Ralph Hunt (Australian politician)

Ralph James Dunnet Hunt AO (born 31 March 1928) was an Australian politician.

Hunt was born in Narrabri, New South Wales and was a farmer and grazier before entering the Australian Parliament. He was a councillor of Boomi Shire Council from 1956 to 1968 and Vice-President of it from 1962 to 1968. He won the seat of Gwydir for the Country Party at a by-election in June 1969 following the resignation of Ian Allan. He was appointed Minister for the Interior in the Second Gorton Ministry in February 1971 and held that position until the defeat of the government at the 1972 election.^[1]

Following the Liberal-National Country Party Coalition's win at the 1975 election, Malcolm Fraser appointed him Minister for Health. In December 1979, Fraser appointed Hunt Minister for Transport. His portfolio was became Transport and Construction in April 1982, but the coalition government was defeated at the 1983 election. He resigned from Parliament in February 1989.^[1] He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in January 1990.^[2]

[edit] Notes

Political offices
Preceded by Peter Nixon	Minister for the Interior 1971 – 1972	Succeeded by Keppel Enderby
Preceded by Don Chipp	Minister for Health 1975 – 1979	Succeeded by Michael MacKellar
Preceded by Peter Nixon (transport) Tom McVeigh (construction)	Minister for Transport 1979 – 1982	Succeeded by Peter Morris (transport) Chris Hurford (construction)
	Minister for Transport and Construction 1982 – 1983
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Ian Allan	Member for Gwydir 1969 – 1989	Succeeded by John Anderson