 Although this move lost him the favour of the people, after 1865 it helped to preserve his £5000 investment.Whish tried and failed to win the seat of East Moreton in the Queensland Legislative Assembly elections in 1867, and a committee on Pacific island labour was informed that whippings had taken place on Whish's estate.This evidence gained little credence, and as a justice for peace and a deeply religious man, Whish was appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council in June 1870.