Ahern ministry

The Ahern Ministry was a ministry of the Australian Government of Queensland and was led by National Party Premier Mike Ahern and Deputy Premier Bill Gunn. It succeeded the Bjelke-Petersen Ministry on 1 December 1987 following Joh Bjelke-Petersen's resignation as Premier and from Parliament, and was in turn succeeded by the Cooper Ministry on 25 September 1989, led by Russell Cooper.

As the National Party was not in coalition at the time, all listed members are from that party.

## Two-man ministry

[edit]

Due to the speed of the unusual events leading to the demise of the previous ministry, the initial Ahern Ministry consisted simply of Ahern and Gunn sharing all of the portfolios until a full Cabinet could be appointed and details of all other administrative arrangements could be finalised. It was sworn in by Governor Walter Campbell on 1 December 1987. The appointments of all previous ministers were terminated.[1]

Office  | Minister

|

Premier
Treasurer
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Main Roads
Minister for Racing
Minister for Transport
Minister for Education, Training and Technology
Minister for Water Resources and Maritime Services
Minister for Tourism, National Parks and Sport
Minister for Family Services, Youth and Ethnic Affairs
Minister for Justice
Attorney-General
Minister for Health
Minister for the Environment

| Mike Ahern, BAgrSc

Deputy Premier
Minister Assisting the Treasurer
Minister for Police
Minister for Works
Minister for Housing
Minister for Industry
Minister for Lands, Forestry, Mapping and Surveying
Minister for Employment, Small Business and Industrial Affairs
Minister for Primary Industries
Minister for Northern Development
Minister for Community Services
Minister for Corrective Services
Minister for Administrative Services and Valuation
Minister for Mines and Energy
Minister for the Arts

| Bill Gunn

## Full ministry

[edit]

A full ministry was sworn in on 9 December 1987. The Ministry largely reflected the membership and order of the Bjelke-Petersen Ministry prior to 25 November 1987, but Russ Hinze, Don Lane, Lin Powell (who had been elected Speaker on 2 December) and Yvonne Chapman were not re-appointed. Five new ministers were appointed to fill the vacancies.[2]

On 19 January 1989, Ahern reshuffled the ministry, removing Leisha Harvey and appointing Craig Sherrin to replace her.[3]

In August 1989, Russell Cooper nominated to replace Ahern at a party-room meeting, with Paul Clauson as his deputy. The bid failed, and both ministers and Bob Katter resigned on 29 August. On 31 August, a reshuffle took place and three new ministers were appointed.[4] This final version of the ministry lasted until a second attempt by Cooper to gain the leadership was successful on 25 September.

Office  | Minister

|

Premier
Treasurer
Minister for State Development (from 19 January 1989)
Minister for the Arts

| Mike Ahern, BAgrSc

Deputy Premier
Minister for Works
Minister for Housing (from 19 January 1989)
Minister for Main Roads and Expo
Minister for Police (until 19 January 1989)

| Bill Gunn

Minister for Transport (until 19 January 1989)
Minister for Health (from 19 January 1989)

| Ivan Gibbs
Minister for Land Management | Bill Glasson

Minister for Finance
Minister Assisting the Premier and Treasurer

| Brian Austin
Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Affairs  | Vince Lester

Minister for Mines and Energy
Minister for Northern Development (from 19 January 1989)

| Martin Tenni
Minister for Primary Industries | Neville Harper

Minister for the Environment and Conservation
Minister for Tourism (until 19 January 1989)
Minister for Forestry (from 19 January 1989)

| Geoff Muntz

Minister for Family Services, Welfare and Housing
(until 19 January 1989)
Minister for Transport (from 19 January 1989)

| Peter McKechnie

Minister for Northern Development (until 19 January 1989)
Minister for Community Services and Ethnic Affairs

| Bob Katter
Minister for Water Resources and Maritime Services  | Don Neal

Attorney-General
Minister for Justice
Minister for Corrective Services (from 19 January 1989)

| Paul Clauson

Minister for Industry, Small Business and Technology
Minister for Tourism (from 19 January 1989)

| Rob Borbidge

Minister for Local Government
Minister for Racing

| Jim Randell

Minister for Corrective Services (until 19 January 1989)
Minister for Police and Emergency Services (from 19 January 1989)
Minister for Administrative Services

| Russell Cooper
Minister for Health | Leisha Harvey, BA, Dip.Teach.
(until 19 January 1989)
Minister for Education, Youth and Sport  | Brian Littleproud
Minister for Family Services  | Craig Sherrin, BSc, Dip.Ed., MEdSt
(from 19 January 1989)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ahern, M. J., Premier (2 December 1987). "Ministerial Statement: Changes in Ministry" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Parliament of Queensland: Legislative Assembly. pp. 4802–4804.
2. ^ Ahern, M. J., Premier (8 March 1988). "Ministerial Statement: Changes in Ministry, Leader of the House, Government Whip" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Parliament of Queensland: Legislative Assembly. pp. 4844–4845.
3. ^ Ahern, M. J., Premier (7 March 1989). "Ministerial Statement: Changes in Ministry". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Parliament of Queensland: Legislative Assembly. pp. 3347–3348.
4. ^ Ahern, M. J., Premier (5 September 1989). "Ministerial Statement: Changes in Ministry". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Parliament of Queensland: Legislative Assembly. pp. 297–298.

* Hughes, Colin A. (2002). A handbook of Australian government and politics, 1985-1999. Federation Press. pp. 112–113\. ISBN 1-86287-434-4.

Preceded by

Bjelke-Petersen Ministry

|  Ahern Ministry
1987–1989  | Succeeded by

Cooper Ministry

|
|

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