Conservative governments versus active trade unions; the more disputes change, they more they remain eerily similar.

In the final week of 2015, a royal commission into union corruption – appointed by former prime minister Tony Abbott – recommended charges be laid against a senior Queensland CFMEU official and two senior Queensland business figures.

Lights out: 17,500 homes went into darkness in Brisbane each night during the 1985 standoff.

Now Queensland cabinet documents released on Friday shed light on the actions 30 years ago of the ultra-conservative Bjelke-Petersen government during the very bitter dispute between the Electrical Trades Union and the government.

In February 1985 the Queensland government sided with the South East Queensland Electrical Generating Board - who wanted to be able to employ cheaper casual staff - and sacked 1000 Electrical Trades Union staff.