MALCOLM FRASER AC CH PC – – LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA
22nd Prime Minister – 1975-1983
Malcolm Fraser had a significant impact on Australian sport through investing in high performance sport for the first time through establishing the Australian Institute of Sport and upholding the Gleneagles Agreement that discouraged sporting contacts with South Africa. His request for Australian Olympic Federation to boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games further highlighted that sport and politics do mix – a position not accepted by many in the community.
Birth: 21 May 1930, Melbourne – Death: 20 March 2015, Melbourne
Political Appointments
- Federal Member for Wannon, VIC: 10 December 1955 – 31 March 1983
- Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party of Australia: 21 March 1975 – 11 March 1983
- Ministries: Minister for the Army 26 January 1966 – 28 February 1968, Minister for Education and Science 28 February 1968 – 12 November 1969, Minister for Defence 12 November 1969 – 8 March 1971, Minister for Education and Science 20 August 1971 – 5 December 1972
- Prime Minister: 11 November 1975 – 11 March 1983
John Malcolm Fraser was born in Melbourne on 21 May 1930, the youngest of the two children of John Neville and Una (Woolf) Fraser. His grandfather, Sir Simon Fraser, had been a Victorian parliamentarian and a delegate to the Australasian Federal Convention in 1897–1898. His parents owned a grazing property north of Deniliquin. Fraser attended Tudor House School, Moss Vale, NSW (1940-1943) and Melbourne Grammar (1944-1948). In 1946, his family purchased a property near Nareen in the Southern Grampians, Victoria. He then attended Oxford University, England (1949-1952) where he graduated with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics. After returning from England, he worked at the family property.
Personal
In 1954, he stood for the federal electorate of Wannon, Victoria for the Liberal Party. He lost by only 17 votes, but the won in 1955 in a landslide at the age of twenty five. From 1966, he held several ministries – Army (1966 – 1968), Education and Science (1968 – 1969), Defence (1969 – 1971). He resigned as Defence minister after a disagreement with prime minister John Gorton. He then became Education and Science minister (1971 – 1972) after Billy McMahon replaced Gorton as prime minister. McMahon was defeated by Gough Whitlam in the 1972 federal election. On 21 March 1975, he replaced Billy Snedden as federal opposition leader. He became prime minister after the Governor-General John Kerr dismissed the Whitlam government on 11 November 1975 due to the federal Coalition under Fraser’s leadership not passing supply bills in the Senate. Fraser went on to win the 1975 federal election. He remained prime minister until he lost the 1983 federal election to the Australian Labor Party led by Bob Hawke.
In 1956, he married Tamara (‘Tammie’) Beggs and they had four children.
Fraser became prime minister with little background in sport but his government’s involvement was significant compared to previous federal governments. His government increased investment in sport after initial hesitation, continued the ban on South African sporting teams visiting Australia introduced by Whitlam and supported a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games due to the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan. Fraser established the Australian Institute of Sport and supported investment in Australian Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams – both these decisions recognised the role of sport in enhancing Australia’s international reputation.
Fraser’s support of human rights carried on following his resignation from parliament. He was a member of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group seeking to end apartheid in South Africa and in 1987, the founding chairman of CARE Australia, a major overseas aid provider. In 2000, he was awarded Australia’s Human Rights medal.[1]
Government Policy Summary
Whitlam government (1972-1975) was the first federal government to take a proactive approach to funding sport development in Australia. Fraser government’s election mandate was to review the Commonwealth Public Service and restrain government expenditure. It’s first decision was to move the Department of Tourism and Recreation to the new Department of Environment, Housing and Community Development with Senator Ivor Greenwood the sport minister. Fraser government maintained existing funding to programs established under the Whitlam government but stated there would be no increase in funding. Kevin Newman, who replaced Greenwood minister responsible for sport in July 1976, outlined the Fraser government early principles:[2]
The Commonwealth Government has a role to play in the area of sport and accepts its responsibility to develop Australian sport at the national and international levels.
