Michael MacKellar

Michael John Randal MacKellar AM (27 October 1938 – 9 May 2015) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served in the House of Representatives from 1969 to 1994, representing the Division of Warringah. He was Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1975–1979) and Minister for Health (1979–1982) in the Fraser government.

The Honourable
Michael MacKellar
AM
Minister for Home Affairs and the Environment
In office
17 February 1981 – 19 March 1981
Prime MinisterMalcolm Fraser
Preceded byRobert Ellicott
Succeeded byIan Wilson
Minister for Health
In office
8 December 1979 – 20 April 1982
Prime MinisterMalcolm Fraser
Preceded byRalph Hunt
Succeeded byPeter Baume
Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs
In office
22 December 1975 – 8 December 1979
Prime MinisterMalcolm Fraser
Preceded byTony Street
Succeeded byIan Macphee
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Warringah
In office
25 October 1969 – 18 February 1994
Preceded byEdward St John
Succeeded byTony Abbott
Personal details
Born
Michael John Randal MacKellar

(1938-10-27)27 October 1938
Moree, New South Wales, Australia
Died9 May 2015(2015-05-09) (aged 76)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Political partyLiberal
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Sydney, University of Oxford
OccupationAgricultural scientist

Biography

MacKellar was born in Moree, New South Wales and educated at the Sydney Church of England Grammar School, before attending the University of Sydney and University of Oxford. He was an agricultural scientist, working at the New South Wales Department of Agriculture and lecturing at the University of Sydney and New South Wales before he entered politics. He was first elected to Parliament in 1969, taking over from the controversial Edward St. John. In June 1974 he joined the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Immigration Minister.[1]

Fraser government (1975–1983)

In December 1975, MacKellar was first appointed to the front bench as the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, a position he held until 1979, when he became Minister for Health and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister. In Opposition, MacKellar acted as Shadow Minister for Science.

MacKellar attracted some controversy over his handling of an incident involving the improper importation of a colour television set. In 1982, a ministerial staffer submitted an incorrect customs declaration form when arranging for the set to be imported. When this was discovered, a fellow Minister, John Moore, attempted a cover-up. Moore and MacKellar both accepted responsibility and resigned as ministers.[2][3]

In Opposition (1983–1994)

Following the 1983 election defeat he returned to the frontbench as Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, before being demoted to Shadow Science Minister after the 1984 election. After Andrew Peacock resigned he moved to the backbench.[4]

He contested the Liberal Deputy leadership three times 1982, 1985 & 1987, finishing second to John Howard in 1982.

MacKellar resigned from Parliament on 18 February 1994, causing a by-election that was subsequently won by future Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

After Politics

After leaving politics MacKellar became Chairman of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority in 1998.[5] He also acted as Chief Operations Officer of the Baker Medical Research Institute and Chief Executive Officer of the Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association. MacKellar also served as the president of the Melbourne-based National Ageing Research Institute.

Personal life

Mackellar had three children, one of whom was autistic. His daughter Maggie was the subject of an episode of ABC TV's Australian Story.[6] He died on 9 May 2015 at the age of 76.[7] He was given a state funeral on 15 May 2015 at St John's Anglican Church, Toorak, Victoria.[8]

References
  1. Cole, Terence (20 July 2015). "Minister known for common touch". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  2. Bowers, Peter (21 April 1982). "A Government in tatters after the night of the long shredder. Resignations of Michael MacKellar and John Moore over the colour television incident". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 7. ISSN 0312-6315.
  3. Dowding, Keith M; Lewis, Chris, eds. (2012). Ministerial Careers and Accountability in the Australian Commonwealth Government (e-book). Canberra: ANU Press. p. 123. ISBN 9781922144010.
  4. http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/officebearers/shadows2.txt
  5. "New chairman for Australia New Zealand Food Authority" (Press release). Department of Health and Ageing. 1998. Archived from the original on 9 August 2008.
  6. Gee, Peter (14 October 2013). "On Maggie's Farm" (transcript). Australian Story. Australia: ABC TV. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  7. "Fraser govt minister MacKellar dies". The Australian. 9 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  8. "State Funeral - the Right Honourable Michael MacKellar AM 1938-2015 | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
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