Candles Out On Sir Joh's Legal Bid
Illawarra Mercury
Tuesday January 13, 2004
AS Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen prepared to cut his 93rd birthday cake, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie effectively blew out the candles on his legal compensation bid.
The Bjelke-Petersen family will celebrate the former premier's birthday with a low-key afternoon tea at his Kingaroy property, Bethany, today.
Sir Joh's wife Lady Flo said her husband, who is confined to a wheelchair with Parkinson's disease and has very poor hearing and speech, would receive visits only from friends and family.
On previous birthdays the family has been open to media visits.
Sir Joh has lodged a second compensation bid with the Government, after a claim by his lawyers for losses of more than $353 million following the Fitzgerald inquiry into corruption was rejected.
The second claim, scaled back to $1.5 million to cover legal costs, was submitted to the Government last month.
Mr Beattie said yesterday the Government was taking legal advice on the claim, but he doubted whether it would be successful.
© 2004 Illawarra Mercury