Our policy will complement the work of State and local governments. The Commonwealth will direct its attention to areas which, generally, will not be taken up by other levels of government.
Our broad objective is to provide opportunities for Australian sportsmen and sportswomen to develop their potential to the maximum of their desire and skill. At the international level this will help them compete on a more equal basis with the athletes of other countries.
The Government remains conscious of the fact that the voluntary principle is the basic element of the Australian sports system and supports its expression through national sporting associations. Government assistance will reinforce the principle of self-help manifested in the efforts of the sporting community itself.
We acknowledge that a great deal of the funds required for the varied commitments of sporting bodies will always be raised by voluntary effort. The Commonwealth will become involved in those projects of national significance which, financially, are beyond the capacity of voluntary, effort or which place unrealistic burdens on sporting bodies and individuals.
Fraser attended the 1976 Montreal Olympics Games where he was criticised by athletes and officials for the lack of support to Olympic athletes. Federal governments had traditionally supported the cost of sending teams to the Olympic Games but did not fund athlete and team preparation. Australia failed to win a gold medal for the first time since 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. This criticism led to the Fraser government to review its funding to high performance sport in Australia. It provided $75,000 to the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to assist athletes and teams in pre-event training for the 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games and revisited the 1975 Coles report – that investigated the establishment of a national institute of sport in Australia. [3]In December 1978, Bob Ellicott was appointed the Minister for Home Affairs and was responsible for sport and the development of Canberra. In January 1980, Fraser announced the establishment of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra after work undertaken by Ellicott and his departmental officials.
During the Fraser government, there were nine ministers responsible for sport and Hartung in The Great Arm Wrestle comprehensively highlighted how this disrupted the development of government policy in sport. [4]Fraser government’s impact on sport was primarily through the development of high performance sport through the establishment of AIS, improved funding Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams, International Sports Facilities Program ($25 m over three years) and establishment of National Athlete Awards Scheme and National Talent Development Scheme. In additional, it provided funding for the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games.
Australian Institute of Sport
Australia’s poor medal results at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games and 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games led to the Fraser government dusting off the Coles report released just prior to the dismissal of the Whitlam Government. Fraser handed over the responsibility for investigating the establishment of a national institute of sport to minister Bob Ellicott. This decision proved to be pivotal due to Ellicott’s standing in the government, interest in sport and having the dual responsibilities of sport and the development of the national capital – Canberra.[5]
On 25 January 1980, Ellicott announced that a “National Sports Training Institute to open in 1981”:[6]
In deciding to set up the Institute the Government has recognised that, if young Australians are to have an opportunity to pursue their interest in sport to a high level, Australia would need to give potential top class sports men and women access to specialised coaching programs while, at the same time, allowing them to pursue their studies.
From overseas experience it has become obvious that if they are: to have full opportunities, our athletes must be able to train and compete without necessarily sacrificing their education or careers.
This highlighted the requirement for Australian athletes and teams to have access to high level professional coaching. Up until this point, coaches in Australia were not full time or professional.
On 26 January 1981, Fraser opened the AIS and National Indoor Sports Centre in Canberra. Fraser’s speech highlighted the reasoning: [7]
Australians have often done very well in world competition. They have shown great talent as individuals and they have been great coaches. We had done so well for our numbers that many believed that this would inevitably continue – that there was some natural sporting superiority in the outdoor loving Australians. But then victories seemed to be harder, competition tougher.
Where we had excelled in the coaching and capacity, others studied what we had done, improved on these practices, and surpassed us.
We came to know that victories in sport were harder to achieve, competition was tougher, training of our competitors was more concentrated and scientific. We had to decide whether we would let the world pass us by, or whether we would give our athletes full-blooded support needed for world victories. We needed world standard training facilities, we had to show Australia could offer as much, or more, than other countries. We want to entice our best athletes, our best coaches, to live, to work, to train in Australia. It had been galling sometimes to know that for the lack of encouragement and facilities at home Australians might have spent more time coaching our competitors than Australians. Well, this indoor sports complex and this institute are a clear sign that we are no longer going to allow the world to pass us by.
