Hillbilly Dictator, The: Australia’s Police State

x, 197 pages ; 22 cm #080522
“It is an enlightening read to learn how thoroughly corrupt politics and police were in Queensland during JBH’s time.”
“‘Auntie’ ABC has bared her claws at times over the years; one of the best examples was that which first displayed Chris Masters’ balls, his May 1987 Four Corners expose entitled “The Moonlight State”. (The report followed a series of hard questions and prior articles by Quentin Dempster of the ABC and Phil Dickie of the Courier Mail but went further, indicating corruption up to, at least, the level of the Police Commissioner.) The Premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, was out of the state at the time and his deputy, Bill Gunn, ordered a commission of enquiry the day after the program was aired. Bjelke-Petersen flew back but too late to stop what would become the most important and far-reaching Royal Commission in Australia’s legal history.

I first read Evan Whitton’s book, “The Hillbilly Dictator – Australia’s Police State”, about 24 years ago; on the day it hit the book stands, in fact. It is not a ‘story’ so much as a journalistic resume of background, people, police not only turning a blind eye to brothels (illegal at the time) but actively supporting them, graft, money trails, amounts, distribution, recipients, nepotism, strange loans and land dealings, six-figure sums being left by sometimes anonymous people and, through their anonymity, one assumes, no receipts being issued. If we had not already been aware of the three wise monkeys from childhood, they may well have been modelled on some of the personnel involved in the corruption described in this book.”

The work is not without its humour. Probably the best (from memory it is in the last or next to last chapter but should be read first) has to do with a Premier being questioned about his understanding of the separation of powers under Westminster.
Bjelke-Petersen, Johannes, 1911-2005. | Bjelke-Petersen, Joh Sir, 1911-2005. | Bjelke-Petersen, Johannes, 1911-2005. | Queensland. Commission of Inquiry Into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Police Misconduct. Report of a Commission of Inquiry pursuant to Orders in Council. | Queensland. Commission of Inquiry into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Police Misconduct. | Queensland. Commission of Inquiry Into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Police Misconduct. Report of a Commission of Inquiry pursuant to Orders in Council. | Queensland. Commission of Inquiry into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Police Misconduct. | Report of a Commission of Inquiry pursuant to Orders in Council | Political corruption — Queensland. | Corruption (in politics) — Queensland. | Political corruption — Australia — Queensland. | Political corruption. | Political science. | Queensland — Politics and government — 20th century. | Queensland — Politics and government. | Queensland. | Bjelke-Petersen, Joh, Sir, 1911-2005 | Queensland. Commission of Inquiry Into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Police Misconduct. Report of a Commission of Inquiry pursuant to Orders in Council | Political corruption – Queensland | Queensland – Politics and government – 20th century | Australian