David Fairbairn (politician)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Minister for Air
In office
27 July 1962 – 10 June 1964
Prime MinisterRobert Menzies
Preceded byLes Bury
Succeeded byPeter Howson
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Farrer
In office
10 December 1949 – 11 November 1975
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded byWal Fife
Personal details
Born(1917-03-03)3 March 1917
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Flying Cross

Sir David Eric Fairbairn,

Education and Science (1971), and Defence
(1971–1972).

Early life

Fairbairn was born in

Menzies government who were killed in the 1940 Canberra air disaster.[1]

Fairbairn was educated at

Woomargama, Riverina, New South Wales.[2]

World War II

During

Flight Lieutenant.[1] Fairbairn had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944.[3]

Political career

Fairbairn in 1961.

In the

unsuccessfully challenged Prime Minister John Gorton for the leadership (along with William McMahon), and then resigned from the ministry, saying: "I have given deep thought and consideration to this decision. I have made it reluctantly. My sole concern in coming to it is the future of the Liberal Party, the Government and the Nation." According to Ian Sinclair, he was opposed to Gorton's centralism and in particular, his attempt to claim of sovereignty over Australia's territorial waters and continental shelf for the Commonwealth.[4]

Fairbairn became

McMahon Ministry and Minister for Defence from August 1971 to the government's defeat in 1972 election. He retired from Parliament at the 1975 election.[1]

He had announced his retirement in 1975 but the dismissal of the Whitlam Government meant that his retirement came earlier than expected at the subsequent 1975 election.

From 1977 to 1980, Fairbairn was Australia's Ambassador to the Netherlands.[5][6] Media reported that the posting "deeply perturbed" staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which came at a time when the department was being forced to reduce its overseas representation significantly.[7]

Fairbairn died in Woden Valley Hospital in Canberra on 1 June 1994, survived by his wife, Ruth and three daughters.[8][9]

Honours

Fairbairn was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944,

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1977.[10]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Howe, Brian (6 June 1994). "Condolences: Fairbairn, Hon. Sir David Eric, KBE DFC" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives. pp. 1412–1413. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  2. ISSN 1833-7538
    . Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) entry for Fairbairn, David Eric". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 25 January 1944. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  4. ^ Sinclair, Ian (6 June 1994). "Condolences: Fairbairn, Hon. Sir David Eric, KBE DFC" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives. p. 1417. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Netherlands envoy posted to Geneva". The Canberra Times. 5 January 1977. p. 8. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Staff of embassy gets involved". The Canberra Times. 27 April 1980. p. 16. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  7. ^ Juddery, Bruce (18 December 1976). "Posting upsets staff". The Canberra Times. p. 7. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  8. ^ Fischer, Tim (6 June 1994). "Condolences: Fairbairn, Hon. Sir David Eric, KBE DFC" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives. pp. 1415–1416. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  9. ^ Downer, Alexander (6 June 1994). "Condolences: Fairbairn, Hon. Sir David Eric, KBE DFC" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives. pp. 1413–1415. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) entry for Fairbairn, David Eric". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 1977. Retrieved 31 October 2021. In recognition of service to Parliament

 

Political offices
Preceded by Minister for the Air
1962–1964 		Succeeded by
Peter Howson
Preceded by
Minister for National Development

1964–1969 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for
Science

1971 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Defence
1971–1972 		Succeeded by
Parliament of Australia
New division Member for Farrer
1949–1975 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands

1977–1980 		Succeeded by
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