Russell James Hinze (19 June 1919 – 29 June 1991) was a politician in Queensland, Australia, in the 1970s and 1980s. He presided over an era of controversy that included the setting up of the Racing Development Fund, ministerial re-zonings and the licensing of Jupiters Casino. His career in public life spanned almost four decades, first in local government in the 1950s and 1960s, and then in the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1966 to 1988. After his exit from Parliament he was charged with eight counts of corruption, but died before going to trial.
A young Russ Hinze and his mother at the old weir, Oxenford
Russell James Hinze was born on 19 June 1919 in Oxenford on the Gold Coast of Queensland. His father was a dairy farmer.[1]
He started his career as a sugar cane cutter.[1] Later he took up dairy-farming; like his father.[1]
Politics
After becoming chairman of the South Coast Cooperative Dairy Association, he was elected to the Albert Shire Council in the early 1950s, serving as shire chairman for nine years from 1958 to 1967.
In 1966, 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. In 1971, while still a backbencher, he was part of a plot within the Country Party parliamentary wing to topple Joh Bjelke-Petersen that failed only when Bjelke-Petersen broke a tie in the party-room meeting by voting for himself.[2]
Between 1974 and 1987, he served as the Minister for Local Government and Main Roads. Between 1980 and 1987, he served as the Minister for Racing. Between 1980 and 1982, he served as the Minister for Police.[3] These ministerial positions earned him the commonly known title of 'Minister for Everything'.[4]
Headstone in Lower Coomera cemetery
In May 1988, Hinze resigned from Queensland Parliament after allegations were made against him during the Fitzgerald Inquiry, which was investigating corruption in Queensland during the Bjelke-Petersen era.[5]
Later life
In December 1989, Hinze was charged on eight counts of having received corrupt payments totalling $520,000. However, before the case could go to trial, he died from bowel cancer on 29 June 1991, at the Allamanda Private Hospital in Southport, aged 72. He was buried in Lower Coomera cemetery on the Gold Coast.[5]
After his death, Queensland Deputy Premier Tom 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".
Although the charges against Hinze were never proven in court, a trial in 1990, arising from the Fitzgerald Inquiry, saw businessman George Herscu convicted of paying Hinze $100,000 to enable a shopping centre development to go ahead. Herscu claimed the payments were for Hinze to purchase racehorses for him.[5][6]
Legacy
Hinze Dam was named in honour of local pioneers Carl and Johanna Hinze (grandparents of Russ Hinze) who lived in the valley that was flooded by the dam.[7][8]
^ abcBob Katter, An Incredible Race of People: A Passionate History of Australia, Millers Point, New South Wales: Murdoch Books Australia, 2012, p. 300
^Watts, Tim. "Joh's First Leadership Challenge". Blogging the Bookshelf. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
^Bob Katter, An Incredible Race of People: A Passionate History of Australia, Millers Point, New South Wales: Murdoch Books Australia, 2012, p. 297
^ abcStevenson, Brian F. (2014). Hinze, Russell James (Russ) (1919–1991). Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
^"Disgraced tycoon George Herscu, 85, dies". The Australian. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
^. Brisbane, Queensland: ABC Radio. 5 June 2012. Archived from the original (streaming audio) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
^Thomson, Alister (25 July 2016). "Hinze dam at Advancetown reaches middle age". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
Sources
Queensland Legislative Assembly (16 July 1991). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2006.
"ABC Radio National". Queensland: Ten Years After Fitzgerald. Retrieved 17 January 2006.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Russ Hinze.