This complex, this National Indoor Sports Centre and the National Institute of Sport are a clear indication of our determination to reverse past trends. Up until now, too many world class Australian athletes at the end of their normal schooling would have had to make the decision to undertake tertiary studies or to continue with their sport. There were no adequate facilities or opportunities to enable them to do both, as is common overseas.
The AIS had immediate access to the National Athletics Stadium and the recently constructed National Indoor Sports Centre. The later was funded ($3 m) by the Fraser government as part of the development of Canberra’s major sports facilities.[8] Canberra was the preferred location by the Fraser government as it was the national capital and the federal government had access to land for its establishment. But the announcement stated that further sports training facilities would need to be constructed and it funded new sports training facilities – gymnastics training hall, indoor tennis hall (4 courts), aquatic centre with an 8 lane 50 metre pool plus a short sprint 25 metre pool. The expenditure on new facilities through the Fraser government included:
- Outdoor Tennis and Netball Courts – $200,000
- Tennis and Gymnastics Training Halls – $2 m
- Indoor Swimming Hall – $7.215 m
It also established the National Training Centre Program (NTCP) to assist sports not resident at the AIS through training and coaching camps.
Fraser government particularly through Ellicott significantly moved away from the traditional Liberal government view that sport looks after itself and with limited assistance and direction by government.
South African Sport Ban
Fraser maintained the ban of visiting South African sporting teams instigated by the Whitlam government in December 1972. Andrew Peacock, Foreign Affairs minister, outlined the Fraser government stance:[9]
The Government is also opposed to racial discrimination in sport. If our objective is not merely to express moral indignation but also to help end the discrimination, we have to consider how best this will be achieved. Is our objective better furthered by total boycott of sporting contact with South Africa or by permitting contacts subject to reasonable conditions which would encourage change? Which we recognise that a case can be argued for a total boycott, this Government feels that the second approach will be more constructive. For this Government, the basic condition will be South Africa’s willingness and ability to move away from racial discrimination in sport. As the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) has indicated, we will apply the test of selection on a proper multi-racial basis. As to Australian teams going to South Africa legally we cannot impose restrictions on Australians if they should decide to compete in South Africa. Australians travelling abroad are not subject to such restrictions on their activities, and it would be contrary to our philosophy of liberal pluralism to attempt to alter this. At the same time, we would hope and expect that Australian sportsmen would note the Government’s views on multi-racial competition and would take these fully into account in any plans they may have to compete in South Africa. The Government also looks to Australian sports bodies to adopt an approach consistent with these principles.
Twenty-eight countries including Commonwealth African countries boycotted the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games due to the New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa and the refusal of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban New Zealand. In 1977, as a result of the boycott, Commonwealth presidents and prime ministers agreed to discourage contact and competition between their sports people, teams and sporting organisations with South Africa. This negotiated agreement became known as the Gleneagles Agreement, but it was ‘in principle’ only and leaving implementation to governments. Fraser and his government strongly supported the Agreement. [10]The problem with the Agreement was that was that it was a discouragement not a mandate. Whilst national sports organisations were independent of the federal government, the Fraser government strongly discouraged sporting contact with South Africa. It may have helped that the Fraser government was providing limited funding to these organisations. The Agreement assisted in there being no boycott of the 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games.
