30 Facts About Phillip Lynch

Sir Phillip Reginald Lynch KCMG was an Australian politician who served in the House of Representatives from 1966 to 1982.

Phillip Lynch was deputy leader of the Liberal Party from 1972 to 1982, and served as a government minister under three prime ministers.

Phillip Lynch was elected to parliament at the 1966 federal election.

Phillip Lynch was appointed to cabinet at the age of 34, and served as Minister for the Army, Minister for Immigration, and Minister for Labour and National Service under John Gorton and William McMahon.

Phillip Lynch was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party in 1972, serving first under Billy Snedden and later under Malcolm Fraser.

Phillip Lynch became Treasurer when the Liberals returned to power in 1975, but had to resign after evidence at a judicial inquiry in Victoria by Sir Gregory Gowans linked him to land speculation in Victoria.

Phillip Lynch was then Minister for Industry and Commerce until his retirement due to ill health in 1982.

Phillip Lynch died of cancer a few years later, aged 50.

Phillip Lynch was born in Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, the oldest child of Dorothy Louise and Reginald Thomas Phillip Lynch.

Phillip Lynch grew up in the suburb of Kew and attended Catholic schools, initially a Marist Brothers school in Hawthorn and then Xavier College.

Phillip Lynch went on to study at the University of Melbourne, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1955 and a diploma in education in 1964.

Phillip Lynch was active in student politics, and campaigned against the White Australia policy.

Phillip Lynch then joined Manpower Pty Ltd, a management consulting firm of which he eventually became managing director.

Phillip Lynch married Leah Brigid O'Toole in 1958, with whom he had three sons.

Phillip Lynch joined the Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1959; he became the Melbourne vice-president and president, and then national president.

Phillip Lynch has a foundation member of the Frankston Rostrum Club 41 in 1967 and was a sought after speaker at their events.

Phillip Lynch first stood for parliament at the 1955 federal election, aged 22, running in the safe Labor seat of Scullin.

Phillip Lynch was state president of the Young Liberals from 1956 to 1958, and served on the party's state executive from 1956 to 1963.

Phillip Lynch was eventually elected to the House of Representatives at the 1966 election.

Phillip Lynch won Liberal preselection for the Division of Flinders against a large field of other candidates.

Between 1968 and 1972, Phillip Lynch served variously as Minister for the Army, Minister for Immigration, and Minister for Labour and National Service, under Prime Ministers John Gorton and William McMahon.

Phillip Lynch was the Deputy Leader of the Opposition as then Liberal leader Billy Snedden had refused to give the title to the Country Party leader Doug Anthony.

Phillip Lynch is noted for using the expression "rubbery" to describe some of the estimates in his 1977 Budget Speech, leading to the use of the expression "rubbery figures" in Australian political debate.

Phillip Lynch was forced to resign from the ministry on 19 November 1977 when it became known that he was using a family trust to minimise his tax obligations, which was perceived as a conflict of interest.

Phillip Lynch was replaced as Treasurer by John Howard and as Minister for Finance by Eric Robinson.

Phillip Lynch was challenged again for the deputy leadership this time by Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrew Peacock, who he defeated by 47 votes to 35.

Phillip Lynch was named a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1981 New Year Honours.

Phillip Lynch was made a Privy Councillor in 1977, allowing him to use the pre-nominal letters The Right Honourable.

Phillip Lynch resigned his parliamentary seat on the grounds of ill-health in 1982, and died of stomach cancer in 1984.

Lady Phillip Lynch, known for her charity work, died in 2007.