Bjelke-Petersen ministry


The Bjelke-Petersen Ministry was a ministry of the Government of Queensland and was led by Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who led the Country Party and its successor, the National Party. It succeeded the Chalk Ministry on 8 August 1968 as part of a series of events following the death of former Premier Jack Pizzey on 31 July. It was succeeded by the Ahern Ministry on 1 December 1987 following Bjelke-Petersen's resignation as Premier.
All lists below are ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index. Blue entries indicate members of the Liberal Party, while non-shaded entries indicate members of the Country or National Party.

First ministry

The first Bjelke-Petersen ministry was sworn in by Governor Alan Mansfield on 8 August 1968, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 29 May 1969. It was almost unchanged from the Pizzey Ministry and Chalk Ministry. Max Hodges was appointed to fill the cabinet vacancy caused by Jack Pizzey's death, and the roles vacated by Bjelke-Petersen on becoming Premier.
OfficeMinister

Premier

Minister for State Development
Joh Bjelke-Petersen

Deputy Premier

Treasurer
Gordon Chalk

Minister for Mines

Minister for Main Roads

Minister for Electricity
Ron Camm
Attorney-General
Minister for Justice
Peter Delamothe, OBE, MBBS

Minister for Education

Minister for Cultural Activities
Alan Fletcher
Minister for Local Government and ConservationHarold Richter
Minister for Primary IndustriesJohn Row
Minister for HealthDouglas Tooth
Minister for Labour and TourismJohn Herbert
Minister for TransportWilliam Knox
Minister for Industrial DevelopmentFred Campbell
Minister for LandsVic Sullivan

Minister for Works

Minister for Housing
Max Hodges

Second ministry

On 29 May 1969, following the 1969 election on 17 May, the Ministry was reconstituted by the Administrator, William Mack, due to the Governor's absence, and served until the next reconstitution of the ministry on 20 June 1972. There were almost no changes—Harold Richter retired from politics, and Nev Hewitt was appointed to the resulting cabinet vacancy. On 4 September 1969, the cabinet was expanded from 13 to 14 members, and Wally Rae was appointed.
On 19 December 1971, Peter Delamothe, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, resigned to take up an appointment as Agent-General of Queensland. His position in the ministry was left vacant for the remainder of the term, while William Knox was appointed to his former roles.
OfficeMinister

Premier

Minister for State Development
Joh Bjelke-Petersen

Deputy Premier

Treasurer
Gordon Chalk

Minister for Mines

Minister for Main Roads

Minister for Electricity
Ron Camm
Attorney-General
Minister for Justice
Peter Delamothe, OBE, MBBS

Minister for Education

Minister for Cultural Activities
Alan Fletcher
Minister for Primary IndustriesJohn Row
Minister for Health
Douglas Tooth
Minister for Labour and Tourism
John Herbert

Minister for Transport

Attorney-General

Minister for Justice
William Knox
Minister for Industrial DevelopmentFred Campbell
Minister for LandsVic Sullivan

Minister for Works

Minister for Housing
Max Hodges

Minister for Local Government and Marine Activities


Minister for Conservation, Marine and Aboriginal Affairs
Nev Hewitt

Minister for Local Government

Minister for Electricity
Wally Rae

Third ministry

On 20 June 1972, following the 1972 election on 27 May, the Ministry was reconstituted by the Governor, Sir Colin Hannah, and served until the next reconstitution of the ministry on 23 December 1974. John Row retired from Parliament, and a further cabinet vacancy existed due to Delamothe's departure in December 1971. Keith Hooper and Henry McKechnie were appointed to fill the vacancies.
OfficeMinister

Premier
Joh Bjelke-Petersen

Deputy Premier

Treasurer
Sir Gordon Chalk, K.B.E.

