Jim Forbes (Australian politician)

The Honourable
 Jim Forbes
CMG
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Barker
In office
13 October 1956 – 11 November 1975
Preceded by Archie Cameron
Succeeded by James Porter
Personal details
Born 16 December 1923 (1923-12-16) (age 88)
Nationality Australian
Political party Liberal Party of Australia

Alexander James "Jim" Forbes CMG (born 16 December 1923) is a former Australian politician.

Forbes was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1956 to 1975 for the Division of Barker, South Australia.[1] He was Minister for the Army from 1963 to 1966, Minister for the Navy from 1963 to 1964, Minister for Health from 1966 to 1971 and Minister for Immigration from 1971 until William McMahon's defeat in the 1972 election. As Minister for Immigration he was responsible for resisting British pressure to admit ethnically-Asian refugees from Uganda during Idi Amin's regime; he said, "Applications by Asians in Uganda will continue to be considered on their individual merits in accordance with our non-European immigration policies. These policies reflect the firm and unshakeable determination of the Government to maintain a homogeneous society in Australia."[2] He also ordered the deportation of Joe Cocker when a small quantity of cannabis was found by police in his band's hotel room.[3]

In November 1973, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam accused Forbes in parliament of abusing the Government's hospitality at a reception for the New Zealand Prime Minister, claiming in relation to Forbes, "It is what he put in his guts that rooted him."[4]

Even 36 years after retirement, Jim Forbes was still in the headlines when it was revealed he had spent $16,000 on subsidised flights in the first six months of 2011.

"New figures show Dr Jim Forbes, 87, who was the federal member for Barker when he retired from Parliament in 1975, took 29 flights for himself and his family, costing $16,078 under the Gold Pass scheme."[5]

Notes

  1. ^ "Members of the House of Representatives since 1901". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071117114003/http://www.aph.gov.au/library/handbook/historical/representatives/courtnay.forrest.htm. Retrieved 18 November 2007. 
  2. ^ Neumann, Klaus (3 July 2004). "You're welcome, if we're interested". Project SafeCom Inc. http://www.safecom.org.au/refuge-australia.htm. Retrieved 10 January 2008. 
  3. ^ "Going Down Under". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 July 2004. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/02/1088488146551.html. Retrieved 10 January 2008. 
  4. ^ Ramsey, Alan (10 December 2003). "Going Down Under". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/09/1070732212807.html?from=storyrhs. Retrieved 10 January 2008. 
  5. ^ Hudson, Phillip (29 November 2011). "Free Travel - even 36 years later". The Advertiser. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/free-travel-even-36-years-later/story-e6frea6u-1226208589513. Retrieved 29 November 2011. 
Political offices
Preceded by
John Cramer		 Minister for the Army
1963–1966		 Succeeded by
Malcolm Fraser
Preceded by
John Gorton		 Minister for the Navy
1963–1964		 Succeeded by
Fred Chaney
Preceded by
Reginald Swartz		 Minister for Health
1966–1971		 Succeeded by
Ivor Greenwood
Preceded by
Phillip Lynch		 Minister for Immigration
1971–1972		 Succeeded by
Al Grassby
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Archie Cameron		 Member for Barker
1956–1975		 Succeeded by
James Porter