Russ Hinze
Encyclopedia
The Hon. Russell James "Russ" Hinze (19 June 1919 — 29 June 1991), born in Oxenford
on the Gold Coast
, was a Queensland
politician in the 1970s and 1980s. He presided over an era of controversy that included the setting up of the Racing Development Fund, ministerial rezonings and the licensing of Jupiters Casino. One of Hinze's favourite sayings was "Never hold an inquiry unless you know what the outcome will be". Hinze's career in public life spanned almost four decades, first in local government in the 1950s and 1960s, and then in State Government from 1966 to 1988.
Apart from his early years, he spent a life-time living and working in the Oxenford area, where he was born. Hinze was a dairy-farmer who, after becoming chairman of the South Coast Cooperative Dairy Association, was elected to the Albert Shire Council in the early 1950s. He served as shire chairman for nine years between 1958 and 1967. In 1966, Russ Hinze entered the State political arena as the member for South Coast, representing the then Country Party. After eight years as a backbench member of the coalition Government, he was promoted to Cabinet and quickly established a high profile.
In 1971, while still a back bencher, Hinze was part of a plot within the Country Party parliamentary wing to topple Joh Bjelke-Petersen
that failed only through the votes of Bjelke-Petersen himself and two proxies.
Between 1974 and 1987, he was Minister for Local Government and Main Roads, from 1980 to 1987, he was Minister for Racing and between 1980 and 1982, he was Minister for Police, a portfolio allocation which earned him the commonly known title of 'Minister for Everything'
In February 1988, Hinze resigned from State Parliament due to being mentioned in the Fitzgerald Inquiry
conducted into the corruption scandal of the Bjelke-Petersen era of politics. Hinze was known as "the father of the modern Gold Coast".
Oxenford, Queensland
Oxenford is a suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 Census, Oxenford had a population of 9,007.The suburb is bordered to the north by the Coomera River; the Pacific Motorway forms the eastern boundary. The western edge of the suburb is also bordered by the Coomera River,...
on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, was a Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
politician in the 1970s and 1980s. He presided over an era of controversy that included the setting up of the Racing Development Fund, ministerial rezonings and the licensing of Jupiters Casino. One of Hinze's favourite sayings was "Never hold an inquiry unless you know what the outcome will be". Hinze's career in public life spanned almost four decades, first in local government in the 1950s and 1960s, and then in State Government from 1966 to 1988.
Apart from his early years, he spent a life-time living and working in the Oxenford area, where he was born. Hinze was a dairy-farmer who, after becoming chairman of the South Coast Cooperative Dairy Association, was elected to the Albert Shire Council in the early 1950s. He served as shire chairman for nine years between 1958 and 1967. In 1966, Russ Hinze entered the State political arena as the member for South Coast, representing the then Country Party. After eight years as a backbench member of the coalition Government, he was promoted to Cabinet and quickly established a high profile.
In 1971, while still a back bencher, Hinze was part of a plot within the Country Party parliamentary wing to topple 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...
that failed only through the votes of Bjelke-Petersen himself and two proxies.
Between 1974 and 1987, he was Minister for Local Government and Main Roads, from 1980 to 1987, he was Minister for Racing and between 1980 and 1982, he was Minister for Police, a portfolio allocation which earned him the commonly known title of 'Minister for Everything'
Fitzgerald Inquiry
The Fitzgerald Inquiry into Queensland Police corruption was a judicial inquiry presided over by Tony Fitzgerald QC. The inquiry resulted in the deposition of a premier, two by-elections, the jailing of three former ministers and a police commissioner who was jailed and lost his...
conducted into the corruption scandal of the Bjelke-Petersen era of politics. Hinze was known as "the father of the modern Gold Coast".
Death
He died on 29 June 1991, aged 72, and was buried in Lower Coomera cemetery, Gold Coast. After his death in 1991 Queensland Deputy Premier T.J. Burns remembered him in parliament with the following anecdote: The best cartoon of him was the one that showed him as a bulldog. I saw him on television describing why he would rather be a bulldog than a mouse, but he was shown as a bulldog with dark glasses and a white cane outside a casino and brothel in the Valley that had a flashing neon light, saying he did not know there were any there.Other
- Hinze DamHinze DamThe Hinze Dam, also known as Advancetown Lake, supplies most of the water provided to Gold Coast City in Queensland, Australia. Some water is drawn from Little Nerang Dam and until recently northern suburbs received water from Wivenhoe Dam. It was completed in 1976 and expanded in 1989. Advancetown...
was named in honour of the Hinze Family who lived in the valley that was flooded by the dam.
- Russell Hinze is the grandfather of model Kristy HinzeKristy HinzeKristy Hinze is an Australian model, actress and television host. Hinze has appeared in Sports Illustrated as well as the Victoria's Secret catalogue.-Life and career:...
.