Kevin Newman (politician)

The Honourable Kevin Newman AO
Member of the Australian Parliament for Bass
In office 28 June 1975 – 26 October 1984
Preceded by	Lance Barnard
Succeeded by	Warwick Smith
Personal details
Born	Kevin Eugene Newman (1933-10-10)10 October 1933 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse(s)	Jocelyn Newman
Children	Campbell Newman
Occupation	Soldier
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1955–1975
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	3 RAR 2 RAR
Commands	5 RAR 6th Military District

Kevin Eugene Newman AO (10 October 1933 – 17 July 1999) was an Australian soldier and politician.

Army career

He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Australian Army, serving in Malaysia and the Vietnam War.

Political career

Newman entered political life through a 1975 by-election for the Division of Bass, Tasmania, in the House of Representatives, as the Liberal candidate. The previous member, former Labor Deputy Prime Minister Lance Barnard, had held it for 21 years without serious difficulty. However, Newman took the seat off Labor with a massive 14-point swing, turning Bass into a safe Liberal seat at one stroke. His primary vote margin was actually large enough to win without the need for preferences. This shock result is reckoned as the beginning of the end for the Whitlam government, which was dismissed only six months later.

Newman easily retained his seat at the December 1975 general election. With the election of the Fraser government, he was appointed Minister for Repatriation in the second Fraser Ministry. In July 1976, he became Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development when Ivor Greenwood became ill. He was responsible for environment issues when the decision was taken to cease sand mining on world heritage listed Fraser Island.

In December 1978, Newman was appointed Minister for National Development in the third Fraser Ministry. In December 1979 he was appointed Minister for Productivity and in November 1980 he was appointed Minister for Administrative Services in the fourth Fraser Ministry, a position he retained until the defeat of the government in the 1983 election. He retired from the parliament prior to the 1984 election.

Post-political activities

In retirement, Newman was appointed President of the National Trust Tasmania, a member of the board of the Menzies Foundation and a director of the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach, Queensland.

Newman was the Chairman of the Old Parliament House Governing Council from 1997 to 1999.

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1994.

Family

Newman was married to Jocelyn Newman, a Senator for Tasmania, and Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women in the Howard government. They had two children: Kate and Campbell. Campbell Newman was the Lord Mayor of Brisbane 2004-11, and was Premier of Queensland from March 2012 to February 2015.

References

Political offices
Preceded by Don Chipp	Minister for Repatriation 1975–76	Succeeded by Peter Durack
Preceded by Ivor Greenwood	Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development 1976–77	Succeeded by Ray Groom
Preceded by Doug Anthony	Minister for National Development 1977–80	Succeeded by John Carrick
Preceded by Ian Macphee	Minister for Productivity 1979–80	Position abolished
Preceded by John McLeay	Minister for Administrative Services 1980–83	Succeeded by John Brown
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Lance Barnard	Member for Bass 1975–84	Succeeded by Warwick Smith