Minister for Mines

Minister for Main Roads
Ron Camm

Attorney-General

Minister for Justice
William Knox

Minister for Education

Minister for Cultural Activities
Sir Alan Fletcher
Minister for HealthDouglas Tooth

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Welfare Services
John Herbert

Minister for Development and Industrial Affairs
Fred Campbell
Minister for Primary IndustriesVic Sullivan

Minister for Works

Minister for Housing
Max Hodges
Minister for Conservation, Marine and Aboriginal AffairsNev Hewitt, M.M., A.F.M.
Minister for Lands and ForestryWally Rae
Minister for TransportKeith Hooper
Minister for Local Government and Electricity
Henry McKechnie
Minister for Local Government and Electricity
Russ Hinze

Fourth ministry

On 23 December 1974, following the 1974 election on 7 December, the Ministry was reconstituted, and served until a reshuffle on 13 August 1976. Sir Alan Fletcher and Douglas Tooth retired from politics and left the ministry, while Wally Rae was appointed Agent-General of Queensland on 6 December. They were replaced by Tom Newbery, Ken Tomkins and Llew Edwards.
On 10 March 1975, the ministry grew from 14 to 18 offices.
OfficeMinister

Premier
Joh Bjelke-Petersen

Deputy Premier

Treasurer
Sir Gordon Chalk, K.B.E., LL.D.

Minister for Mines and Energy
Ron Camm

Attorney-General

Minister for Justice
William Knox

Minister for Community and Welfare Services

Minister for Sport
John Herbert

Minister for Industrial Development

Minister for Labour Relations and Consumer Affairs
Fred Campbell

Minister for Primary Industries

Minister for Fisheries
Vic Sullivan

Minister for Police

Minister for Works

Minister for Housing
Max Hodges

Minister for Water Resources

Minister for Marine Services

Minister for Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement
Nev Hewitt, M.M., A.F.M.
Minister for TransportKeith Hooper

Minister for Local Government

Minister for Main Roads
Russ Hinze

Minister for Tourism

Minister for Education

Minister for Cultural Activities

Minister for Marine Services
Tom Newbery

Minister for Lands and Forestry

Minister for National Parks and Wildlife Service
Ken Tomkins
Minister for HealthLlew Edwards, MBBS

Minister for Education

Minister for Cultural Activities
Val Bird

Minister for Works

Minister for Housing
Norm Lee

Minister for Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement
Minister for Fisheries
Claude Wharton
Minister for Survey, Valuation and Urban & Regional AffairsBill Lickiss, Q.G.M.

Reconstitution

On 13 August 1976, Deputy Premier and Liberal leader Sir Gordon Chalk resigned, resulting in a reshuffle. William Knox replaced Chalk in his roles, while John Greenwood was appointed to the vacant position in the ministry.
Keith Hooper, Minister for Transport and Liberal member for Greenslopes, died on 23 August 1977. Fred Campbell added Transport to his roles for the remainder of the parliamentary term.
OfficeMinister

Premier
Joh Bjelke-Petersen

Deputy Premier

Treasurer
William Knox

Minister for Mines and Energy
Ron Camm

Minister for Community and Welfare Services

Minister for Sport
John Herbert

Minister for Industrial Development

Minister for Labour Relations and Consumer Affairs

Minister for Transport
Fred Campbell

Minister for Primary Industries
Vic Sullivan

Minister for Tourism

Minister for Marine Services
Max Hodges

Minister for Water Resources
Nev Hewitt, M.M., A.F.M.
Minister for TransportKeith Hooper

Minister for Local Government

Minister for Main Roads
Russ Hinze
Minister for PoliceTom Newbery

Minister for Lands and Forestry

Minister for National Parks and Wildlife Service
Ken Tomkins
Minister for HealthLlew Edwards, MBBS

Minister for Education

Minister for Cultural Activities
Val Bird

Minister for Works

Minister for Housing
Norm Lee

Minister for Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement
Minister for Fisheries
Claude Wharton
Attorney-General

Minister for Justice
Bill Lickiss, Q.G.M.
Minister for Survey, Valuation and Urban & Regional AffairsJohn Greenwood, BA, LL.B.

