Mike Ahern (Australian politician)

Mike Ahern
Ahern in 1988
32nd Premier of Queensland
In office
1 December 1987 – 25 September 1989
MonarchElizabeth II
GovernorWalter Campbell
DeputyBill Gunn
Preceded byJoh Bjelke-Petersen
Succeeded byRussell Cooper
39th Treasurer of Queensland
In office
1 December 1987 – 25 September 1989
Preceded byJoh Bjelke-Petersen
Succeeded byRussell Cooper
9th Leader of the National Party in Queensland
In office
26 November 1987 – 25 September 1989
DeputyBill Gunn
Preceded byJoh Bjelke-Petersen
Succeeded byRussell Cooper
Minister for Environment and Health of Queensland
In office
1 December 1986 – 25 November 1987
PremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded byBrian Austin
Succeeded byKev Lingard
Minister for Industry, Small Business and Technology of Queensland
In office
7 November 1983 – 1 December 1986
PremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded byBill Gunn
Succeeded byPeter McKechnie
(Industry and Technology)
Vince Lester
(Small Business)
Minister for Primary Industries of Queensland
In office
17 July 1980 – 7 November 1983
PremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded byVic Sullivan
Succeeded byNeil Turner
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Landsborough
In office
16 March 1968 – 16 May 1990
Preceded byFrank Nicklin
Succeeded byJoan Sheldon
Personal details
Born(1942-06-02)2 June 1942
Maleny, Queensland, Australia
Died11 August 2023(2023-08-11) (aged 81)
Caloundra, Queensland, Australia
Political partyNational Party
Spouse
Andrea Meyer
(m. 1971)
Alma materUniversity of Queensland
OccupationGrazier

Michael John Ahern AO FTSE (2 June 1942 – 11 August 2023) was an Australian National Party politician who was Premier of Queensland from December 1987 to September 1989. After a long career in the government of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Ahern became his successor amid the controversy caused by the Fitzgerald Inquiry into official corruption. Ahern's consensus style and political moderation contrasted strongly with Bjelke-Petersen's leadership, but he could not escape the division and strife caused by his predecessor's downfall.