Publication

This paper examines the foreign policy record, approach to defense policy making and attitude toward the US-Australia alliance of Malcolm Fraser, the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia (1975-1983), who died in March 2015. The authors contend that during his time as prime minister, Fraser reorganized Australia’s defense establishment and that his 1976 defense white paper foreshadowed the defense strategy adopted by later governments. They also contend that Fraser’s commitment to human rights and his support for the Commonwealth as a multilateral forum were enduring features of his time as prime minister.