Malcolm Fraser

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

Rise to Leadership

Born in Melbourne, but growing up on a property near Deniliquin in western New South Wales, Fraser was the son of Neville Fraser, a wealthy grazier. His mother, Una Fraser (nee Woolf), was half Jewish (on her father's side), a fact which influenced his attitudes towards multiculturalism. The Frasers had had a long history in politics: his grandfather, Simon Fraser, had served in the Victorian parliament and later in the Australian Senate. Fraser was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and completed a degree in politics and economics at Oxford University in 1952.

Related Topics:
Melbourne - Deniliquin - New South Wales - Neville Fraser - Jewish - Multiculturalism - Simon Fraser - Australian Senate - Melbourne Grammar School - Oxford University - 1952

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fraser contested the seat of Wannon, in Victoria's Western District, in 1954 for the Liberal Party, losing by 17 votes. The following year, however, he won the seat with a majority of more than five thousand, becoming the youngest member of the House of Representatives, and continued to represent Wannon until his retirement. In 1956 he married Tamara "Tamie" Beggs, a grazier's daughter. The couple had four children. Tamie Fraser professed to have no interest in politics but was influential behind the scenes.

Related Topics:
Western District - 1954 - Liberal Party - House of Representatives - 1956

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fraser developed an early reputation as an extreme right-winger, and he had a long wait for ministerial preferment. He was finally appointed Minister for the Army by Harold Holt in 1966. Under John Gorton he became Minister for Education and Science, and in 1969 he was made Minister for Defence: a challenging post at the height of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War and the protests against it.

Related Topics:
Harold Holt - 1966 - John Gorton - 1969 - Vietnam War

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In March 1971 Fraser resigned abruptly in protest at what he said was Gorton's interference in his ministerial responsibilities. This led to the downfall of Gorton and his replacement by William McMahon. Under McMahon, Fraser once again became Minister for Education and Science. When the Liberals were defeated at the 1972 elections by the Labor Party under Gough Whitlam, he became a member of the Opposition front bench under Billy Snedden's leadership.

Related Topics:
March - 1971 - William McMahon - 1972 - Labor Party - Gough Whitlam - Billy Snedden

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fraser soon became convinced that Snedden was a weak leader, and Snedden's defeat at the 1974 elections hardened his view. In March 1975 he staged a leadership coup and became Leader of the Opposition, on a policy of using the conservative parties' control of the Senate to force the Whitlam government to an early election as soon as possible. A tall, patrician figure with a hectoring speaking style, Fraser was detested by Labor voters, but seen as a hero by conservatives.

Related Topics:
1974 - March - 1975

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1975, amidst a series of ministerial scandals that were rocking the Whitlam Government, Fraser decided to use his Senate numbers to block Supply, preventing the government's budget bills from passing the Senate, where the Coalition had a majority, and thus forcing Labor out of office (see Australian constitutional crisis of 1975). Several months of deadlock followed, until Kerr intervened and dismissed Whitlam on November 11 1975. Fraser was immediately sworn in as caretaker Prime Minister, despite not having a majority in the House of Representatives, and immediately advised Kerr to call elections for both Houses.

Related Topics:
1975 - Australian constitutional crisis of 1975 - November 11

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~