you, basically. Speaking of which, sorry about this but I've got to high-tail it out of here.
The Bug: Noticed that too.