In 1981, Fraser government criticised New Zealand’s Muldoon government for not stopping the 1981 Springbok rugby tour of New Zealand. Muldoon government did not support the tour but did not stop the New Zealand Rugby Union from hosting it. Fraser was criticised by involving in politics in sport, but he argued that the tour “threatened Commonwealth unity and undermined international efforts to pressure the apartheid regime.” Fraser refused permission for the Springboks’ aircraft to refuel on Australian territory en route to New Zealand, the trip therefore went via Los Angeles and Hawaii.[11]
The tour raised the possibility of an African boycott of the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games. Sonny Ramphal, Commonwealth Secretary-General, asked Australia to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Melbourne from 30 September – 7 October in 1981. This meeting highlighted the Fraser government’s support of African nations including Zimbabwean independence. In May 1982, Fraser tabled in parliament a communique from the Commonwealth Games Federation that stated there would be no boycott. In tabling the communique Fraser stated:[12]
I am sure that everyone in this House and everyone right throughout the whole community will be delighted that any thought of a boycott has been removed. There has been a most productive and useful meeting of the Commonwealth Games Federation in London. I wish to pay tribute to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Sonny Ramphal. I believe that Australia and the Commonwealth Games had many friends working in their interests at that meeting. I thank them all-no matter from which countries they might have come-for making sure that there was a successful outcome. Whilst the Commonwealth Games do not belong to Australia-they belong to the whole Commonwealth; all Commonwealth countries are interested in them-Australia has a special interest in these Games because they are being held within Australia. I believe we must all be delighted that these Games are being held. I hope that all members of the Commonwealth will feel free to attend and will want to attend. I believe they will enjoy their period in Australia.
There was no boycott most likely due to the Fraser government’s commitment to banning South African sporting teams.
In January 1983, there was an unofficial tour to South Africa by West Indian cricketers. Fraser stated ”The Australian Government deplores as a clear breach of the Gleneagles Agreement the current tour of South
Africa by an unofficial team of West Indian cricketers” and reiterated that “the people involved in this particular tour will not be given visas again to visit Australia.”[13]
Fraser’s criticism of sporting contacts with South Africa was at odds leading conservative Commonwealth leaders and several Australian sport administrators that argued that politics should remain separate from sport and believed that sporting exchanges could encourage reform through personal contact. Also, there was the view that athletes should not be punished for government policies. Fraser’s strong stance regarding South Africa and its apartheid regime led to his high standing in many African and Caribbean countries. Whitlam and his wife Margaret visited African IOC members in in the lead to 2000 Olympic Games host city selection in a bid to win their vote. After Sydney defeated Beijing by two votes, 95 to 93, John Coates, AOC president stated “The trip they made to Africa made all the difference”.[14] It could be argued that Fraser’s strong long-term opposition to apartheid would have assisted in the positive vote for Sydney by African IOC members.
Olympic Games – Montreal, Moscow, Los Angeles and Melbourne (?)
1976 Montreal Games
In January 1976, Fraser announced a grant of $250,00 for the 1976 Australian winter and summer 1976 Olympic Teams. In announcing the grant, Fraser stated that:[15]
Australia has always been among the ten most successful Olympic nations, and at the 1956 Melbourne Games, we ranked third as medal winners. I am advised by the Olympic Federation that our sportsmen have good prospects again this year.
Fraser farewelled the Olympic team for the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games on 4 July 1976 at Melbourne Airport. He told the team “My wife Tammy has asked me to say she will give a hug to every Australian who wins at Montreal. If there are 200 winners, she will be busy”.[16] At the farewell Waltzing Matida was played, Fraser’s preferred national anthem.[17]
Fraser became the first Australian prime minister to attend the Olympic Games held outside Australia, when he visited Montreal to meet Queen Elizabeth II on his way to Washington meeting with United States president Gerald Ford. It was a very disappointing Games for the Australian team as it failed to win a gold medal – the first time since 1936 Berlin Olympic Games and won only five medals – one silver and four bronze. Newspaper headlines from the Games included:[18]
‘Australia’s Golden Days are Gone’, ‘Our Olympic Flops Will Continue Unless’, and ‘Angry Athletes Tell the PM to be More Liberal’
Fraser believed the Olympic Games should not be a race for gold medals and Kevin Newman, the minister responsible for sport, noted that the government had an important role in developing sport but not the Eastern European approach focussing on golds medals and placing on the medal table. [19]However, it was reported on 3 August 1976 after the conclusion of the Games that Fraser asked Newman to hold “inquest into the Australian Olympic team’s performance in Montreal.” [20]Interestingly in the same newspaper report, Prince Phillip described such as review as “deplorable and pathetic” as politics should be kept out of the Games and it should not be used to gain national prestige.
