 |
| Gair graffiti |
An observation platform along the
$5.2 million
Gamul Way walk ,
which hugs
a cliff on Magnetic Island , North Queensland , has a panoramic view and signage
that explains the Wulgurukaba
Dreamtime Serpent story about the giant
carpet python Gamul who
carved the landscape from the
Herbert River , through the Palm Island
Group , up the Ross River , finally
resting on Magnetic
Island, its head visible .
Another sign , unfortunately , erroneously states that
the Allied Rock Wallabies in the area, which appear
to bounce about
like Indian rubber balls, do so because of
their circular TRAILS . Actually it is
because of their
long , circular TAILS .
No mention, however , is made of the faded political graffiti on the dominating rock on the platform , attempts having been made to remove it completely over the decades : VOTE GAIR DLP. In view of the recent Machiavellian machinations in Brisbane and Canberra , especially in the Senate , a strong case could be made to restore the graffiti in fluorescent white, with an appropriate interpretive sign to inform visitors , especially Irish backpackers , just who is or was Gair.
No mention, however , is made of the faded political graffiti on the dominating rock on the platform , attempts having been made to remove it completely over the decades : VOTE GAIR DLP. In view of the recent Machiavellian machinations in Brisbane and Canberra , especially in the Senate , a strong case could be made to restore the graffiti in fluorescent white, with an appropriate interpretive sign to inform visitors , especially Irish backpackers , just who is or was Gair.
Vincent Clare Gair (1901-1980), a roly- poly pollie who wore a felt fedora and a bowtie at times , was the ALP Premier of Queensland from 1952-1957 .
He criticised ALP leader , Dr Herbert Vere Evatt , for appearing in the Petrov Royal Commission into Soviet espionage in Australia . Expelled from the
party, he formed the
breakaway Queensland Labor Party
, which in 1962 merged with the
Democratic Labor Party. In 1964 he was elected to the Federal parliament as a
DLP Senator for Queensland and parliamentary leader of the DLP, which only had two members–Frank McManus,
Victoria, the other. The DLP caused a major split in the ALP in the 1950s which kept it from office for many years .
In 1973 the DLP's Senate numbers were five - a constant thorn in the side of the Whitlam Government - and internal bickering caused Gair to resign as leader of the DLP. Senator McManus had offered him the choice of immediate resignation or being removed by his colleagues. In 1974 Gair complained to Labor senator Justin O'Byrne that the DLP had done him wrong . He said he was considering leaving the Senate before the next election in 1977 and that he would consider accepting a diplomatic post if the Whitlam government offered one .
On being told this , ALP Senate Leader , Attorney-General , Lionel Murphy , devised a plan to use Gair's disgruntlement to Labor's
advantage, hopefully to gain another ALP Senator to enable passage of legislation through the Senate . It was decided to appoint Gair Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland , which would require him to resign before the impending half-Senate election of Queensland senators... the great hope being that the ALP could win enough seats to get legislation through the Senate. As luck would have it , Gair's mother was Irish and his wife was from Irish stock. in addition , he was a keen Catholic .
The whole affair had to be kept secret . However, the media broke the story and Gair was distracted by National Country Party Queensland Senator Ron Maunsell who turned on whisky and Townsville prawns so that the Queensland Premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen could get the Queensland governor to issue writs for the Queensland senate election. The plot , which stymied the ALP's plan, became known as The Night of the Long Prawns . Gair was expelled by the DLP and told his colleagues, including the Liberals : "I've carried you bastards for years, and now you can all go to buggery!" Soon after he left for Ireland .
The whole affair had to be kept secret . However, the media broke the story and Gair was distracted by National Country Party Queensland Senator Ron Maunsell who turned on whisky and Townsville prawns so that the Queensland Premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen could get the Queensland governor to issue writs for the Queensland senate election. The plot , which stymied the ALP's plan, became known as The Night of the Long Prawns . Gair was expelled by the DLP and told his colleagues, including the Liberals : "I've carried you bastards for years, and now you can all go to buggery!" Soon after he left for Ireland .
