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Local Government may be about roads, rates and rubbish but nobody said that this level of government can’t also play a significant role in adding to the economic success of a city or regional area. Julian has captured the unconventional thinking and actions that went towards the shaping of a new modern and respected Brisbane.
- Graham Quirk, former Lord Mayor of Brisbane
Not enough is written about local government in Australia - the grassroots of our democracy - and Julian’s contribution is both welcome and valuable.
Julian’s unique personal insights capture some of the values, key decisions and on-the-ground achievements that have helped to ensure the LNP Council team have been trusted by Brisbane residents to set the direction of Australia’s largest council for almost 20 years.
Most importantly, with ongoing renewal in our team - both in people and ideas - our collective commitment to building a better Brisbane remains as fresh as it was on day one.
- Adrian Schrinner, Lord Mayor of Brisbane
From the Introduction
This is not a history book. It does not come close to covering every important moment in the life of Brisbane for the period I was involved. Notwithstanding, I trust the events I have chosen represent some of the key moments for the LNP Council team during this period, offer an illustration of the players, their actions and lives leading Australia’s largest local government.
The book contains only one perspective - my own. The events are described through the prism of my role or proximity to them. It is unashamedly an insider’s account of the period and the way I saw it.
Some of the events represent important and worthwhile policy achievements. Others are Utopia-esque in their bureaucratic ineptitude, a satire that too often resembles reality. Some are downright failures and mistakes, including several of my own. Whether met with success, ineptitude or failure, my experience of the players is they approached their role with good intentions, a desire to give their best and with the hope that they could make a difference to the city they love.
About the Author
Julian went to work in Brisbane City Council in 2008 as a policy adviser to then Lord Mayor Campbell Newman before he won the Walter Taylor Ward By-election. Elevated to Cabinet six months later, he served across three different Cabinet portfolios helping shape Brisbane through some of its most challenging events. After a decade in Council, and at the age of 34, he was elected as the Federal Member for Ryan.
