David Fairbairn (politician)

Sir David Eric Fairbairn, KBE, DFC (3 March 1917 – 1 June 1994) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served in the House of Representatives from 1949 to 1975. He held ministerial office as Minister for Air (1962–1964), National Development (1964–1969), Education and Science (1971), and Defence (1971–1972).

The Honourable Sir David Fairbairn KBE, DFC
Minister for Defence
In office 13 August 1971 – 5 December 1972
Prime Minister	William McMahon
Preceded by	John Gorton
Succeeded by	Lance Barnard
Minister for Education and Science
In office 22 March 1971 – 20 August 1971
Prime Minister	William McMahon
Preceded by	Nigel Bowen
Succeeded by	Malcolm Fraser
Leader of the House
In office 26 January 1966 – 28 October 1966
Leader	Harold Holt
Preceded by	Harold Holt
Succeeded by	Billy Snedden
Minister for National Development
In office 10 June 1964 – 12 November 1969
Prime Minister	Robert Menzies Harold Holt John McEwen John Gorton
Preceded by	Bill Spooner
Succeeded by	Reg Swartz
Minister for Air
In office 27 July 1962 – 10 June 1964
Prime Minister	Robert Menzies
Preceded by	Les Bury
Succeeded by	Peter Howson
Member of the Australian Parliament for Farrer
In office 10 December 1949 – 11 November 1975
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Wal Fife
Personal details
Born	3 March 1917 Claygate, Surrey, England
Died	1 June 1994 (aged 77) Canberra, Australia
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse(s)	Ruth
Relations	George Fairbairn (grandfather) Edmund Jowett (grandfather) James Fairbairn (uncle)
Children	Three daughters
Alma mater	University of Cambridge
Occupation	RAAF officer
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service	1939–1945
Rank	Flight Lieutenant
Unit	21st Light Horse Riverina Regiment (1939–41) No. 79 Squadron (1941–45)
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross

Early life

Fairbairn was born in Claygate, Surrey. His grandfathers both served in the Parliament of Australia—Sir George Fairbairn served in the House of Representatives seat of Fawkner from 1906–13 and in the Senate from 1917–23, and Edmund Jowett was the federal member for Grampians from 1917 to 1922. His uncle, James Fairbairn, was one of three ministers in the Menzies government who were killed in the 1940 Canberra air disaster.[1]

Fairbairn was educated at Geelong Grammar School and Jesus College, Cambridge. In 1939, he took control of Dunraven, a pastoral property at Woomargama, Riverina, New South Wales.

World War II

During World War II, he served in the 21st Light Horse Riverina Regiment from 1939 to 1941 and joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1941. He served both in Britain, where he located the first V-1 flying bomb launching site, and in the New Guinea campaign. In 1945 he was badly wounded and discharged with the rank of Flight Lieutenant.[1] Fairbairn had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944.

Political career

Fairbairn in 1961.

In the 1949 election, Fairbairn was elected to the House of Representatives as the federal member for Farrer. He was appointed Minister for the Air in 1962 in the ninth Menzies Ministry. In 1964, he became Minister for National Development. After the 1969 election, he unsuccessfully challenged Prime Minister John Gorton for the leadership (along with William McMahon), and then resigned from the ministry, saying: "I have given deep thought and consideration to this decision. I have made it reluctantly. My sole concern in coming to it is the future of the Liberal Party, the Government and the Nation." According to Ian Sinclair, he was opposed to Gorton's centralism and in particular, his attempt to claim of sovereignty over Australia's territorial waters and continental shelf for the Commonwealth.[2]

Fairbairn became Minister for Education and Science in March 1971 in the McMahon Ministry and Minister for Defence from August 1971 to the government's defeat in 1972 election. He retired from Parliament at the 1975 election.[1]

From 1977 to 1980, Fairbairn was Australia's Ambassador to the Netherlands.[3][4] Media reported that the posting "deeply perturbed" staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which came at a time when the department was being forced to reduce its overseas representation significantly.[5]

Fairbairn died in Woden Valley Hospital in Canberra on 1 June 1994, survived by his wife, Ruth and three daughters.[6][7]

Honours

Fairbairn was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944,[8] and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1977.[9]

Notes

1. Howe, Brian (6 June 1994). "Condolences: Fairbairn, Hon. Sir David Eric, KBE DFC". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
2. Sinclair, Ian (6 June 1994). "Condolences: Fairbairn, Hon. Sir David Eric, KBE DFC". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
3. "Netherlands envoy posted to Geneva". The Canberra Times. 5 January 1977. p. 8.
4. "Staff of embassy gets involved". The Canberra Times. 27 April 1980. p. 16.
5. Juddery, Bruce (18 December 1976). "Posting upsets staff". The Canberra Times. p. 7.
6. Fischer, Tim (6 June 1994). "Condolences: Fairbairn, Hon. Sir David Eric, KBE DFC". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 19 October 2007.
7. Downer, Alexander (6 June 1994). "Condolences: Fairbairn, Hon. Sir David Eric, KBE DFC". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
8. "Fairbairn, David Eric". It's an Honour. Government of Australia. Retrieved 19 October 2007.
9. "Fairbairn, David Eric". It's an Honour. Government of Australia. Retrieved 19 October 2007.