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Premier | Date of birth | Premier |
---|---|---|
Russell Cooper | 4 February 1941 | 1989 |
Mike Ahern | 2 June 1942 | 1987–1989 |
Peter Beattie | 18 November 1952 | 1998–2007 |
Rob Borbidge | 12 August 1954 | 1996–1998 |
Anna Bligh | 14 July 1960 | 2007–2012 |
Campbell Newman | 12 August 1963 | 2012–2015 |
Annastacia Palaszczuk | 25 July 1969 | 2015– |
This is a list of premiers of Queensland by age, including when they were born, what age they were when they were appointed premier, what age were they when they left the office and the age at which they died, or their current age as of 5 October 2021 if they are still alive. The table can be sorted by each different category.
The date of appointment as premier is the date on which they were sworn in by the Governor for their first term. The day on which they departed office is the final day of their final term. This is either the day a new premier was appointed or their date of death if they died whilst in office.
The median age of a premier on the first day of their first term is roughly 48 years, and 240 days which falls between Russell Cooper and John Douglas. The youngest person to assume the office was Robert Herbert at 28 years and 181 days. The oldest person to assume office was Frank Cooper at 70 years and 62 days.
The oldest living former premier is Russell Cooper, born 4 February 1941 (age 80 years, 243 days). The youngest living former premier is Campbell Newman, born 12 August 1963, (age 58 years, 54 days). The youngest living premier is the incumbent Annastacia Palaszczuk, born 25 July 1969, (age 52 years, 72 days).
The longest-lived premier was Joh Bjelke-Petersen who died on 23 April 2005 at the age of 94 years and 100 days. Arthur Edward Moore was the second longest-lived premier, aged 86 years and 332 days, 7 years and 232 days short of Bjelke-Petersen. Bjelke-Petersen surpassed Moore's lifespan on 11 December 1997. The oldest living premier, Russell Cooper, will tie Moore if he lives to 2 January 2028, and tie Bjelke-Petersen if he lives to 15 May 2035. The shortest-lived premier was Thomas Joseph Byrnes who died in office at the age of 37 years and 320 days on 27 September 1898.
The premier with the longest retirement is Robert Herbert. He left office on 7 August 1866, and died 38 years and 272 days later on 6 May 1905. The premier with the shortest retirement is James Robert Dickson, who died on 10 January 1901, 1 year and 40 days after leaving office on 1 December 1899.
# | Premier | Born | Took office | Age | Left office | Age | Died | Length of retirement | Lifespan |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Robert Herbert | 12 June 1831 | 10 December 1859 | 28 years, 181 days | 7 August 1866 | 35 years, 56 days | 6 May 1905 | 38 years, 272 days | 73 years, 328 days |
2 | Arthur Macalister | 18 January 1818 | 1 February 1866 | 48 years, 14 days | 5 June 1876 | 58 years, 139 days | 23 March 1883 | 6 years, 291 days | 65 years, 64 days |
3 | Robert Mackenzie | 21 July 1811 | 15 August 1867 | 56 years, 25 days | 25 November 1868 | 57 years, 127 days | 19 September 1873 | 4 years, 298 days | 62 years, 60 days |
4 | Charles Lilley | 27 August 1827 | 25 November 1868 | 41 years, 90 days | 2 May 1870 | 42 years, 248 days | 20 August 1897 | 27 years, 110 days | 69 years, 358 days |
5 | Arthur Hunter Palmer | 28 December 1819 | 3 May 1870 | 50 years, 126 days | 7 January 1874 | 54 years, 10 days | 20 March 1898 | 24 years, 72 days | 78 years, 82 days |
6 | George Thorn | 12 October 1838 | 5 June 1876 | 37 years, 237 days | 8 March 1877 | 38 years, 147 days | 15 January 1905 | 27 years, 313 days | 66 years, 95 days |
