Satirical Fifteen Dollar Note
Production date
1983
Country
Australia
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Object detail
Description
This is a satirical paper note coloured green, orange and white. On one side it depicts a bound, handcuffed and blindfolded figure of justice, highrises referring to Arab and Japanese interests a toad with the head of a man saying the quotation from the Daily Sun. On the other side is the figure of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen saying 'MY!! QLD IS A HAVEN etc.' He is much bigger than the large numbers of figures, many of whom are carrying signs protesting. To the right is a sign pointing to a homestead with cows out the front. The sign reads: 'NIPPOON RANCH'.
Classification
NUMISMATICS (NOTES) Spurious
Maker
Production date
1983
Production place
Measurements
L165 x W86 mm
Media/Materials description
Indeterminate (Paper)
Signature/Marks
<On one side from left to right (top to bottom) > 15 QUEENSLAND | ONE VOTE ONE VALUE | 15 / FIFTEEN DOLLARS 73 % REST OF US "The OLD GOAT HAS THE ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES BEAUTIFULLY RIGGED" DAILY SUN 25\4\83 / 27 % NATIONAL PARTY / VOTE 1 LABOR | AUTHORISED BY J. STEELE SEAMEN's UNION / TRADES HALL BRISBANE | Printed by Planet Press Pty Ltd. / 100 Bowen Street Spring HILL QLD. SUA 1983
<Inverse side from left to right (top to bottom) > 15 MY!! QLD /IS A HAVEN FOR CANCER QUACKS, "HYDROGEN CAR" SWINDLERS, "OIL SEED" ROGUES ..... QUEENSLAND / 15 YEARS OF RIGGED "DEMOCRACY"
<On the edge of one side > APan / APfredo.'
<Inverse side from left to right (top to bottom) > 15 MY!! QLD /IS A HAVEN FOR CANCER QUACKS, "HYDROGEN CAR" SWINDLERS, "OIL SEED" ROGUES ..... QUEENSLAND / 15 YEARS OF RIGGED "DEMOCRACY"
<On the edge of one side > APan / APfredo.'
History and use
This two-sided, satirical $15 note depicts a bound, handcuffed and blindfolded figure of justice and the figure of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.
The longest serving and most infamous of Queensland premiers, Sir Johannes (Joh) Bjelke-Petersen (1911-2005) ruled from 1968 to 1987. A Lutheran pastoralist of Danish descent, Bjelke-Petersen lived in Kingaroy and entered parliament in 1946 as the Country Party member for Nanango. He became Premier and leader of the Country Party (later the National Party).
During his time as Premier Sir Joh relentlessly pursued resource and construction expansion. His government and leadership divided Queensland, and marginalised opponents. Sir Joh’s absolute control manifested in a police state and corruption. Violent protests only served to cement his popularity and success. Those of liberal, democratic disposition labelled Bjelke-Petersen’s tactics backward, racist, populist, authoritarian and corrupt. By 1983, when this piece of political propaganda was made, Bjelke-Petersen had been Premier for 15 years, or as this note claims, ‘15 years of rigged democracy’.
Despite the widespread discontent of voters, the Nationals won the State election in 1983 and 1986 and in 1987 his supporters launched the “Joh for PM” campaign. Bjelke-Petersen remained Premier until the 1987 Royal Commission that exposed widespread corruption forced him to retire as Premier and Parliamentarian in 1988.
Uploaded to the Web 27 May 2011.
The longest serving and most infamous of Queensland premiers, Sir Johannes (Joh) Bjelke-Petersen (1911-2005) ruled from 1968 to 1987. A Lutheran pastoralist of Danish descent, Bjelke-Petersen lived in Kingaroy and entered parliament in 1946 as the Country Party member for Nanango. He became Premier and leader of the Country Party (later the National Party).
During his time as Premier Sir Joh relentlessly pursued resource and construction expansion. His government and leadership divided Queensland, and marginalised opponents. Sir Joh’s absolute control manifested in a police state and corruption. Violent protests only served to cement his popularity and success. Those of liberal, democratic disposition labelled Bjelke-Petersen’s tactics backward, racist, populist, authoritarian and corrupt. By 1983, when this piece of political propaganda was made, Bjelke-Petersen had been Premier for 15 years, or as this note claims, ‘15 years of rigged democracy’.
Despite the widespread discontent of voters, the Nationals won the State election in 1983 and 1986 and in 1987 his supporters launched the “Joh for PM” campaign. Bjelke-Petersen remained Premier until the 1987 Royal Commission that exposed widespread corruption forced him to retire as Premier and Parliamentarian in 1988.
Uploaded to the Web 27 May 2011.
Registration number
H46288
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