Angus Innes
Encyclopedia
John Angus Mackenzie Innes, (born 22 May 1939) was a Queensland politician and leader of the state Liberal Party
.
in 1978 at a by-election
to fill a vacancy created by the death of John Herbert. Campaigning heavily on opposition to the controversial street march legislation of then-premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen
, Innes easily won the seat, relegating the ruling National Party
to a distant fourth place.
Progressive by nature, Innes had little time for the conservative social policies of the National-dominated government, even though under the coalition agreement
between the Nationals and the Liberals, he was nominally a part of the government. Innes became associated with a faction within the parliamentary Liberal party dubbed by the media as the "ginger group
", who frequently criticised government policy. The Liberal leader at the time, Llew Edwards
was more supportive of National party policy, and urged the unruly Liberal backbenchers to be "good coalitionists".
Innes did not agree with Edwards' assessment, and went as far as challenging him for the leadership of the party from the backbench. Edwards won, but only by twelve votes to ten, the growing power of the Ginger Group faction was plain for all to see. The group eventually took power a year later when Terry White
became Liberal leader and Innes replaced Sam Doumany as deputy leader. This arrangement did not last long, however. When Bjelke-Petersen refused to appoint White and Innes to Cabinet, they tore up the coalition agreement. In the ensuing 1983 election, Bjelke-Petersen convinced many right-leaning Liberal voters that White and Innes might join forces with Labor
. As a result, the Liberals were reduced to a rump of only eight members, including Innes. Two more defected to the Nationals, and Innes was deposed as deputy leader soon afterward.
Innes was reelected in 1986, helped by the fact that his National party opponent forgot to submit the required paperwork in time. In January 1988, he became leader of the Liberal party, taking over from William Knox
. Innes was leader at the 1989 election, which saw the Australian Labor Party
take power in Queensland for the first time in decades, and Innes retired from parliament soon afterwards.
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
.
Biography
Innes was elected to the Queensland Legislative AssemblyQueensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
in 1978 at a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
to fill a vacancy created by the death of John Herbert. Campaigning heavily on opposition to the controversial street march legislation of then-premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Sir Johannes "Joh" Bjelke-Petersen, KCMG , was an Australian politician. He was the longest-serving and longest-lived Premier of Queensland, holding office from 1968 to 1987, a period that saw considerable economic development in the state...
, Innes easily won the seat, relegating the ruling National Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
to a distant fourth place.
Progressive by nature, Innes had little time for the conservative social policies of the National-dominated government, even though under the coalition agreement
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
between the Nationals and the Liberals, he was nominally a part of the government. Innes became associated with a faction within the parliamentary Liberal party dubbed by the media as the "ginger group
Ginger Group (Queensland)
The ginger group, in Queensland politics was a group of Liberal Party of Australia MLAs during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, who despite nominally being a part of the government, were opposed to some of the policies of their senior coalition party, the National Party of Australia...
", who frequently criticised government policy. The Liberal leader at the time, Llew Edwards
Llewellyn Edwards
Sir Llewellyn Roy Edwards, AC was the twelfth Chancellor of the University of Queensland, a Queensland state politician and state Liberal Party leader, as well as Chair and CEO of the 1988 World Exposition, Brisbane's World Expo '88...
was more supportive of National party policy, and urged the unruly Liberal backbenchers to be "good coalitionists".
Innes did not agree with Edwards' assessment, and went as far as challenging him for the leadership of the party from the backbench. Edwards won, but only by twelve votes to ten, the growing power of the Ginger Group faction was plain for all to see. The group eventually took power a year later when Terry White
Terry White
Terry White is an American sprint canoer who competed in the mid to late 1980s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he earned his best finish of fourth in the K-2 1000 m event at Los Angeles in 1984.-References:*...
became Liberal leader and Innes replaced Sam Doumany as deputy leader. This arrangement did not last long, however. When Bjelke-Petersen refused to appoint White and Innes to Cabinet, they tore up the coalition agreement. In the ensuing 1983 election, Bjelke-Petersen convinced many right-leaning Liberal voters that White and Innes might join forces with Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
. As a result, the Liberals were reduced to a rump of only eight members, including Innes. Two more defected to the Nationals, and Innes was deposed as deputy leader soon afterward.
Innes was reelected in 1986, helped by the fact that his National party opponent forgot to submit the required paperwork in time. In January 1988, he became leader of the Liberal party, taking over from William Knox
William Knox (Queensland politician)
Sir William Knox was born in Victoria, Australia and was the Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly representing the district of Nundah for the Liberal Party of Australia between from 1956 to 1989....
. Innes was leader at the 1989 election, which saw the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
take power in Queensland for the first time in decades, and Innes retired from parliament soon afterwards.