High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Michael John Ahern AO (born 2 June 1942) is a former Queensland 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 amidst 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.