36-511: Prime Minister of Australia Term of government (1975–1983) Ministries Elections [REDACTED] The first Fraser ministry ( Liberal – National Country coalition ) was the 50th ministry of the Government of Australia . It was led by Prime Minister , Malcolm Fraser . The first Fraser ministry succeeded the Third Whitlam ministry , which dissolved on 11 November following
72-406: A free trade position – in the new ' economic rationalist ' mould. Howard argued unsuccessfully for the introduction of a broad indirect tax, and in 1982 with an election looming, Howard disagreed with his leader's push for an expansionary budget, while the economy was suffering from the early 1980s recession . The Fraser government sought to reduce expenditure and streamline the public service, but
108-534: A Commonwealth-monitored ceasefire and election resulting in the election of Robert Mugabe and independence for the former British Colony. In the Asia Pacific, Fraser sought to improve trade relations and oppose Communism. As a one time Army Minister and later Minister for Defence during the Vietnam War , Fraser was firmly anti-Communist. As Prime Minister he opposed Soviet expansionism but courted good relations with
144-679: A better life. They were Sunnis from northern Lebanon and Shias from southern Lebanon as Christian and Muslim Lebanese were unwilling to leave the capital city, Beirut . Immigrants of the Lebanese Concession primarily settled in south-west Sydney; Sunnis in Lakemba and Shias in Arncliffe . In November 2016, Immigration Minister , Peter Dutton said that it was a mistake of a previous Liberal administration to have brought out Lebanese Muslim immigrants. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)
180-675: A landslide victory. The 1975 double dissolution election which followed the dismissal of the Whitlam government saw the Liberal Party win 68 seats to Labor's 36, with the newly renamed National Country Party winning 23 seats in the House of Representatives. The election result placed the Liberal Party in a position to govern in its own right. However, Fraser maintained the Coalition, and Nationals leader Doug Anthony became deputy prime minister . In
216-408: A range of government services, public service salaries and the arts. Fraser persuaded his first Treasurer, Phillip Lynch, to resign in 1977 and promoted the young John Howard to the portfolio. Howard also replaced Lynch as deputy leader of the party in 1982. Howard was Fraser's Treasurer from November 1977 and presented five federal budgets. During the 1970s Howard shifted from a protectionist to
252-471: A significant program of economic reform was not pursued. By 1983, the Australian economy was in recession, amidst the effects of a severe drought. In 1981, following the Australian meat substitution scandal , the government was criticised for its failure to uncover misconduct earlier. The government subsequently announced a royal commission into the meat industry. The Fraser government maintained many of
288-727: The Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 , which, while limited to the Northern Territory, affirmed "inalienable" freehold title to some traditional lands. The Aboriginal Development Commission Act 1980 established the Aboriginal Development Commission (ADC) as a statutory authority in July 1980, under the Department for Aboriginal Affairs and minister Fred Chaney . The ADC was created in order to rationalise
324-478: The 1973 oil crisis and 1973–75 recession , the so-called Loans Affair , alleged Labor mismanagement of inflation, and campaigned under the slogan "Turn on the lights, Australia" (drawing on a contemporary cynicism: "Would the last businessman leaving Australia please turn out the lights?"). The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory received an entitlement to elect two senators each as
360-661: The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 1977 in Scotland, Fraser urged for widespread condemnation of the apartheid system in South Africa and called for support for African countries. The meeting concluded The Gleneagles Agreement against apartheid in sport, which isolated South Africa. At the 1979 CHOGM in Zambia, Fraser was influential in establishing progress towards independence for Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), which led to
396-559: The National Aboriginal Conference (NAC), which was made up of Aboriginal people elected in 35 electorates across Australia, for the first time. The NAC, which had been canvassing opinions of Aboriginal people across Australia, would report to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs on the operation of the commission. Charles Perkins was inaugural chair, serving from 1981 to 1984, when Shirley McPherson took over. She remained in
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#1733094234654432-637: The National Museum of Australia . A Liberal minister, Don Chipp had split off from the party to form a new social liberal party, the Australian Democrats in 1977 and the Franklin Dam proposal contributed to the emergence of an influential Environmental movement in Australia . The Fraser government included the first Aboriginal federal parliamentarian, Neville Bonner . In 1976, Parliament passed
468-522: The dismissal of the Whitlam government by Governor-General Sir John Kerr . As such, it was a caretaker ministry until a federal election could take place. To date, it is the last ministry not to be split between a Cabinet and outer ministry. In the event, the Coalition was ultimately elected on 13 December 1975, and this ministry was replaced by the second Fraser ministry on 22 December 1975. As of 25 October 2022, Ian Sinclair and Peter Nixon are
