Ahern, Michael John, AO (Mike)
Personal
Birth Date:
2 June 1942 (Maleny, Queensland)
Death Date:
11 August 2023 (Caloundra, Queensland)
Parents:
John James Ahern and Gwendoline May (nee Thornton)
Family:
Andrea Mary Louise Meyer on 17 April 1971, 1 son, 4 daughters
Education:
Conondale State Primary School; Downlands College, Toowoomba; Bachelor of Agricultural Science, University of Queensland; Hon. DUniv (QUT), MAIAS, FTSE, FQIMR, FAMI, FAIM
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Career
Grazier; Premier Nicklin's Campaign Manager; Businessman; Chairman, Australian Liver Foundation since 2007
Party Positions:
- Federal President, Young Australian Country Party. 1967 - 1969
- Junior Vice-President. 1968
- Secretary of the Parliamentary Party. 1972
- State President, Young Australian Country Party (Qld). 1968
Parliamentary Representation
| House | Party | Electorate | From | To | Elected/Departure Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly | CN | Landsborough | 16 Mar 1968 | 6 May 1990 | Retired |
Parliamentary Service
| Description | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Minister for State Development | 19 Jan 1989 | 25 Sep 1989 |
| Premier | 9 Dec 1987 | 25 Sep 1989 |
| Treasurer | 9 Dec 1987 | 25 Sep 1989 |
| Minister for the Arts | 9 Dec 1987 | 25 Sep 1989 |
| Premier (and eight other portfolios during the interim Ahern ministry) | 1 Dec 1987 | 9 Dec 1987 |
| Minister for Health and Environment | 1 Dec 1986 | 25 Nov 1987 |
| Minister for Industry, Small Business and Technology | 7 Nov 1983 | 1 Dec 1986 |
| Minister for Primary Industries | 29 Jul 1980 | 7 Nov 1983 |
| Chairman, Select Committee on Education | 4 Apr 1978 | 31 Jan 1980 |
| Chairman, Privileges Committee | 7 Apr 1976 | 7 Jun 1979 |
| Chairman, Select Committee on Punishment of Crimes of Violence | 1974 | |
| Government Whip | 1972 | 1980 |
Additional Information
Notes:
Interests include theatre, ballet, tennis, walking and gardening. Member, Australian Institute of Agricultural Scientists and Tropical Grasslands Society and the Paul Harris Fellowship Rotary Foundation. He served on the Board of Governors of the ATSE Clunies Ross Foundation. Premier Ahern introduced a number of social reforms including protection from domestic violence, confiscation of the profits of crime and the redevelopment of the Expo 88 site. Premier Ahern promised to implement all recommendations of the Fitzgerald Inquiry into police corruption. In an effort to introduce accountability to the Queensland Government, he reformed Corrective Services and the Public Service. He also introduced ministerial guidelines, the Members Register of Interests and legislation to establish the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission. A final public sector initiative made by Ahern was the replacement of the Queensland Government Development Authority with the Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC). After his resignation from parliament on 6 May 1990, he began a successful business career. Appointed special trade representative for the Beattie Government in Dec 1999
Sources:
J Fouras, ‘Electoral District of Landsborough: Resignation of Member’, Queensland, Debates, 8 May 1990, p 1102; Who's Who Australia Online (East Melbourne: ConnectWeb); Image sourced from the collection of the Queensland Parliamentary Library and Research Service; Murphy, Denis, et al, eds, 'Michael John Ahern', The Premiers of Queensland, 3rd edition (St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, 2003)
[Last Modified: Thursday, 17 August 2023]