russ, hinze, russell, james, hinze, june, 1919, june, 1991, politician, queensland, australia, 1970s, 1980s, presided, over, controversy, that, included, setting, racing, development, fund, ministerial, zonings, licensing, jupiters, casino, career, public, lif. Russell James Hinze 19 June 1919 29 June 1991 was a politician in Queensland Australia in the 1970s and 1980s He presided over an era of controversy that included the setting up of the Racing Development Fund ministerial re zonings and the licensing of Jupiters Casino His career in public life spanned almost four decades first in local government in the 1950s and 1960s and then in the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1966 to 1988 After his exit from Parliament he was charged with eight counts of corruption but died before going to trial Russ HinzeJoh Bjelke Petersen left with Russ Hinze 14 October 1988Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for South CoastIn office 28 May 1966 25 May 1988Preceded byEric GavenSucceeded byJudy GaminPersonal detailsBornRussell James Hinze 1919 06 19 19 June 1919Oxenford Queensland AustraliaDied29 June 1991 1991 06 29 aged 72 Gold Coast Queensland AustraliaResting placeLower Coomera CemeteryPolitical partyNational PartyOther politicalaffiliationsCountry PartySpouse s Ruth Elizabeth Byth married 1947 divorced 1981 Faye McQuillan married 1981 RelationsKristy Hinze granddaughter OccupationCompany director Horse breeder Contents 1 Early life 2 Politics 3 Later life 4 Legacy 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksEarly life Edit A young Russ Hinze and his mother at the old weir OxenfordRussell James Hinze was born on 19 June 1919 in Oxenford on the Gold Coast of Queensland His father was a dairy farmer 1 He started his career as a sugar cane cutter 1 Later he took up dairy farming like his father 1 Politics EditAfter becoming chairman of the South Coast Cooperative Dairy Association he was elected to the Albert Shire Council in the early 1950s serving as shire chairman for nine years from 1958 to 1967 In 1966 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 In 1971 while still a backbencher he was part of a plot within the Country Party parliamentary wing to topple Joh Bjelke Petersen that failed only when Bjelke Petersen broke a tie in the party room meeting by voting for himself 2 Between 1974 and 1987 he served as the Minister for Local Government and Main Roads Between 1980 and 1987 he served as the Minister for Racing Between 1980 and 1982 he served as the Minister for Police 3 These ministerial positions earned him the commonly known title of Minister for Everything 4 Headstone in Lower Coomera cemetery In May 1988 Hinze resigned from Queensland Parliament after allegations were made against him during the Fitzgerald Inquiry which was investigating corruption in Queensland during the Bjelke Petersen era 5 Later life EditIn December 1989 Hinze was charged on eight counts of having received corrupt payments totalling 520 000 However before the case could go to trial he died from bowel cancer on 29 June 1991 at the Allamanda Private Hospital in Southport aged 72 He was buried in Lower Coomera cemetery on the Gold Coast 5 After his death Queensland Deputy Premier Tom 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 Although the charges against Hinze were never proven in court a trial in 1990 arising from the Fitzgerald Inquiry saw businessman George Herscu convicted of paying Hinze 100 000 to enable a shopping centre development to go ahead Herscu claimed the payments were for Hinze to purchase racehorses for him 5 6 Legacy EditHinze Dam was named in honour of local pioneers Carl and Johanna Hinze grandparents of Russ Hinze who lived in the valley that was flooded by the dam 7 8 His granddaughter Kristy Hinze is a model References Edit a b c Bob Katter An Incredible Race of People A Passionate History of Australia Millers Point New South Wales Murdoch Books Australia 2012 p 300 Watts Tim Joh s First Leadership Challenge Blogging the Bookshelf Retrieved 9 July 2014 Bob Katter An Incredible Race of People A Passionate History of Australia Millers Point New South Wales Murdoch Books Australia 2012 p 297 Hansard 16 July 1991 pp 6 10 14 a b c Stevenson Brian F 2014 Hinze Russell James Russ 1919 1991 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University Retrieved 6 January 2018 Disgraced tycoon George Herscu 85 dies The Australian 20 December 2013 Retrieved 6 January 2018 What s in a Name Hinze Dam Brisbane Queensland ABC Radio 5 June 2012 Archived from the original streaming audio on 14 July 2014 Retrieved 2 July 2014 Thomson Alister 25 July 2016 Hinze dam at Advancetown reaches middle age Gold Coast Bulletin Retrieved 1 June 2019 Sources EditQueensland Legislative Assembly 16 July 1991 Queensland Legislative Assembly Hansard PDF Archived from the original PDF on 27 September 2007 Retrieved 17 January 2006 ABC Radio National Queensland Ten Years After Fitzgerald Retrieved 17 January 2006 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Russ Hinze Parliament of QueenslandPreceded byEric Gaven Member for South Coast1966 1988 Succeeded byJudy Gamin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Russ Hinze amp oldid 1134168254, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
