Who Is Malcolm Fraser? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Malcolm Fraser was born on May 21, 1930, and as of 2025, he would have celebrated his 95th birthday. He served as the Prime Minister of Australia from 1975 to 1983, making significant contributions to Australian politics during his tenure. Fraser was known for his strong leadership, advocacy for human rights, and staunch opposition to unjust political regimes. His biography reflects a life dedicated to public service, and his legacy continues to influence Australian politics today.
Occupation | Prime Ministers |
---|---|
Date of Birth | May 21, 1930 |
Age | 84 Years |
Birth Place | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Horoscope | Taurus |
Country | Australia |
Date of death | 20 March, 2015 |
Died Place | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Popularity
Malcolm Fraser's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific body measurements for Malcolm Fraser might not be available, as a politician, he was known for his commanding physical presence. Standing at approximately 6 feet tall, Fraser maintained a dignified posture throughout his life, embodying the qualities of leadership. His robust health allowed him to remain active in public life even after his political career.
Under the new prime minister, John Gorton, he was elevated to Cabinet as Minister for Education and Science. In 1969 he was promoted to Minister for Defence, a particularly challenging post at the time, given the height of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War and the protests against it.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Malcolm Fraser was married to Tamie Fraser, and they shared a deep bond throughout their life together. The couple had three children: sons Mark and Andrew and daughter, Christine. As of 2025, Malcolm Fraser was well-remembered for his strong family values and commitment to nurturing his children, instilling in them the importance of civic duty and social responsibility.
Fraser was raised on his father's sheep stations, and after studying at Magdalen College, Oxford, returned to Australia to take over the family property in the Western District of Victoria.
After an initial defeat in 1954, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives at the 1955 federal election, as a member of parliament (MP) for the division of Wannon. He was 25 at the time, making him one of the youngest people ever elected to parliament. He is the latest Prime Minister to date who represented a rural constituency.
When Harold Holt became prime minister in 1966, Fraser was appointed Minister for the Army. After Holt's disappearance and replacement by John Gorton, Fraser became Minister for Education and Science (1968–1969) and then Minister for Defence (1969–1971).
In 1971, Fraser resigned from cabinet and denounced Gorton as "unfit to hold the great office of prime minister"; this precipitated the replacement of Gorton with William McMahon. He subsequently returned to his old education and science portfolio.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing in March 2015, it was reported that Malcolm Fraser had a net worth estimated to be around AUD 10 million. His wealth was accrued through his successful political career, various investments, and published works. In the years following his death, Fraser's estate has continued to gain recognition for its contributions to charity and society.
Career, Business and Investments
Fraser's political career was marked by numerous achievements, including his influential stance on immigration and advocacy for indigenous rights. After leaving office, he engaged in various consulting roles and public speaking engagements, lending his expertise to various organizations. He also made significant investments in philanthropic endeavors, focusing on social justice and humanitarian issues.
After the Liberal–National Coalition was defeated at the 1972 election, Fraser unsuccessfully stood for the Liberal leadership, losing to Billy Snedden. When the party lost the 1974 election, he began to move against Snedden, eventually mounting a successful challenge in March 1975.
As Leader of the Opposition, Fraser used the Coalition's control of the Australian Senate to block supply to the Whitlam government, precipitating the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis. This culminated with Gough Whitlam being dismissed as prime minister by the governor-general, Sir John Kerr, a unique occurrence in Australian history.
The correctness of Fraser's actions in the crisis and the exact nature of his involvement in Kerr's decision have since been a topic of debate. Fraser remains the only Australian prime minister to ascend to the position upon the dismissal of his predecessor.
Social Network
Malcolm Fraser was active within several social networks throughout his political and public life. While his digital presence has waned since his passing, his contributions are still celebrated on platforms like Twitter and Facebook through fan pages and memorial groups dedicated to discussing his life and legacy. Fraser was known for interacting with journalists and political commentators, fostering discussions about contemporary issues long after his retirement from politics.
After losing the 1983 election, Fraser retired from politics. In his post-political career, he held advisory positions with the United Nations (UN) and the Commonwealth of Nations, and was president of the aid agency CARE from 1990 to 1995.
He resigned his membership of the Liberal Party in 2009 after the election of Tony Abbott as leader, Fraser having been a critic of the Liberals’ policy direction for a number of years. Evaluations of Fraser's prime ministership have been mixed.
He is generally credited with restoring stability to the country after a series of short-term leaders and has been praised for his commitment to multiculturalism and opposition to apartheid in South Africa, but the circumstances of his entry to office remains controversial and many have viewed his government as a lost opportunity for economic refor
m.
He was the last Australian Prime Minister entitled to the style "Right Honourable" as a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. His seven and a half-year tenure as prime minister is the fourth-longest in Australian history, only surpassed by Bob Hawke, John Howard and Robert Menzies.
Education
Malcolm Fraser was educated at the prestigious Melbourne Grammar School followed by the University of Melbourne, where he studied arts. His academic background, coupled with his early involvement in politics, laid the foundation for his remarkable career in public service. Fraser's education played a pivotal role in shaping his worldviews and political beliefs, emphasizing the importance of education in society.
In October 2007 Fraser gave a speech to Melbourne Law School on terrorism and "the importance of the rule of law," which Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella condemned in January 2008, claiming errors and "either intellectual sloppiness or deliberate dishonesty", and claimed that he tacitly supported Islamic fundamentalism, that he should have no influence
on foreign policy, and claimed his stance on the war on terror had left him open to caricature as a "frothing-at-the-mouth leftie".