25 Facts About Peter Nixon

Peter James Nixon was born on 22 March 1928 and is an Australian former politician and businessman.

Peter Nixon served in the House of Representatives from 1961 to 1983, representing the Division of Gippsland as a member of the National Country Party.

Peter Nixon held ministerial office as Minister for the Interior, Shipping and Transport, Postmaster-General, Transport, and Primary Industry.

Peter Nixon was born on 22 March 1928 in Orbost, Victoria.

Peter Nixon grew up on a farming property outside Orbost.

Peter Nixon passed the time by reading and playing chess.

Peter Nixon had a 500-acre property named Macclesfield, where he grew seed beans and maize.

Peter Nixon later switched to mixed farming, growing lucerne and keeping dairy cattle.

Peter Nixon was elected to parliament at the 1961 federal election, following the resignation of George Bowden, the incumbent Country Party MP in Gippsland.

Peter Nixon was one of several young Country Party MP's mentored by party leader John McEwen as part of his succession strategy, along with Doug Anthony and Ian Sinclair.

In 1967, Peter Nixon was appointed Minister for the Interior in the Holt government, retaining the position in the Gorton government.

Peter Nixon was elevated to cabinet following the 1969 election.

Peter Nixon is mentioned in the song Gurindji Blues, saying "Buy your land back, Gurindji" referring to his assessment of the Wattie Creek land rights strike.

In opposition from 1972 to 1975, Peter Nixon was a prominent figure in persuading his National Party colleagues to help pass Australian Labor Party legislation opposed by the Nationals' coalition partner, the Liberal Party.

Peter Nixon was a longtime critic of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, which he accused of being biased against the National Party.

Peter Nixon briefly served as Postmaster-General in the first Fraser ministry following the dismissal of the Whitlam government.

Peter Nixon subsequently returned to his prior role of Minister for Shipping and Transport, serving from 1975 to 1979.

Peter Nixon then served as Minister for Primary Industry from 1979 until the government's defeat at the 1983 election.

In 1981, as primary industry minister, Peter Nixon faced a scandal over meat substitution, whereby beef exports to the United States had been found to contain kangaroo and horse meat.

In 1984, Peter Nixon was appointed chair of Southern Cross Broadcasting.

In 1994, Hugh Lamberton wrote in The Canberra Times that Peter Nixon was "one of the few long-serving politicians to have established a post-parliamentary life not overburdened with a nostalgic dependence on past achievement".

Outside of broadcasting, Peter Nixon was a member of the Victorian Football League Commission from 1985 to 1991.

Peter Nixon delivered the eulogy at Malcolm Fraser's state funeral in 2015.

In 1952 Peter Nixon, married Jacqueline "Sally" Dahlsen, with whom he had three children.

On 26 January 1993, Peter Nixon was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to the Australian parliament and to the community.