7 | John Douglas | 6 March 1828 | 8 March 1877 | 49 years, 2 days | 21 January 1879 | 50 years, 321 days | 23 July 1904 | 25 years, 184 days | 76 years, 139 days |
8 | Thomas McIlwraith | 17 May 1835 | 21 January 1879 | 43 years, 249 days | 20 December 1878 | 58 years, 163 days | 17 July 1900 | 6 years, 263 days | 65 years, 61 days |
9 | Samuel Griffith | 21 June 1845 | 13 November 1883 | 38 years, 145 days | 6 October 1885 | 47 years, 279 days | 9 August 1920 | 27 years, 135 days | 75 years, 49 days |
10 | Boyd Dunlop Morehead | 24 August 1843 | 30 November 1888 | 45 years, 98 days | 2 August 1894 | 46 years, 353 days | 30 October 1905 | 15 years, 79 days | 62 years, 67 days |
11 | Hugh Nelson | 31 December 1833 | 27 October 1893 | 59 years, 300 days | 13 April 1898 | 64 years, 103 days | 1 January 1906 | 7 years, 263 days | 72 years, 1 day |
12 | Thomas Joseph Byrnes | 11 November 1860 | 13 April 1898 | 37 years, 153 days | 27 September 1898 [1] | 37 years, 320 days | 27 September 1898 | N/A | 37 years, 320 days |
13 | James Robert Dickson | 30 November 1832 | 1 October 1898 | 65 years, 305 days | 1 December 1899 | 67 years, 1 day | 10 January 1901 | 1 year, 40 days | 68 years, 41 days |
14 | Anderson Dawson | 16 July 1863 | 1 December 1899 | 36 years, 138 days | 7 December 1899 | 36 years, 144 days | 20 July 1910 | 10 years, 225 days | 47 years, 4 days |
15 | Robert Philp | 28 December 1851 | 17 December 1899 | 47 years, 354 days | 18 February 1908 | 56 years, 52 days | 17 July 1922 | 14 years, 149 days | 70 years, 201 days |
16 | Arthur Morgan | 19 September 1856 | 17 September 1903 | 46 years, 363 days | 19 January 1906 | 51 years, 12 days | 20 December 1916 | 10 years, 336 days | 60 years, 92 days |
17 | William Kidston | 17 August 1849 | 19 January 1906 | 56 years, 155 days | 7 February 1911 | 61 years, 174 days | 25 October 1919 | 8 years, 260 days | 70 years, 69 days |
18 | Digby Denham | 25 January 1859 | 7 February 1911 | 52 years, 13 days | 1 June 1915 | 56 years, 127 days | 10 May 1944 | 28 years, 344 days | 85 years, 106 days |
19 | T. J. Ryan | 1 July 1876 | 1 June 1915 | 38 years, 335 days | 12 April 1920 | 43 years, 113 days | 1 August 1921 | 1 year, 283 days | 45 years, 31 days |
20 | Ted Theodore | 29 December 1884 | 22 October 1919 | 34 years, 297 days | 26 February 1925 | 40 years, 59 days | 9 February 1950 | 24 years, 348 days | 65 years, 42 days |
21 | William Gillies | 27 October 1868 | 26 February 1925 | 56 years, 122 days | 22 October 1925 | 56 years, 360 days | 9 February 1928 | 2 years, 110 days | 59 years, 105 days |
22 | William McCormack | 27 April 1879 | 22 October 1925 | 46 years, 178 days | 21 May 1929 | 50 years, 24 days | 21 November 1947 | 18 years, 184 days | 68 years, 208 days |
23 | Arthur Edward Moore | 9 February 1876 | 21 May 1929 | 53 years, 101 days | 17 June 1932 | 56 years, 129 days | 7 January 1963 | 30 years, 204 days | 86 years, 332 days |
24 | William Forgan Smith | 15 April 1887 | 17 June 1932 | 45 years, 63 days | 16 September 1942 | 55 years, 154 days | 25 September 1953 | 11 years, 9 days | 66 years, 163 days |
25 | Frank Cooper | 16 July 1872 | 16 September 1942 | 70 years, 62 days | 7 March 1946 | 73 years, 234 days | 30 November 1949 | 3 years, 268 days | 77 years, 137 days |
26 | Ned Hanlon | 1 October 1887 | 7 March 1946 | 58 years, 157 days | 15 January 1952 [1] | 64 years, 106 days | 15 January 1952 | N/A | 64 years, 106 days |
27 | Vince Gair | 25 February 1901 | 17 January 1952 | 50 years, 326 days | 12 August 1957 | 56 years, 168 days | 11 November 1980 | 23 years, 91 days | 79 years, 260 days |
