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Malcolm Fraser, who led Australia after constitutional crisis, dies at 84 Malcolm Fraser, who led Australia after constitutional crisis, dies at 84
(about 3 hours later)
Malcolm Fraser, who was catapulted to prime minister of Australia in 1975 by a constitutional crisis and became one of the country’s most influential and longest serving leaders, died March 20 at 84.Malcolm Fraser, who was catapulted to prime minister of Australia in 1975 by a constitutional crisis and became one of the country’s most influential and longest serving leaders, died March 20 at 84.
His office announced the death but did not disclose the cause or location.His office announced the death but did not disclose the cause or location.
Mr. Fraser entered politics at 25 and rose slowly through the center-right Liberal Party ranks in parliament. In the mid-1960s, he served as army minister during the early stages of the Vietnam War, an unpopular conflict to which Australia ultimately committed 60,000 troops, and later was minister for education and science as well as minister for defense.Mr. Fraser entered politics at 25 and rose slowly through the center-right Liberal Party ranks in parliament. In the mid-1960s, he served as army minister during the early stages of the Vietnam War, an unpopular conflict to which Australia ultimately committed 60,000 troops, and later was minister for education and science as well as minister for defense.
He twice made unsuccessful bids for his party’s leadership before emerging victorious in 1975 in what proved a shocking moment for Australian politics.He twice made unsuccessful bids for his party’s leadership before emerging victorious in 1975 in what proved a shocking moment for Australian politics.
Governor-General John Kerr, thought to wield little power as the queen’s representative, took the unprecedented step of dismissing the chaotic, frenetically reformist government of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam amid a budget crisis and appointed Mr. Fraser as caretaker prime minister.Governor-General John Kerr, thought to wield little power as the queen’s representative, took the unprecedented step of dismissing the chaotic, frenetically reformist government of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam amid a budget crisis and appointed Mr. Fraser as caretaker prime minister.
An indignant Whitlam branded Mr. Fraser as “Kerr’s cur” and urged voters to “maintain the rage” at the ballot box.An indignant Whitlam branded Mr. Fraser as “Kerr’s cur” and urged voters to “maintain the rage” at the ballot box.
A month after taking power, Mr. Fraser’s conservative coalition won a clear victory over Whitlam’s center-left Labor Party. Mr. Fraser won another two three-year terms, serving until 1983 when he lost reelection.A month after taking power, Mr. Fraser’s conservative coalition won a clear victory over Whitlam’s center-left Labor Party. Mr. Fraser won another two three-year terms, serving until 1983 when he lost reelection.
His government’s achievements include legislation that gave land back to Aborigines in the Northern Territory, an outcome he always gave credit to Whitlam for initiating.His government’s achievements include legislation that gave land back to Aborigines in the Northern Territory, an outcome he always gave credit to Whitlam for initiating.
He strove to transform Australia, a former British colony, into a multicultural society and was a vocal opponent of apartheid in South Africa and the white supremacist government in Rhodesia (later renamed Zimbabwe).He strove to transform Australia, a former British colony, into a multicultural society and was a vocal opponent of apartheid in South Africa and the white supremacist government in Rhodesia (later renamed Zimbabwe).
He opened Australia’s doors to tens of thousands of Indo-Chinese refugees following the Vietnam War, created Australia’s multicultural broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service and, out of office, was the first chairman of the humanitarian organization CARE Australia.He opened Australia’s doors to tens of thousands of Indo-Chinese refugees following the Vietnam War, created Australia’s multicultural broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service and, out of office, was the first chairman of the humanitarian organization CARE Australia.
Yet for his surprising success at the ballot box, few found Mr. Fraser easy to warm to. With the cultivated Australian accent of the old money families and a stony countenance that cartoonists lampooned as an Easter Island statue, many mistook him for a classical conservative despite his progressive social policies. A waggish publisher once printed a book titled “The Wit of Malcolm Fraser,” consisting of 50 blank pages.Yet for his surprising success at the ballot box, few found Mr. Fraser easy to warm to. With the cultivated Australian accent of the old money families and a stony countenance that cartoonists lampooned as an Easter Island statue, many mistook him for a classical conservative despite his progressive social policies. A waggish publisher once printed a book titled “The Wit of Malcolm Fraser,” consisting of 50 blank pages.
With Australia’s post-World War II economic boom stalling in the early 1970s, Fraser’s government battled rising inflation and growing unemployment. A saying he would occasionally use came to epitomize for many Australians his government’s philosophy: “Life wasn’t meant to be easy.”With Australia’s post-World War II economic boom stalling in the early 1970s, Fraser’s government battled rising inflation and growing unemployment. A saying he would occasionally use came to epitomize for many Australians his government’s philosophy: “Life wasn’t meant to be easy.”
Mr. Fraser later explained that the line was a partial quotation of George Bernard Shaw: “Life is not meant to be easy, my child. But take courage. It can be delightful.”Mr. Fraser later explained that the line was a partial quotation of George Bernard Shaw: “Life is not meant to be easy, my child. But take courage. It can be delightful.”
But his legitimacy as a leader never recovered from the controversy over how he got there, and in 1983 he lost a snap election.But his legitimacy as a leader never recovered from the controversy over how he got there, and in 1983 he lost a snap election.
John Malcolm Fraser was born in the wealthy Melbourne suburb of Toorak on May 21, 1930, and grew up on his family’s large estate and ranch in New South Wales. He was educated at the exclusive Melbourne Grammar School and Oxford University in England before reluctantly returning to farming in Victoria state.John Malcolm Fraser was born in the wealthy Melbourne suburb of Toorak on May 21, 1930, and grew up on his family’s large estate and ranch in New South Wales. He was educated at the exclusive Melbourne Grammar School and Oxford University in England before reluctantly returning to farming in Victoria state.
He recently said he fell into politics by accident, being first elected to parliament in 1955.He recently said he fell into politics by accident, being first elected to parliament in 1955.
He remained active in public life until the end and eventually became friends with his erstwhile political foe Whitlam. They shared a disappointment that their rival parties had both shifted to the right on issues including the treatment and detention of asylum seekers. Whitlam died in October last year aged 98.He remained active in public life until the end and eventually became friends with his erstwhile political foe Whitlam. They shared a disappointment that their rival parties had both shifted to the right on issues including the treatment and detention of asylum seekers. Whitlam died in October last year aged 98.
Mr. Fraser became a thorn in the side of the Liberal Party that he once led and eventually quit in disgust in 2010 following the party’s election of Tony Abbott as its leader.Mr. Fraser became a thorn in the side of the Liberal Party that he once led and eventually quit in disgust in 2010 following the party’s election of Tony Abbott as its leader.
Survivors include his wife, the former Tamara “Tamie” Beggs, and their four children.Survivors include his wife, the former Tamara “Tamie” Beggs, and their four children.
— staff and wire reports — News services and staff reports