Malcolm Fraser

:This article is about the former Prime Minister of Australia; for the Western Australian public servant, see Malcolm Fraser (surveyor).

Prime Minister

The Liberals won a landslide victory, greatly assisted by the strong support of the media, notably the Murdoch press, which had previously supported the ALP. The Coalition won a second term nearly as easily in 1977. Fraser used this period to dismantle some of the programs of the Labor government, notably the universal health insurance system Medibank. He embarked on a round of sharp cuts to public spending as part of the Coalition's policy to rein in inflation, which had soared under Whitlam; as a result of the cuts, which affected many areas of the federal public service.

Related Topics:
Murdoch - 1977 - Medibank - Inflation

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But Fraser did not carry out the radically conservative program that his enemies had predicted, and that some of his followers wanted. He in fact proved surprisingly moderate in office, to the frustration of his Treasurer (finance minister), John Howard and other Thatcherite ministers, who were strong adherents of monetarism. Fraser's economic record was marred by rising unemployment.

Related Topics:
John Howard - Thatcherite - Monetarism - Unemployment

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Fraser was active in foreign policy. He supported the Commonwealth in campaigning to abolish apartheid in South Africa and white minority rule in Rhodesia. In 1979 Fraser played a leading role in the settlement which created an independent Zimbabwe and installed Robert Mugabe in power, which was applauded at the time. Under his government, Australia also recognised Indonesia's annexation of East Timor, although many East Timorese refugees were granted asylum in Australia.

Related Topics:
Commonwealth - Apartheid - South Africa - Rhodesia - 1979 - Zimbabwe - Robert Mugabe - Indonesia - East Timor

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Fraser was a strong supporter of the United States and supported the boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. But although he persuaded some sporting bodies not to compete, Fraser did not try to the prevent the Australian Olympic Committee sending a team to the Moscow games.

Related Topics:
United States - 1980 - Olympic Games - Moscow - Australian Olympic Committee

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In immigration policy Fraser also surprised his critics. He expanded immigration from Asian countries and allowed more refugees to enter Australia. He supported multiculturalism and established a government-funded multilingual radio and television network, the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), a Whitlam initiative. He legislated to give Australia's Aboriginal people control of their traditional lands in the Northern Territory, but would not impose land rights laws on the conservative governments in the states.

Related Topics:
Multiculturalism - Special Broadcasting Service - Aboriginal people - Northern Territory

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