504-556: The 1974–75 Loans Affair in which the Whitlam government operated outside the Loan Council and authorised Minerals and Energy Minister Rex Connor to conduct secret discussions with a loan broker from Pakistan to secure a $ US4 billion loan, and the Treasurer, Jim Cairns , had misled parliament over the issue, Fraser told Parliament that the government was incompetent and the opposition Liberal–Country Party Coalition delayed passage of
540-533: The Lebanese people were categorised as refugees. This was not in the traditional sense as the Lebanese people were not fleeing from persecution but escaping from internal conflict between Muslim and Christian groups. This action was known as the "Lebanon Concession". Between 1975 and 1990, more than 30,000 civil war refugees arrived in Australia. Most immigrants were Muslim Lebanese from deprived rural areas who learned of Australia's Lebanon Concession and decided to seek
576-514: The People's Republic of China, which was then emerging from the era of chairman Mao Zedong . In the name of "stability", the Fraser government recognised Indonesia's take over of East Timor, achieved via a military invasion during the later period of the Whitlam government . However, owing to Cold War sentiment, the Fraser government opposed Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia. The Fraser government criticised
612-830: The Senate, 64 seats were contested and 27 Liberal, 27 Labor and 7 National Party Senators were elected, together with 1 Independent and 1 each from the Liberal Movement and the Country Liberal Party. After winning the 1975 election, Fraser won two subsequent elections: with further substantial majorities in 1977 (67 seats to the Labor Party's 38, with 19 seats going to the National Country Party ) and 1980 (Liberals 54 and National Country Party 20 to Labor's 51). Australia had entered recession and faced high inflation under
648-612: The construction of the Franklin Dam in Tasmania in 1982. Fraser sought a double dissolution of parliament and called the federal election for 5 March 1983, expecting to face Labor leader Bill Hayden . The Labor party moved to replace Hayden with Bob Hawke however, who went on to lead Labor to victory at the 1983 election . 1975 Australian federal election Malcolm Fraser Liberal/NCP coalition Malcolm Fraser Liberal/NCP coalition The 1975 Australian federal election
684-441: The current Liberal-Labor party contest from 1946. The election followed the controversial dismissal of the Whitlam government by Governor-General Sir John Kerr in the 1975 constitutional crisis . Labor campaigners hoped that the electorate would "maintain [its] rage" and punish the Coalition for its part in bringing down the government, proclaiming "Shame Fraser, Shame". However, the Coalition focused on economic issues following
720-723: The functions of the ADC into the newly created ATSIC, by establishing a new body, the Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation (AECD). While prior governments had dismantled the White Australia Policy , it was under the Fraser government that immigration became multiracial. Some 200,000 Asian migrants came to Australia between 1975 and 1982 – of whom 56,000 were Vietnamese refugees, among them around 2000 "boatpeople" who arrived without documents via sea voyages. The Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs
756-707: The government also purchased the Clunies-Ross family 's holdings on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands , bringing an end to the family's rule of the territory as a private fiefdom. Fraser travelled widely as Prime Minister. Andrew Peacock and Tony Street each was his Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Fraser government was in office during a period of change for the Commonwealth of Nations . Fraser vocally opposed minority white rule in Apartheid South Africa and Rhodesia . At
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#1733094234654792-584: The government's money bills in the Senate , with the intention of forcing the government to an election. Prime Minister Whitlam refused to call an election. The deadlock came to an end when Whitlam was dismissed by the Governor General , John Kerr on 11 November 1975 and Fraser was installed as caretaker Prime Minister, pending an election. At elections held in December 1975 , Fraser and the Coalition were elected in
828-590: The largest majority government to date in Australian history. The Liberals actually won a majority in their own right, with 68 seats–the first time that the main non-Labor party had done so since adopting the Liberal banner in 1944. Although Fraser had no need for the support of the National Country Party, the Coalition was retained. It was also the first time a party won over 90 seats at an Australian election. This
864-946: The last surviving members of the first Fraser ministry. Tony Street was the last surviving Liberal member. MP for Wannon (1955–1983) MP for Richmond (1957–1984) MP for Flinders (1966–1982) MP for New England (1963–1998) Senator for Western Australia (1968–1987) Senator for Victoria (1968–1976) Senator for New South Wales (1965–1978) MP for Gippsland (1961–1983) MP for Kooyong (1966–1994) MP for Hotham (1969–1977) MP for Moreton (1955–1983) Senator for Western Australia (1959–1978) Senator for New South Wales (1971–1987) MP for Corangamite (1966–1984) Senator for Victoria (1971–1987) Fraser government Prime Minister of Australia Term of government (1975–1983) Ministries Elections [REDACTED] The Fraser government
