Assessment
In many ways, Nicklin broke the mould of Queensland Premiers. He stands out for not being an authoritarian, a populist or an autocrat. He was willing to share the power for which he had been forced to wait many years, and he was prepared to defer to those whom he knew had greater knowledge or talent than he. Both of these traits made his Government successful. His greatest achievement was probably the mere fact that his Premiership was such a quiet and uneventful time. He was friendly and well liked by the people of Queensland, and was known as 'the gentleman Premier'.
Still, there is some debate over whether Nicklin's geniality was entirely genuine or whether it concealed an iron fist. There were rumours that he inspired fear in his cabinet, although this is common among successful Premiers and Prime Ministers. He remains something of a paradox – cunning and powerful yet open, honest and outwardly benevolent. Not the wisest or most talented of Queensland Premiers, he nonetheless achieved a good deal in the harsh political environment of Queensland without open and outward displays of power and authoritarianism. He was lucky to have been in office during a time of stability and prosperity, but even so his Premiership is generally considered by commentators to have been a success.
The state electorate of Nicklin and the Nicklin Way arterial road, both based on the Sunshine Coast, are named in his honour.
Read more about this topic: Frank Nicklin
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