Fifth Ministry

On 16 December 1977, following the 1977 election on 12 November, the Ministry was reconstituted. Due to the death of Keith Hooper on 23 August 1977, there was a vacancy in the outgoing ministry, to which Charles Porter was appointed.
A number of minor changes occurred:
OfficeMinister

Premier
Joh Bjelke-Petersen

Deputy Premier

Treasurer

Minister for Health
William Knox

Minister for Mines and Energy

Minister for Police

Minister for Maritime Services

Minister for Tourism
Ron Camm

Minister for Labour Relations
Fred Campbell

Minister for Welfare
John Herbert

Minister for Primary Industries

Minister for Mines and Energy
Vic Sullivan

Minister for Maritime Services

Minister for Tourism
Max Hodges

Minister for Lands and Forestry

Minister for Water Resources
Nev Hewitt, M.M., A.F.M.

Minister for Local Government

Minister for Main Roads

Minister for Police
Russ Hinze
Minister for Culture, National Parks and RecreationTom Newbery
Minister for TransportKen Tomkins

Minister for Health

Deputy Premier

Treasurer
Llew Edwards, MBBS
Minister for EducationVal Bird
Minister for Industry and Administrative ServicesNorm Lee

Minister for Works

Minister for Housing
Claude Wharton

Attorney-General

Minister for Justice

Minister for Welfare
Bill Lickiss
Minister for Survey, ValuationJohn Greenwood, BA, LL.B.
Minister for Aboriginal and Island AffairsCharles Porter
Minister for WelfareSam Doumany

Minister for Maritime Services

Minister for Tourism
Max Hooper
Minister for Culture, National Parks and RecreationIvan Gibbs
Minister for Primary IndustriesMike Ahern

Eighth Ministry

On 1 December 1986, following the 1986 election on 1 November, the Ministry was reconstituted by the Governor, Walter Campbell, and served until the Ahern Ministry was sworn in on 1 December 1987. Neil Turner left Parliament, and Paul Clauson was appointed to the resulting cabinet vacancy. As with the Seventh Ministry, all cabinet members were members of the National Party.
On 25 November 1987, Bjelke-Petersen dismissed three ministers and appointed replacements. The following day, a meeting of 48 of the 49 National members was convened, and a spill motion was carried 39–8, after which a ballot was held for the leadership, which was won by Mike Ahern. Ahern phoned the Governor and arranged to forward a document signed by 47 members to Government House supporting his leadership. On 1 December, after significant pressure and realising his position, Bjelke-Petersen resigned, and an hour later, all ministers' commissions were terminated and a two-man Ahern Ministry was sworn in.
OfficeMinister

Premier

Treasurer
Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, KCMG

Deputy Premier

Minister Assisting the Treasurer

Minister for Police
Bill Gunn

Minister for Local Government

Minister for Main Roads

Minister for Racing
Russ Hinze

Minister for Works

Minister for Housing

Minister for Industry
Ivan Gibbs

Minister for Health

Minister for the Environment
Mike Ahern, BAgrSc
Minister for TransportDon Lane
Minister for Lands, Forestry, Mapping and SurveyingBill Glasson

Minister for Mines and Energy

Minister for the Arts
Brian Austin

Minister for Education

Minister for Training and Technology
Lin Powell
Minister for Employment, Small Business and Industrial AffairsVince Lester
Minister for Water Resources and Maritime ServicesMartin Tenni
Minister for Primary IndustriesNeville Harper
Minister for Tourism, National Parks and SportGeoff Muntz
Minister for Industry and TechnologyPeter McKechnie
Minister for Northern Development and Community ServicesBob Katter
Minister for Family Services, Youth and Ethnic AffairsYvonne Chapman
Minister for Corrective Services, Administrative Services and ValuationDon Neal

Attorney-General

Minister for Justice
Paul Clauson

Minister for Mines and Energy

Minister for the Arts
Gordon Simpson

Minister for Health

Minister for the Environment
Kev Lingard, BA, Dip.Ed.