900-473: The later period of the Whitlam government. Fraser maintained that reducing inflation should take priority over reducing unemployment and believed that the economy would benefit from a transfer of resources from the public sector to the private sector. In its early years, the Fraser government sought to address the economic situation by providing businesses with an investment allowance and reduced taxation on mining and on private companies, while it cut expenditure on
936-413: The media to cast the unions as 'greedy' and 'irresponsible' was nonetheless admired. At the 1980 election, Fraser's majority was halved. With support for Fraser diminishing, Andrew Peacock challenged for party leadership. The challenge was unsuccessful and Fraser was to lead the party to the 1983 election. Fraser had promoted "states' rights" and his government refused to use Commonwealth powers to stop
972-564: The operations of the Aboriginal Land Fund Commission and the Aboriginal Loan Commission, two bodies concerned with assets acquisition, in order to help create commercial enterprises which could earn income for Aboriginal people. The commission's board would consist of 10 members, all Aboriginal, and the new body would employ around 100 people, mostly Aboriginal. The new legislation also gave statutory recognition of
1008-671: The position until the ADC ceased operations at the end of 1989. The Commissioners, who worked part-time, were supported by full-time administrative staff who were under the management of a general manager. By the time of its demise, the ADC comprised a head office in Canberra as well as six regional offices and 21 branch offices, and employed 360 staff. ADC was superseded by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) in March 1990. Hawke government minister Gerry Hand proposed merging
1044-549: The protectionist policies of the European Economic Community and sought closer trade and military co-operation with the United States. To some observers, Fraser was seen to be preoccupied with international affairs by the end of his period in office. The United States was privately critical of the Fraser government because of its 'counterproductive "union-bashing"', although the campaign it waged with employers and
1080-605: The social reforms of the Whitlam era, but sought to introduce increased fiscal restraint. It passed the Human Rights Commission Act 1981, which established the Australian Human Rights Commission and gave effect to five international human rights instruments. This government also established the position of Commonwealth Ombudsman in 1977 and introduced Australia's first freedom of information law. The National Museum of Australia Act 1980 created
1116-743: The subsequent 1977 and 1980 elections, before losing to the Bob Hawke –led Australian Labor Party in the 1983 election . Billy Snedden led the Liberal–National Coalition in the 1974 Australian federal election which saw Whitlam Labor government re-elected with a decreased majority in the House of Representatives . Fraser unsuccessfully challenged for the leadership of the Liberal Party in November 1974, then on 21 March 1975, defeated Snedden, with Phillip Lynch remaining Deputy Leader. Following
First Fraser ministry - Misplaced Pages Continue
1152-637: Was created and extensive assistance given to resettlement and multiculturalism, including the establishment of the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). In late 1975, unrest in Lebanon caused a group of influential Maronite Australians to approach Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and his immigration minister, Michael MacKellar regarding the resettling of Lebanese civilians with their Australian relatives. Immediate access to Australia could not be granted under normal immigration categories, thus
1188-662: Was established by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 and commenced operations on 1 July 1976. The Fraser government passed the Freedom of Information Act 1982 . The Fraser government passed the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 , which granted self-government to the Northern Territory , and the Norfolk Island Act 1979 , which granted self-government to Norfolk Island . In 1978,
1224-695: Was held in Australia on 13 December 1975. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives and all 64 seats in the Senate were up for election, due to a double dissolution . Malcolm Fraser had been commissioned as caretaker prime minister following the dismissal of Gough Whitlam 's three-year-old Labor government by Governor-General Sir John Kerr , on 11 November 1975. The same day, Fraser advised an immediate double dissolution, in accordance with Kerr's stipulated conditions (see 1975 Australian constitutional crisis ). The Coalition of Fraser's Liberal Party of Australia and Doug Anthony 's National Country Party secured government in its own right, winning
1260-498: Was the federal executive government of Australia led by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser . It was made up of members of a Liberal – Country party coalition in the Australian Parliament from November 1975 to March 1983. Initially appointed as a caretaker government following the dismissal of the Whitlam government , Fraser won in a landslide at the resulting 1975 Australian federal election , and won substantial majorities at
1296-414: Was the last federal election the Coalition won more than 50% of the primary vote. Labor suffered a 30-seat swing and saw its lower house caucus cut almost in half, to 36 seats—fewer than it had when Whitlam became leader in the aftermath of the Coalition landslide nearly 10 years earlier, in the 1966 election . With only 28% of the House of Representatives seats, this is the worst seat share for Labor since
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