Johannes BJELKE-PETERSEN (born January 13, 1911), Australian politician

Background

BJELKE-PETERSEN, Johannes was born on January 13, 1911 in Dannevirke, New Zealand. Son of Carl G. and Maren (nee Poulsen) Bjelke-Petersen.

Education

Taabinga Village Primary School, correspondence courses and private studies.

Career

Minister for Works and Housing, Queensland 1963-1968, later of Aboriginal and Island Affairs, and Police. Leader of Country (National) Party of Queensland 1968-1987, (split 1987), Leader New National Party of Australia (right wing of old party) 1987-1988. Premier of Queensland 1968-1987.

Achievements

His uncompromising conservatism, his political longevity, and his leadership of a government that was revealed to be institutionally corrupt, made him one of the best-known and most controversial political figures of 20th century Australia. He was an extreme reactionary who dominated Queensland politics for 20 years, serving as premier of Queensland. In general, his hostility to civil rights, the environment, and issues of social welfare and his favoritism towards big business earned Queensland the sobriquet of Australia's "Deep N. "

Bjelke-Petersen was a divisive premier and earned himself a reputation as a "law and order" politician with his repeated use of police force against street demonstrators and strongarm tactics with trade unions, leading to frequent descriptions of Queensland under his leadership as a police state.

Membership

Queensland Legislative Assembly since 1947.

Interests

Flying, reading, bush-walking.

Connections

Married Florence Gilmour in 1952.

Father:: Carl G.
Mother:: Maren (nee Poulsen) Bjelke-Petersen
Spouse:: Florence Gilmour

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