Brisbane Camarilla History
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Brisbane's in game history mirrors that of the real world up until the mid 1980's. From there it deviates merely by a matter of degree. There are supernatural interferences, undercurrents and secrets both historical and current but by and large the result is a city that is very much the same as you experience today.
NOTE: What follows reflects darkly the recent political history of Queensland. Historical figures have been replaced by fictional ones, and while the former inform the later in the broadest of broad strokes they are just fantasy constructs. The intent is never to denigrate anyone's beliefs - political, religious or otherwise.
A Brief Mundane History
In the mid eighties Queensland politics and police were rife with nepotism and corruption. A series of newspaper exposes lead to the formation of the Fitzgerald Inquiry and ultimately the fall of the incumbent National Party after 32 years in power.
In the political turmoil that ensued emerged the voice of Peter Dunn, a young Labor backbencher and former Anglican Priest. Peter's calls for genuine reform across all areas of government and beyond was at first derided as naivety but he struck a chord with the public and eventually rode a wave of popular support into the office of the Premier. He then surprised both his critics and supporters by actually enacting his campaign promises.
The police force and state bureaucracy were ruthlessly cleansed of corruption. Where in 1985 it had been difficult to find an honest cop in Queensland, by 1990 it was almost impossible to find a dirty one. The police force underwent a massive change. Heavy recruiting saw it expand despite losing so many to corruption charges, serious money was put into modernising and improving efficiency and efficacy. Quietly Queensland became a police state, with no objections raised as the public sentiment was that the government and the police had moral authority.
Other areas of the State and City were also heavily invested in - Infrastructure, culture and the arts. As a former priest Peter Dunn also consulted with religious leaders of many denominations and promoted the church's place in his vision for a healthy society.
In 2009 Peter Dunn announced his retirement from politics. His successor, Susanne Wolfe, continued his legacy but never achieved the popularity or reputation of Dunn. In the wake of the Global Financial Crisis and a series of natural disasters the electorate turned against Wolfe and elected the Liberal Carter Burke in 2012.
Carter Burke ran on a platform of fiscal responsibly and strong family values. His campaign tried to invoke the moral values and certainty that took Peter Dunn to power 20 years before. However once in power the public learned Carter was a very different animal.
Public service, infrastructure and cultural spending were slashed. The Police Ethics Board was disbanded and in mid 2012 police were used to meet a protest by union workers on the streets of Brisbane. While there was no reported violence, there were three police officers for every protester present. The show of overwhelming police force was demoralising to the protest and confronting for the public.
Carter's family values also turned out to be of a more fundamentalist bent. Church leaders, formerly welcomed into political discussions, were suddenly marginalised.
As it stands now:
Politics: After twenty years of stability Queensland has been put into new hands. A whole generation has grown up with no need to question the honesty of their leaders, now they are confronted with a stereotypical politician. Whether Carter Burke will lead the state back into the bad old days of corruption, or that his radical conservatism is what is required in these times of uncertainty has yet to be decided.
Police: The Police force is massive and well funded, with 20 year history of being incorruptible. However recent across the board pay cuts for officers and the disbanding of the Police Ethics Board may allow corruption a new foothold in the force.
Underworld: For the last twenty years the police have been powerful and efficient. Open crime has been eradicated. What organised crime still exists is underground, vicious and efficient. Criminals with any hope of longevity cannot afford mistakes and do not suffer fools. It is rumoured that most organised crime in the state is managed from inside prisons.
Street: The gap between rich and poor has never been wider, and the life on the street never harder. The police have perfected the moving along of the destitute and homeless to keep city streets neat. The poor have been herded into industrial estates where they are out of sight and mind. With social services recently being slashed and the police becoming more forceful, pressure is building in these ghettos. Where it will be released nobody knows.
High Society: The rich have benefited greatly from decades of prosperity and the latest regime promises to continue that prosperity, at least for the one percent. They relax in their riverside apartments, meet at their exclusive clubs and dine at $10,000 a plate fund raisers. Still the economy is not what it once was, who knows what the rich might be forced to do to stay on top.
Church: The church has enjoyed great prominence over the last twenty years but now they are on the outer with the state. Do they throw in with the black and white, fundamental conservatism of the new government, or do they oppose them as a moral alternative? The churches need to choose a side and make a stand or risk becoming irrelevant.
Finance, Industry and Transport: Finance and industry are shrinking. Unions are reacting and meeting resistance. Brisbane is a transport hub for the state and that will not change in the near future, still the economic downturn and rising fuel prices places pressure even here.