| The Honourable Kevin Newman AO |
|
|---|---|
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Bass |
|
| In office 28 June 1975 – 26 October 1984 |
|
| Preceded by | Lance Barnard |
| Succeeded by | Warwick Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 October 1933 |
| Died | 17 July 1999 (aged 65) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Spouse(s) | Jocelyn Newman |
| Children | Campbell Newman |
| Occupation | Soldier |
Kevin Eugene Newman AO (10 October 1933 – 17 July 1999) was an Australian soldier and politician. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Australian Army, serving in Malaysia and the Vietnam War.[1]
Newman entered political life through the Bass, Tasmania by-election in 1975 as the Liberal candidate. The previous member, former Labor Deputy Prime Minister Lance Barnard, had held it for 21 years without serious difficulty. However, Newman took the seat off Labor on a massive 14-point swing--a shock result which is reckoned as the beginning of the end for Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.
With the election of the Malcolm Fraser government in December 1975, Newman was appointed Minister of Repatriation in the second Fraser Ministry. In July 1976, he became Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development when Ivor Greenwood became ill. He was responsible for environment issues when the decision was taken to cease sand mining on world heritage listed Fraser Island.
In December 1978, Newman was appointed Minister of National Development in the third Fraser Ministry. In December 1979 he was appointed Minister for Productivity and in November 1980 he was appointed Minister of Administrative Services in the fourth Fraser Ministry, a position he retained until the defeat of the government in the 1983 election. He retired from the Australian House of Representatives on 26 October 1984.
In retirement Newman was appointed President of the National Trust Tasmania, a member of the board of the Menzies Foundation and a director of the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach, Queensland. Newman was the Chairman of the Old Parliament House Governing Council from 1997 to 1999. He was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1994.[2]
Newman was married to former Senator the Hon Jocelyn Newman, former Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women. They had two children: Kate and Campbell. Kevin Newman's son Campbell Newman is the Lord Mayor of Brisbane.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Don Chipp |
Minister of Repatriation 1975–76 |
Succeeded by Peter Durack |
| Preceded by Ivor Greenwood |
Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development 1976–77 |
Succeeded by Ray Groom |
| Preceded by Doug Anthony |
Minister of National Development 1977–80 |
Succeeded by John Carrick |
| Preceded by Ian Macphee |
Minister for Productivity 1979–80 |
Position abolished |
| Preceded by John McLeay |
Minister of Administrative Services 1980–83 |
Succeeded by John Brown |
| Parliament of Australia | ||
| Preceded by Lance Barnard |
Member for Bass 1975–84 |
Succeeded by Warwick Smith |