13 Facts About Tom McVeigh

Tom McVeigh served in the House of Representatives from 1972 to 1988, representing the National Party.

Tom McVeigh held ministerial office in the Fraser government, serving as Minister for Housing and Construction and Minister for Home Affairs and the Environment.

Tom McVeigh was born on 7 May 1930 in Allora, Queensland.

Tom McVeigh became a "third-generation Darling Downs primary producer and a prize-winning wheat farmer", on a property of 1,200 acres.

Tom McVeigh played in the A-grade of the Darling Downs Rugby Union as a half-back.

Tom McVeigh served on the council of the Queensland Graingrowers' Association, as a Queensland delegate to the Australian Wheatgrowers' Federation, and on the Queensland State Wheat Board.

Tom McVeigh won the seat of Darling Downs for the National Country Party at the 1972 election.

Tom McVeigh was appointed Minister for Housing and Construction in the Fraser government in November 1980.

In 1984, with the abolition of the seat of Darling Downs, Tom McVeigh followed most of his constituents into the new Division of Groom, which he held until his resignation in February 1988.

Tom McVeigh aligned himself with Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen's "Joh for Canberra" campaign in 1987, which sparked a fracture in the Nationals between Queensland MPs seeking an independent National Party and supporters of federal leader Ian Sinclair and the existing coalition with the Liberals.

Tom McVeigh nonetheless remained a Nationals frontbencher during this time, serving as the party's spokesman on Aboriginal affairs.

In December 1987, it was reported that the Queensland state government had nominated Tom McVeigh to serve as agent-general in London.

Tom McVeigh formally resigned from parliament on 29 February 1988, sparking a by-election in Groom.