28 | Frank Nicklin | 6 August 1895 | 12 August 1957 | 62 years, 6 days | 17 January 1968 | 72 years, 164 days | 29 January 1978 | 10 years, 12 days | 82 years, 176 days |
29 | Jack Pizzey | 2 February 1911 | 17 January 1968 | 56 years, 349 days | 21 July 1968 [1] | 57 years, 151 days | 21 July 1968 | N/A | 57 years, 170 days |
30 | Gordon Chalk | 16 May 1913 | 1 August 1968 | 55 years, 77 days | 8 August 1968 | 55 years, 84 days | 26 April 1991 | 22 years, 268 days | 77 years, 345 days |
31 | Joh Bjelke-Petersen | 13 January 1911 | 13 January 1911 | 57 years, 208 days | 1 December 1987 | 76 years, 322 days | 23 April 2005 | 17 years, 143 days | 94 years, 100 days |
32 | Mike Ahern | 2 June 1942 | 1 December 1987 | 45 years, 182 days | 25 September 1989 | 47 years, 115 days | 32 years, 10 days | 79 years, 125 days | |
33 | Russell Cooper | 4 February 1941 | 25 September 1989 | 48 years, 233 days | 7 December 1989 | 48 years, 306 days | 31 years, 302 days | 80 years, 243 days | |
34 | Wayne Goss | 26 February 1951 | 7 December 1989 | 38 years, 284 days | 19 February 1996 | 44 years, 358 days | 10 November 2014 | 18 years, 264 days | 63 years, 257 days |
35 | Rob Borbidge | 12 August 1954 | 19 February 1996 | 41 years, 191 days | 20 June 1998 | 43 years, 312 days | 23 years, 107 days | 67 years, 54 days | |
36 | Peter Beattie | 18 November 1952 | 20 June 1998 | 45 years, 214 days | 13 September 2007 | 54 years, 299 days | 14 years, 22 days | 68 years, 321 days | |
37 | Anna Bligh | 14 July 1960 | 13 September 2007 | 47 years, 61 days | 26 March 2012 | 51 years, 256 days | 9 years, 193 days | 61 years, 83 days | |
38 | Campbell Newman | 12 August 1963 | 26 March 2012 | 48 years, 227 days | 14 February 2015 | 51 years, 186 days | 6 years, 233 days | 58 years, 54 days | |
39 | Annastacia Palaszczuk | 25 July 1969 | 14 February 2015 | 45 years, 204 days | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | 52 years, 72 days |
Not all premiers live to become the oldest of their time. Of the 32 deceased premiers, 14 eventually became the oldest of their time, while 18 did not (including all 3 premiers who died in office, and 15 others). Joh Bjelke-Petersen became the oldest living premier when Vince Gair died in 1980 and remained so until his death in 2005, for a record 24 years and 163 days. Hugh Nelson became the oldest living premier after the death of Robert Herbert, but he survived Herbert by only 240 days.
On two occasions the oldest living premier lost this distinction not by his death, but due to the appointment of a premier who was older. Robert Herbert lost this distinction when Arthur Macalister was appointed, but when John Douglas died in 1904 Herbert regained it again until his own death in 1905 for a total period of 6 years and 340 days. Arthur Macalister lost this distinction when Robert Mackenzie was appointed, but regained it again when Mackenzie died in 1875, Consequently, Macalister too was the oldest living premier twice: first from 1866 to 1867 (from first appointment), and a second time from Mackenzie's death in 1873 until his own death in 1883 for a total period of 10 years and 15 days.
Vince Gair was the oldest to acquire this distinction at the age of 76 years, and 338 days. Gordon Chalk, who was aged 77 years, and 345 days when he died, on 26 April 1991 was the oldest premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction. Wayne Goss who was aged 63 years and 257 days when he died on 10 November 2014 is the most recent premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction.