Fraser later stated:
When I visited the Australian team after or during the Montreal Games, I met a number of reasonably dispirited athletes. Australia had not done as well as we had on previous occasions and I was very interested and concerned to speak with our own athletes to find out what they thought was wrong.
It was not until Fraser appointed Bob Ellicott as the Home Affairs minister in December 1978 that a serious attempt was made to improve Australia’s competitiveness in international sport. This led to the announcement of the establishment of the AIS on 25 January 1980.
1980 Moscow Games
In February 1979, Fraser announced a significant increase in the federal government’s funding to the Australian Olympic team for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. The grant of $800,000 included $300,00 for pre-event training and competition. Fraser acknowledged in the grant announcement that sport systems particularly in Eastern Europe were being controlled by governments:[21]
In a world where many countries’ sporting administration and training programs are government-controlled, Australians may be justly proud that their own athletic and sporting organisations are free of such restraints and controls. It does mean, however, that a special effort is needed from all Australians to support our athletes so that the best possible team from Australia may be sent to the 1980 Olympics.
Australian Olympic Federation (AOF) and its member national sports organisations were finally seeing investment into the Australian Olympic performance. But the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union on 24 December 1979 resulted in the Fraser government taking a more directive role in Australian sport and leading division within the Australian sporting and general community. Lisa Forrest, 1980 Olympic swimmer, in her book Boycott has comprehensively documented the Fraser government’s decision to request the Australian Olympic team to boycott the Moscow Games. In addition, it is covered in Harry Gordon’s book Australia and the Olympic Games. Some key moments from a Fraser government perspective are detailed.
On 14 January 1980, in a Melbourne door stop interview, Fraser raised the possibility of the Olympic Games not being held in Moscow due to the possibility of boycotts. Recent Olympic Games had been subject to boycotts. He stated:[22]
For a long while, the Australian Government tried to maintain the view that politics and sport should be kept quite separate and then everyone told us that you could not keep the two separate, and this was especially in relation to apartheid in South Africa. Governments that introduced politics into sport have really been responsible for bringing the two together. I think it is probably quite unreal for anyone today to pretend that there are not significant political implications in great sporting events, and it is unfortunate that that does apply to the Olympic Games just as much as to other things.
The suggestions that have been made that the Olympics should find a permanent home in Greece, I believe are well worth consideration. It would certainly prevent. I think, politicisation of the Olympics which is likely to happen if the nature of the Olympics is not altered. Another option for the future of the Games that instead of having a massive effort for the Games to be mounted in one country, may be to have them mounted in five or six countries which would enable a much larger number of countries to participate in presenting the Games than at the moment, because of the massive cost involved.
This statement was followed up by a letter from Fraser on 22 January 1980 to the AOF that a suitable site should be found if Soviet troops fail to withdraw from Afghanistan. The letter also noted that the Fraser government’s remaining $500,000 grant for the Games should not be used to send the team to Moscow. The boycott for the Games was led by United States president Jimmy Carter. This created divisions within Australia – Australian Labor Party against and Coalition in favour, mixed stances by national sports federation and athletes and the Australian community.
On 15 April 1980, Fraser sent a telegram to the AOF before its board met to decide on the attendance at the Games. It stated:[23]
The Government has today reaffirmed its view that because of the continued Soviet aggression in Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, it is in Australia’s national interest to stand with other countries who have condemned this action and not send a team to the Moscow Olympics. The Government confidently expects that the decision made by the U. S. Olympic Committee will be followed in other countries and that there will be an effective boycott.
