Malcolm Fraser

Australian politician, 22nd Prime Minister of Australia (1930-2015)

John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC (21 May 1930 – 20 March 2015) was an Australian politician. He served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia from 11 November 1975 through 11 November 1983. He was also leader of the Liberal Party from 1975 to 1983.


Malcolm Fraser
22nd Prime Minister of Australia
In office
11 November 1975 – 11 March 1983
Preceded byGough Whitlam
Succeeded byBob Hawke
Personal details
Born(1930-05-21)21 May 1930[1]
Toorak, Victoria
Died20 March 2015(2015-03-20) (aged 84)
Melbourne, Victoria
Political partyLiberal Party of Australia
(1954–2009)
Spouse(s)Tamie Fraser
(m. 1956–2015, his death)
Children4
Alma materMagdalen College, Oxford

Before being prime minister, Fraser was a member of the Australian Parliament from 1955 through 1983. He served as Minister of Defence from 1966 to 1968 and again from 1969 to 1971 and Minister for Education and Science from 1968 to 1969 and again from 1971 to 1972.

Early life change

Fraser was born in Toorak, Victoria.[1] He studied at Magdalen College, Oxford. He married Tamie Beggs in 1956.

Prime Minister (1975-1983) change

As leader of the Liberal Party, he became Prime Minister in November, 1975 when Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, dismissed Gough Whitlam. At this point he was only temporary Prime Minister. He won the election held in December, 1975. He won two more elections in 1977 and 1980 before losing to Bob Hawke in 1983. Fraser married Tamara (Tamie) Beggs in 1956 and the couple have remained married ever since.[2]

His government stopped some of the changes made by the Whitlam government. They also reduced government spending to stop money becoming less valuable. He also supported efforts to abolish racism in South Africa, the boycott of the Moscow Olympics and more immigration from Asian countries.[3]

He has criticised the prime ministership of John Howard who had been his Treasurer from 1977 to 1983.

Death change

On 20 March 2015, his office announced that Fraser had died in the early hours of the morning, noting that he had suffered a brief illness in Melbourne, Victoria, aged 84.[4][5]

More reading change

  • Ayres, Philip (1987), Malcolm Fraser, a Biography, Heinemann, Richmond, Victoria. ISBN 0-85561-060-3
  • Kelly, Paul (2000), Malcolm Fraser, in Michelle Grattan (ed.), Australian Prime Ministers, New Holland, Sydney, New South Wales. ISBN 1-86436-756-3
  • Kerr, John (1978), Matters for Judgment. An Autobiography, Macmillan, South Melbourne, Victoria. ISBN 0-333-25212-8
  • Lopez, Mark (2000),The Origins of Multiculturalism in Australian Politics 1945–1975, Melbourne University Press, Carlton South, Victoria. ISBN 0-522-84895-8

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 "National Museum of Australia - Malcolm Fraser". nma.gov.au. 2012. Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  2. "Tamie Fraser - Malcolm Fraser (11 November 1975 – 11 March 1983) and Tamie Fraser". primeministers.naa.gov.au. National Archives of Australia. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  3. "About - Malcolm Fraser (11 November 1975 – 11 March 1983) and Tamie Fraser". primeministers.naa.gov.au. National Archives of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  4. "Former prime minister Malcolm Fraser dead at 84". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  5. "Malcolm Fraser: Australia's 22nd prime minister dies aged 84". ABC News. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.

Other websites change

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