Peter Nixon

Peter James Nixon (22 March 1928 – 1 May 2025) was an Australian politician and businessman. He served in the House of Representatives from 1961 to 1983, representing the Division of Gippsland as a member of the National Country Party (NCP). He held ministerial office as Minister for the Interior (1967–1971), Shipping and Transport (1971–1972), Postmaster-General (1975), Transport (1975–1979), and Primary Industry (1979–1983).^[1]

Early life

Nixon was born on 22 March 1928 in Orbost, Victoria.^[2] He grew up on a farming property outside Orbost. During the Black Friday bushfires of 1939 he and his family had to seek shelter in the Snowy River.^[3]

Nixon attended Wesley College, Melbourne. At the age of 18, he sustained a severe injury to his left hip while playing Australian rules football, requiring him to spend eight months in hospital. He passed the time by reading and playing chess.^[4] Following his recovery Nixon took up farming, the fourth generation of his family to farm in Gippsland.^[5] He had a 500-acre (200-hectare) property named Macclesfield, where he grew seed beans and maize. He later switched to mixed farming, growing lucerne and keeping dairy cattle.^[6]

Political career

Nixon was elected to parliament at the 1961 federal election, following the resignation of George Bowden, the incumbent Country Party MP in Gippsland. He had initially not been a candidate for preselection, agreeing to stand only when the presumed nominee suffered a fatal heart attack three days before nominations closed.^[4]

Nixon was one of several young Country Party MP's mentored by party leader John McEwen as part of his succession strategy, along with Doug Anthony and Ian Sinclair.^[7]

In 1967, Nixon was appointed Minister for the Interior in the Holt government, retaining the position in the Gorton government. He was elevated to cabinet following the 1969 election. Following a cabinet reshuffle he was instead appointed Minister for Shipping and Transport in the McMahon government in February 1971, holding the portfolio until the government's defeat at the 1972 federal election.^[2]

As interior minister, Nixon held responsibility for the Australian Capital Territory and oversight of the National Capital Development Commission.^[5] He was also responsible for the Northern Territory.^[4] Nixon is mentioned in the song Gurindji Blues, saying "Buy your land back, Gurindji" referring to his assessment of the Wattie Creek land rights strike.^[8]

In opposition from 1972 to 1975, Nixon was a prominent figure in persuading his National Party colleagues to help pass Australian Labor Party legislation opposed by the Nationals' coalition partner, the Liberal Party. Nixon was also a longtime critic of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, which he accused of being biased against the National Party.^{[citation needed]}

During the Fraser government, Nixon was a significant figure in the renamed National Country Party (NCP), along with Anthony and Sinclair. Nicknamed the "mulga mafia", the trio were "an assertive and sometimes combative presence in the House, and a significant influence on the government's policy agenda".^[7] Nixon briefly served as Postmaster-General in the first Fraser ministry following the dismissal of the Whitlam government. He subsequently returned to his prior role of Minister for Shipping and Transport, serving from 1975 to 1979. He then served as Minister for Primary Industry from 1979 until the government's defeat at the 1983 election.^[2]

In 1981, as primary industry minister, Nixon faced a scandal over meat substitution, whereby beef exports to the United States had been found to contain kangaroo and horse meat.^[9] The government subsequently announced a royal commission into the meat industry, which found that Nixon and his department had not responded adequately to earlier reports of misconduct within the industry.^[10] In response, Nixon offered his resignation to Fraser.^[11]

On the floor of parliament, Nixon was known for trading insults with opposition members and particularly his verbal stoushes with Fred Daly.^{[citation needed]}

Later life

In 1984, Nixon was appointed chair of Southern Cross Broadcasting. During his tenure Southern Cross underwent significant expansion, acquiring Melbourne radio stations 3AW and 3AK, Perth radio stations 6PR and 6IX, Tasmanian television station TNT, and Canberra television station CTC. In 1994, Hugh Lamberton wrote in The Canberra Times that Nixon was "one of the few long-serving politicians to have established a post-parliamentary life not overburdened with a nostalgic dependence on past achievement".^[12]

Outside of broadcasting, Nixon was a member of the Victorian Football League Commission from 1985 to 1991.^[12] In 1996, he was chosen to chair a joint Commonwealth-State inquiry into the Tasmanian economy. The report became known as the Nixon Report: Tasmania into the 21st Century. Trustee of MCC 86–91. Freeman City of Jakarta, Athens. Chief Commissioner East Gippsland Shire 95–97.^{[citation needed]}

Nixon delivered the eulogy at Malcolm Fraser's state funeral in 2015.^[13]

Personal life and death

In 1952, Nixon, married Jacqueline "Sally" Dahlsen, with whom he had three children.^[14]

In the 1990s, Nixon suffered severe injuries in a quad bike accident while spraying blackberries on his farm, including twenty fractures to his ribs, a broken sternum and a partially collapsed lung. The accident resulted in the loss of a kidney.^[3]

Nixon died in Melbourne on 1 May 2025, at the age of 97.^[15] At the time of his death, Nixon was the earliest elected Country MP still alive,^[16] and along with Ian Sinclair he was one of the last two surviving ministers who served under Holt, McEwen, Gorton and McMahon, as well as the First Fraser Ministry. He was also the last surviving member of parliament that was elected at the 1961 Election.

Honours

On 26 January 1993, Nixon was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to the Australian parliament and to the community.^[17]

References

1. ^ "Parliamentary Handbook: Historical Information on the Australian Parliament". Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
2. ^ "Biography for NIXON, the Hon. Peter James, AO". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
3. ^ West, Chris (2022). "True survivor". Gippsland Life. Vol. 50. pp. 8–11.
4. ^ "'Tough' Minister thrives on deep policy issues". The Canberra Times. 10 July 1968.
5. ^ "The new 'Mayor'". The Canberra Times. 17 October 1967.
6. ^ "New 'mayoress' a country girl at heart". The Canberra Times. 19 October 1967.
7. ^ Arklay, Tracey (2021). "Ian McCahon Sinclair (1929–)". Biographical Dictionary of the House of Representatives
8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
9. ^ "Kangaroo meat in export packs: Nixon". The Canberra Times. 22 August 1981.
10. ^ "Meat report uproar". The Canberra Times. 22 September 1982.
11. ^ "Nixon puts his political future in PM's hand". The Canberra Times. 20 September 1982.
12. ^ Lamberton, Hugh (10 December 1994). "Front man for new player in town". The Canberra Times
13. ^ "Malcolm Fraser, former prime minister, farewelled at state funeral". ABC News. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
14. ^ "Choral service for wedding". The Herald. 27 July 1954.
15. ^ "Vale Peter Nixon AO". Richmond FC. 4 May 2025.
16. ^ Malcolm Farnsworth (2020). "Living Former Members Of The House Of Representatives (1949–1972)". Australianpolitics.com
17. ^ "It's an Honour: AO". Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 June 2008.