Premier | Period when oldest living premier | Age | Duration | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Start date | End date | at start | at end | ||
Robert Herbert | 10 December 1859 | 1 February 1866 | 28 years, 181 days | 34 years, 234 days | 6 years, 53 days |
Arthur Macalister | 1 February 1866 | 15 August 1867 | 48 years, 14 days | 49 years, 209 days | 1 year, 195 days |
Robert Mackenzie | 15 August 1867 | 19 September 1873 | 56 years, 25 days | 62 years, 60 days | 6 years, 35 days |
Arthur Macalister | 19 September 1873 | 23 March 1883 | 55 years, 244 days | 65 years, 64 days | 9 years, 185 days |
Arthur Hunter Palmer | 23 March 1883 | 20 March 1898 | 63 years, 85 days | 78 years, 82 days | 14 years, 362 days |
John Douglas | 20 March 1898 | 23 July 1904 | 70 years, 14 days | 76 years, 139 days | 6 years, 125 days |
Robert Herbert | 23 July 1904 | 6 May 1905 | 73 years, 41 days | 73 years, 328 days | 287 days |
Hugh Nelson | 6 May 1905 | 1 January 1906 | 71 years, 126 days | 72 years, 1 day | 240 days |
Samuel Griffith | 1 January 1906 | 9 August 1920 | 60 years, 194 days | 75 years, 49 days | 14 years, 221 days |
Robert Philp | 9 August 1920 | 17 July 1922 | 68 years, 225 days | 70 years, 201 days | 1 year, 342 days |
Digby Denham | 17 July 1922 | 10 May 1944 | 63 years, 173 days | 85 years, 106 days | 21 years, 298 days |
Frank Cooper | 10 May 1944 | 30 November 1949 | 71 years, 299 days | 77 years, 137 days | 5 years, 204 days |
Arthur Edward Moore | 30 November 1949 | 7 January 1963 | 73 years, 294 days | 86 years, 332 days | 13 years, 38 days |
Frank Nicklin | 7 January 1963 | 29 January 1978 | 67 years, 154 days | 82 years, 176 days | 15 years, 22 days |
Vince Gair | 29 January 1978 | 11 November 1980 | 76 years, 338 days | 79 years, 260 days | 2 years, 287 days |
Joh Bjelke-Petersen | 11 November 1980 | 23 April 2005 | 69 years, 303 days | 94 years, 100 days | 24 years, 163 days |
Russell Cooper | 23 April 2005 | Current oldest living premier | 64 years, 78 days | Current oldest living premier | 16 years, 165 days |
Premier | Start date | End date | Age at start | Age at end | Duration |
Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen was an Australian conservative politician. He was the longest-serving and longest-lived Premier of Queensland, holding office from 1968 to 1987, during which time the state underwent considerable economic development. He has become one of the most well-known and controversial figures of 20th-century Australian politics because of his uncompromising conservatism, political longevity, and the institutional corruption that became synonymous with his later leadership.
The governor of Queensland is the representative in the state of Queensland of the queen of Australia. In an analogous way to the governor-general of Australia at the national level, the governor performs constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level. In particular the governor has the power to appoint and dismiss the premier of Queensland and all other ministers in the cabinet, and issue writs for the election of the state parliament.
The Joh for Canberra campaign, initially known as the Joh for PM campaign, was an attempt by Queensland National Party premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen to become Prime Minister of Australia. The campaign was announced in January 1987 and drew substantial support from Queensland businessmen and some conservative politicians. The campaign caused a split in the federal Coalition. It did not attract widespread support and collapsed in June 1987. The Australian Labor Party, led by Bob Hawke, went on to win by an increased majority in the 1987 federal election, gaining its highest-ever number of seats. Bjelke-Petersen came under increasing scrutiny as the Fitzgerald Inquiry gained traction, and was forced out of politics altogether in December 1987.
The Commission of Inquiry into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Police Misconduct into Queensland Police corruption was a judicial inquiry presided over by Tony Fitzgerald QC. The inquiry resulted in the resignation of the Premier, the calling of two by-elections, the jailing of three former ministers and the Police Commissioner. It also contributed to the end of the National Party of Australia's 32-year run as the governing political party in Queensland.
Michael John Ahern 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 amid 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.
Florence Isabel Bjelke-Petersen was an Australian politician and writer. She was a member of the Australian Senate from 1981 to 1993, and was the wife of the longest-serving Premier of Queensland, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen. She was styled as Lady Bjelke-Petersen upon her husband's knighthood, and was also known informally as Lady Flo.
Sir Walter Benjamin Campbell, was an Australian judge, administrator and governor. He was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Chancellor of the University of Queensland, and the 21st Governor of Queensland from 1985 to 1992.
Bertie ("Bert") Richard Milliner was an Australian trade unionist, politician and Senator, representing the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He would have been a minor figure in Australia's political history but for the events that followed his sudden death. Those circumstances contributed to the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, which culminated in the dismissal of the Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr.
The Nicklin Ministry was a ministry of the Government of Queensland and was led by Country Party Premier Frank Nicklin. It succeeded the Gair Ministry on 12 August 1957 following the defeat of both Labor and the QLP at the state election held nine days earlier. It was succeeded by the Pizzey Ministry on 17 January 1968 when Nicklin retired from politics.
John Angus Mackenzie Innes was a Queensland politician and leader of the state Liberal Party.
The National Party of Australia – Queensland, commonly known as The Nationals Queensland, was the Queensland state branch of the National Party of Australia until 2008. Prior to 1974, it was known as the Country Party.