I ask that as a delegate to the Australian Olympic Federation, you support a decision not to send an Australian team to Moscow. Because of the unstable situation in the Persian Gulf which the Soviet Union has caused, and the implications to other countries, the Government’s view is that it is not in the interests of our national security for Australia to take part in the Moscow Olympics. I strongly urge you to take these national interests fully into account, and to support an immediate decision by the Federation not to go to Moscow.
After extensive lobbying by Fraser and his ministers to the AOF and national sports organisations, the AOF board met in Melbourne on 23 May 1980 to determine its final decision regarding attendance. Syd Grange, AOF president (1977-1985) supported the boycott by stating “We have to live with this government, because I’m certain MR Fraser and his government will be re-elected. They could be in power for another six years … if we defy them we can hardly expect sympathetic support. [24] This view highlighted how many in the sporting community were grateful for the increased government financial support. Six members voted to attend – David McKenzie (IOC member), Phil Coles, William ‘Bill’ Hoffman, Tom Blue, John Rodda, Lewis Luxton and five against – Sydney Grange, Kevan Gosper, Julius Patching, Jack Howson and Eric McRae.
Fraser made a final attempt to change the AOF’s board decision through a letter to the AOF executive on 18 June 1980. He attended a meeting of the AOF board on the 19 June 1980 with the deputy prime minister, Doug Anthony, minister for foreign affairs Peacock and minister for home affairs Ellicott to plead their case for a boycott. [25] At the meeting, the AOF reaffirmed its decision and conceded it would march under the Olympic and not the Australian flag. After the reaffirmation, Fraser in his regular electorate talk made several statements including:[26]
It is plain that that 6 who voted for Moscow placed their duty to the Olympics above their duty to Australia. The Government had said it was a matter of the highest national importance – one that touched the national interest and the future security of this nation.
Medals won in Moscow will be devalued medals. But again, the tragedy may be that even those who win medals, a short time after the event, may well wish that they had not attended, may well wish that they, had not won. They will not carry the mark of pride, excellence, normally associated with the Olympics. They will be the “1980 medals”, which will carry a connotation all of their own.
Some people have said the if the Government feels so strongly why does it not direct the Olympic Federation. If we had the formal power to do so – if it had been our responsibility – of course we would have. But Olympic Federations have been established independent of government. They have been busy asserting their independence. In Australia, by that very assertion, they themselves carry that responsibility to act not only as Olympic administrators, but Also as Australians.
They have told Australia which they put first. It is a sad and tragic decision. Young athletes do not remember of course, what happened in the 1930s, it was before their time. That cannot be said of the majority of the Olympic Federation executive – most of whom lived thorough that time. ·
On 3 August 1980 at the conclusion of the Games, Fraser stated his government it would continue to financially support sport by stating:[27]
Of course the Government will continue to co-operate with sport.
We have done a great deal to advance the interests of sport and will continue to do so. The Sports Institute is an example of this.
I have congratulated those who have, performed with particular excellence at the Moscow Olympics.
Nevertheless the Government still regrets that the Australian Olympic Federation chose to send, a team to Moscow against the Government’s wishes.
On 16 September 1980, Fraser responded to a parliamentary question on whether he sent congratulatory telegrams to successful medallists without hesitation. He replied: [28]
I sent the following personal messages to the respective gold medal winners following their success at the Moscow Games:
(i) Neil Brooks, Mark Tonelli, Peter Evans, Mark Kerry
You know that I did not, and do not, approve of Australia being represented at these Olympic Games.
I do want to say, however, that your performance in the relay was a truly great sporting achievement. My personal congratulations.
(ii) Michelle Ford
Many congratulations. I salute a great sporting victory.
Several national sports organisations – equestrian, field hockey, and sailing and prominent athletes including Raelene Boyle and Tracy Wickham withdrew from the team. It was later revealed that the Fraser government made payments to those organisations and athletes. [29]
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Expenditure report in 1984 identified athletes and national sports organisations that were compensated for not attending the Moscow Olympics. National sports organisations that received payments used the funding to attend other international sporting events. This amounted to close to the $500,000 funding taken away from the AOF.
