Mike Ahern’s cause of death and obituary will be dissected herein after death laid its icy hands on him. The former Queensland premier and father of Today Show reporter Christine Ahern died after a cancer battle.
The sad news was confirmed by her daughter, Ahern, who released a statement on behalf of the family that celebrated her father’s passion for positivity and thanked him for being a loving father and grandfather.
Who was Mike Arhen?
When Mike Ahern served as the state’s premier from 1987 to 1989, he combated corruption in the state. He was awarded the Order of Australia. His brief tenure as National Party leader followed the resignation of his disgraced former boss, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who had led the Sunshine State for a record 19 years at a time of widespread police corruption and payments from developers.
‘Mike was passionate about making life better for all Queenslanders,’ his family wrote.
Mike Arhen age
Mike Arhen was 81 years old when he died. He was born in 1942.
Mike Ahern cause of death and obituary
Mike Ahern had been battling cancer, and unfortunately, he lost the fight. ‘Among all he achieved, he was proudest of establishing the Queensland Community Foundation and being chairman of the Liver Foundation,’ the statement that announced his death from the family listed his achievements.
‘He often fought against the will of his peers for the greater good of the people. This was most evident when he protected the state’s indigenous community from the AIDS virus when he was Health Minister in the 80s.
‘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.
‘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.
‘He took over the reigns as Premier at Queensland’s most troubled time. He implemented the Fitzgerald report “lock, stock and barrel”. Despite it inevitably cutting short his political career he was always satisfied he had made the state a better place for all.’
The famous Fitzgerald inquiry probed Queensland police misconduct after it was discovered that they were involved in prostitution and unlawful gambling.
The report’s conclusions also supported the state’s systematic political corruption and outright power abuses. Mike Ahern passed away with Christine, his wife Andrea, and Christine’s siblings Louise, Claire, John, and Sharon by his side.
The well-known politician also had ten grandkids who frequently came to see him at his Shelley Beach residence in Caloundra, the Sunshine Coast town where he was raised.
‘He was a wonderful Dad. Loving, kind and generous with a lively sense of humor. He was tall in stature and big in heart. A thoroughly decent man who provided us all with the best role model in life,’ the family wrote.
‘But by far his greatest achievement in life was that of being a loyal husband to Andrea for 52 years. An undying love that stayed strong to the very end.
‘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.’
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