Mike Ahern interviewed by Lindsay Marshall and Malcolm McMillan in the Decades of Division oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 5037581
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Ahern, M. J. (Michael John), 1942-, interviewee
- Online Access:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2010
- 4 sound files (ca. 370 min.)
- Series:
- Decades of Division oral history project.
- Technical Details:
- Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.
- Summary:
-
Mike Ahern talks about his family involvement in politics; his initial involvement in Country Party politics; his early political influences and experiences at University of Queensland; the change in Queensland politics with Joh Bjelke-Petersen as Premier; quality of advice given to the government from the public service in the late 1960s and the relationship between public servant and ministers; relationship between Coalition parties in the late 1960s; influential ministers in the late 1960s; the claims of a Catholic-versus-Protestant division between Ahern and Bjelke-Petersen; politicking in the 1960s and 1970s and work of the Ahern committee on education; the capabilities of National Party organisational team; the quality of opposition provided by the Labor Party; tensions at the time of the 1972 state election; Bjelke-Petersen's opposition to the Whitlam government; the attitude of 11 Labor Party MPs remaining after the 1974 state election landslide, the problems for the government of having a huge majority; his expectations of attaining a ministry after the 1974 state election; the repercussions of the Country Party's name-change to National Party; views on the government-controlled electoral system and its impact on non-government parties; the relationship between Joh Bjelke-Petersen and Liberal Party leaders; his views on the events surrounding the Coalition split (Aug. 1983); Constitutional convention, referendum; his recollection of events surrounding the 1982 controversy over the appointment of the Queensland Chief Justice; his appointment as Minister for Industry, Small Business and Technology.
Ahern discusses the move of Don Lane and Brian Austin to the National Party following the 1983 state election; Sir Edward Lyons; Sir Roderick Proctor; his recollections of events surrounding the 'Joh for PM' campaign; his recollection of circumstances leading to the establishment of the Fitzgerald Commission of Inquiry; the Fitzgerald Inquiry's work and likely findings; the political impact of the Fitzgerald Inquiry on the National Party; his motives for committing to implement Fitzgerald Inquiry's recommendations; his leadership and leadership challenges; the relationship with the Hawke Government during the Fitzgerald Inquiry; his views as a new premier on how well the state was being run and the changes needed in economic strategy; Russell Cooper's successful challenge for the premiership; the purchase of Brisbane CBD land known as Queensland Place; response within the National Party to the election of the Labor Party to government under Wayne Goss in December 1989; the decision to quit politics; having to seek employment after 22 years in politics; how to balance personal and political relationships; how the Ahern Government will be remembered by history; his decision to stay out of political involvement after resigning as an MP and work as a Trade Commissioner; maintaining a low profile post-politics and his views on contemporary politics.
- Notes:
-
- This interview was conducted in association with the Queensland Chapter of the Don Dunstan Foundation and the National Library of Australia.
- Recorded on 13 and 20 November 2010 in Caloundra, Qld.
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (12 p.) and corrected transcript (typescript, 128 leaves)
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Decades of Division oral history project.
This collection contains 20 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2080 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2010
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