Mike Ahern, former Queensland premier, dead at 81

Former Queensland premier Mike Ahern has died at the age of 81.

The National Party leader only served as premier for two years, but he presided over one of the most tumultuous periods in Queensland's history. 

After taking over the leadership from Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Mr Ahern governed during the explosive Fitzgerald Inquiry into official corruption.

Yet Mr Ahern is largely overlooked in political history — dwarfed by the controversial Bjelke-Petersen era and then later by Wayne Goss's election victory that brought Labor out of 32 years of political wilderness.

But Mr Ahern will be remembered as a man of integrity who steered Queensland through a time of crisis.

In a statement, Mr Ahern's family said he was a man who "often fought against the will of his peers for the greater good of the people". 

Mr Ahern died "peacefully" on Friday morning in his hometown of Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast after a "brave battle with cancer", the statement said. 

Early life

Born into a dairy farming family in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Michael John Ahern followed his father's interest in Country Party politics.

He entered parliament in 1968.

Nicknamed the "Conondale Kid", at 25 he was the youngest MP ever elected in Queensland.

But the party old guard was suspicious of his youth, moderate views and tertiary education — he was the only Nationals MP with a degree — and he spent more than a decade on the backbench.

Mr Ahern was elevated to the ministry in 1980, holding a number of portfolios, most notably health and environment.

Nationals in crisis

By 1987, Sir Joh's leadership was starting to falter.

His "Joh for PM" campaign had tanked and the Fitzgerald Inquiry had inflicted mortal wounds.

Under pressure to resign, Sir Joh named a date, famously announcing he'd "retire on the 8th, of the 8th, 88".

But the party room would not wait.

Sir Joh tried to sack dissenters, Mr Ahern among them.

But Mr Ahern got in first. He told reporters at the time: "I have this morning had a conference with the Premier and I have asked him to stand down from his position".

Mr Ahern challenged for the leadership and won, but the governor would not appoint him.

It was an extraordinary stand-off.

Mr Ahern had the backing of Nationals MPs, but he had to admit to reporters he had not been able to throw out Sir Joh.

But after days of political freefall, Mr Ahern prevailed and immediately set about reforming a badly damaged party and government.

"The wheels are back under the green and gold bus," Mr Ahern said upon becoming premier in 1987.

"The new government in Queensland will be an innovative government, it will be a government that puts people first.

"We will be a consultative government and we will be a co-operative government. My vision for Queensland is a vision of excellence."

He inherited World Expo 88, the festival that launched Brisbane on the world stage, but his government barely got off the ground.

He struggled to bring the old guard with him, and widening the Fitzgerald Inquiry's terms of reference to include politicians did not help.

Mr Ahern later said: "I hesitated not for a moment knowing the cost in that for me, and for my government".

When receiving the long-awaited Fitzgerald Report, Mr Ahern uttered the phrase that defined his premiership.

"We'll be implementing the Fitzgerald recommendations lock, stock and barrel," he said.

Just 22 months into the job, Mr Ahern was toppled by his then-police minister Russell Cooper.

Two months later, the Nationals suffered defeat at the ballot box, breaking 32 years of conservative rule and ushering in a new era under Labor premier Wayne Goss.

After Mr Cooper's crushing election loss, Mr Ahern felt vindicated, telling the ABC: "My party moved thinking I was the problem … I think with hindsight they've had it demonstrated otherwise."

Political retirement

Mike Ahern quit politics in 1990.

Flanked by his wife Andrea and five children, he told reporters he would do it all again.

"I have no regrets at all — I'm very proud of the achievements which I've had — and I'd just advise any others, any kids that are looking at serving, there's no tougher job that I know," Mr Ahern said in 1990.

Mr Ahern later became a successful businessman, and was awarded an Order of Australia for his services to everything from politics and trade relations, to education and charities.

In 2010, he was the recipient of the Queensland Greats Awards.

'Defied the premier of the day'

Mr Ahern's willingness to go "against the will of his peers" was most evident as health minister in the 1980s when he "protected the state's Indigenous community" from AIDS, his family's statement read. 

"He defied the premier of the day to order blood tests on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population and stop an epidemic and save hundreds of lives," they said. 

"As AIDS hysteria was sweeping the state he openly held the hand of a man with HIV.

"Throughout his political life he led by example."

'Mike, your job is done, rest in peace'

Mr Ahern was with his wife Andrea and his five children, Louise, Claire, John, Christine and Sharon, when he died. 

They described a "loving, kind and generous" father with a "lively humour", who was "tall in stature and big in heart", whose great love in his later years was to spend time with his 10 grandchildren in his home of more than half a century, at Shelley Beach Caloundra. 

But his "greatest achievement by far" was as a loyal husband to his wife of 52 years, Andrea — "an undying love that stayed strong to the very end". 

Mr Ahern became premier at the state's "most troubled time", the statement read. 

"Mike would often reflect on his time as premier of Queensland and say, 'it was my job to do to clean up corruption in the state'.

"Mike, your job is done, rest in peace."

'A good and decent man'

Former colleague Rob Borbidge, who later took over as National Party leader and served as premier from 1996 to 1998, said he was saddened by Mr Ahern's passing.

"It's very sad news… I always had the utmost respect for him," Mr Borbidge said.

"I was first appointed as a minister under Mike Ahern… he was a very relaxed and good person to work for.

"Mike was a good and decent man who made a great contribution to Queensland and was a great public servant."

Mr Borbidge said Mr Ahern's legacy was the "reinvention of government in Queensland" following the Fitzgerald Inquiry.

"It's often thought that Labor were responsible for introducing much of the Fitzgerald Commission of Inquiry reforms and certainly, they played a very significant part.

"I knew that that time in office took its toll on Mike and his family." 

Federal National Party leader David Littleproud also paid tribute to Mr Ahern.

"The National Party family has lost one of its greatest today," he said.

“It is difficult to describe all that Mike Ahern achieved and stood for but integrity is what Mike Ahern embodied in all that he did during his time in public office."

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Mr Ahern "led his party with gravitas". 

"Mike was a prodigy and widely recognised for his intellect and wisdom beyond his years," Mr Dutton said. 

"Commendably, he was never conceited, retaining the humility, conscientiousness and work ethic of his country upbringing."

'Let the sun shine'

Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli said Mr Ahern had "let the sun shine on government in Queensland".

"The decisions he made laid the foundations for integrity in government," he said. 

"The actions and legacy of Mike Ahern still strongly resonate with Queenslanders today."

Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie said Mr Ahern started Queensland on the "road to honesty" in government.

"He was a thoroughly honest and decent person; indeed one of a kind. He had my deep respect."

LNP president Lawrence Springborg remembered Mr Ahern for being "very statesman-like" in his contribution to the Queensland parliament.

"I found that he was always a person very much driven by values and decency," he said.