Systemic Corruption in Queensland Uncovered

The Fitzgerald Inquiry from 1987–1989) into Queensland Police corruption was presided over by Tony Fitzgerald QC with testimony from 339 witnesses.

The inquiry was in response to reports by Phil Dickie in The Courier-Mail about high-level police corruption and a Four Corners television program by Chris Masters, entitled  The Moonlight State, shown on 11 May 1987.

The inquiry Investigated whether members of the Queensland Police force were involved in prostitution, illegal gambling, illicit drugs, and other unlawful activities or misconduct.

Results of the inquiry led to the resignation of Queensland's premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, two by-elections, and three former ministers and the Police Commissioner Terry Lewis being jailed.

Police Commissioner Terry Lewis was charged in 1989 with 23 counts of perjury, corruption, and forgery. And to have accepted bribes totalling $700,000 to protect brothels, SP (starting price) bookmakers, illegal casinos, and in-line machine operators and to prevent poker machines being legally introduced in Queensland.

Terence Murray Lewis, Queensland Police Commissioner, CC BY 4.0

Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, the Premier of Queensland from 1968 to 1987, was put on trial for perjury relating to evidence he gave to the inquiry, but in 1991, his trial was abandoned with a hung jury.

Bjelke-Petersen resigned as Premier after unsuccessfully trying to have the Governor of Queensland sack all of his ministers after they had deposed him as party leader.

Cabinet Minister Russ Hinze died in 1991, before criminal charges could be levelled against him. However, in December 1989, he had been charged on eight counts of having received a total of $520,000 in corrupt payments (Dunn 1991).

Bjelke-Petersen (left) with minister Russ Hinze, SLQLD. PD

The Fitzgerald Inquiry's recommendations led to the creation of the Criminal Justice Commission, the precursor of the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Colin Dillon, the first Aboriginal policeman in Australia, was the first serving police officer to voluntarily appear before the Fitzgerald Inquiry in 1987 and give first-hand evidence of police corruption.