Malcolm Scott (politician)

Ken Anderson
Ken Anderson
Succeeded by	Don Chipp
Senator for Western Australia
	In office; 22 February 1950 – 30 June 1971
Personal details
Born	11 May 1911; Bridgetown, Western Australia, Australia
Died	31 May 1989 (aged 78); Booragoon, Western Australia, Australia
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Nancy Ozanne (m. 1936)

Malcolm Fox Scott (11 May 1911 – 31 May 1989) was an Australian politician who served as a Senator for Western Australia from 1950 to 1971, representing the Liberal Party. He served as a minister in the Gorton government from 1968 to 1969. Scott was a farmer before entering politics.

Early life

Scott was born in Bridgetown, Western Australia, to Ada Margaretta (née Fox) and Thomas Scott. His father was an immigrant from Scotland. Scott was raised on his father's farm and began his education at the local state school. He went on to Bunbury High School for one year, and then boarded at Scotch College, Perth. After finishing school, Scott returned to Bridgetown to help run the family farm, and eventually took it over completely. He also had a share in a pastoral lease in the Kimberley, as well as interests in a pearling company that operated six luggers out of Broome. Scott was elected to the Bridgetown Road Board in 1939, and served as chairman from 1946 to 1950.^[1]

Politics

Scott was briefly a member of the

Ord River Scheme. Scott was a proponent of centralisation (an unpopular view amongst many of his constituents) and suggested that the Kimberley should be transferred from Western Australia to the Northern Territory so it could be under federal control.^[1]

In March 1966, Scott was made

the new ministry.^[1] Among his duties was the censorship of imported literature and film, where he gained a reputation for puritanism. At one point, Scott had a scene cut from a Czechoslovak film, I Love, You Love, which depicted "a couple lying side-by-side with the husband stroking his wife's face and her pregnant belly". He said that these actions were of "a distinctly sexual nature".^[2]

Scott's career as a minister ended in November 1969, when he was replaced by Don Chipp in a reshuffle. He had been involved in two controversies the previous year, the first was over his shareholdings in mining companies. Because those companies were often involved in leasing government land, it was suggested that a conflict of interest might exist. The second controversy concerned the resignation of an officer of the Department of Customs and Excise (for which Scott was responsible). The officer had resigned after being found guilty of improper conduct, but subsequently received assistance in finding private-sector employment, which was said to be an abuse of power (and contradicted Scott's own statements on the "gravity" of the officer's offence).^[1]

Later life

Scott lost Liberal preselection prior to the

independent, but decided against doing so due to a pledge he had made not to oppose endorsed Liberal candidates. Scott had moved his family to Perth soon after entering the senate, and lived there in retirement (while still owning property in the country). He died at his home Booragoon in May 1989, aged 78. He had married Nancy Elizabeth Ozanne in 1936, with whom he had five children.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Ferrell, John (2010). "SCOTT, Malcolm Fox (1910–1989)". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
^ Hancock, Ian. "Events and issues that made the news in 1969". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 11 February 2008.

Political offices
Preceded by Ken Anderson	Minister for Customs and Excise 1968–1969	Succeeded by Don Chipp

[bio-1] Ferrell, John (2010). "SCOTT, Malcolm Fox (1910–1989)". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Retrieved 17 January 2023.

[2] Hancock, Ian. "Events and issues that made the news in 1969". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 11 February 2008.

[1]

[2]

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