Table 1- Funding of Teams and Athletes Withdrew,
| Organisations | Amount |
| Equestrian Federation of Australia | $125,000 |
| Australian Yachting Federation | $52,840 |
| Australian Hockey Association (Men) | $90, 374.14 |
| Australian Women’s Hockey Association | $45,740 |
| Amateur Boxing Union of Australia | $13,784 |
| Australian Volleyball Federation | $120,00 |
| Australian Shooting Association | $41,000 |
| Total | $488,738.14 |
| Athletes | Amount |
| Raelene Boyle (athletics) | $6,000 |
| John Higham (athletics) | $6,000 |
| Mark Morgan (swimming) | $6,000 |
| Terry Reilly (archery) | $6,000 |
| Alexander Watson (modern pentathlon) | $6,000 |
| Tracey Wickham (swimming) | $6,000 |
| Total | $36,000 |
In 2008, Fraser was against a boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games due to China’s actions in Tibet and reflected on 1980 boycott. He believed that president Carter expected its allies to uniformly support his decision. He stated:[30]
The individual choices that were made created divisions within sports and between sports. It’s not something I would want to see repeated.
I never thought it was good policy because policy, to be successful, needs to be sustainable. Not only was it divisive between different sports, but also within sports.
The Fraser government’s intervention was opposed by young rowing administrator John Coates and this led to his strong desire for the AOF to become financially independent of the federal government, particularly in terms of funding teams. This financial independence was achieved when the Australian Olympic Committee received substantial funding – $160 m from the New South Wales government after handing over marketing rights and control of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) budget and any Games profits.[31]
1984 Los Angeles
Despite the withdrawal of committed funding to the 1980 team due to the AOF decision to attend, Fraser government on 31 January 1983, granted $1.4 m to the AOF for 1984 Olympic winter and summer teams. Fraser acknowledged the importance of international sporting success by stating: [32]
The Brisbane Commonwealth Games were a watershed for Australian athletes. Those Games marked the rebirth of the Australian sporting tradition. I know every Australian has high hopes that our successes in Brisbane can be repeated at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
This continuation of federal funding highlighted how international sport success was now an ongoing objective of the Fraser government.
1988 Melbourne Olympic Games Bid
Melbourne decided to bid for the 1988 Olympic Games. It was supported by Australian IOC member David McKenzie (voted to attend 1980 Games) and Victorian Hamer government minister for sport Brian Dixon. The Melbourne bid was required to be lodged in March 1981 and voted on by the IOC in September 1981. The 1988 bid required the support of the Fraser government. In November 1980, Fraser government with the Victorian Hamer government provided funding for the preparation of the bid. [33] However, Fraser became concerned with the likely cost of $700 m for the federal government and security issues that may impact on Australia’s 1988 bicentennial celebrations. It was reported that Fraser believed that the 1988 Olympics should be held in Greece, a permanent site for future Olympics – a stance he expressed for the 1980 Games. [34] In February 1981, before March 1981 submission date, Fraser withdrew his support as he expressed financial and security concerns.[35] Hamer government followed in withdrawing support.[36]
Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games 1978
Fraser government provided a grant of $225,000 to the Australian Commonwealth Games Association for the 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games. This included $75,000 for pre-games training and $150,000 for attendance – travel, uniforms and accommodation. It was the first time a grant included pre-games –an outcome of the 1976 Olympic Games criticism of the lack of pre-games support. [37]
Commonwealth Games 1982
On 14 July 1976, Brisbane defeated Kuala Lumpur and Birmingham the right to host the 1982 Commonwealth Games. This led the Bjelke-Petersen Queensland government and Brisbane City Council to request financial support for the Games from the Fraser government. In January 1977, Fraser indicated that he didn’t want it to cost federal government more than $30 m. In September 1977, Fraser government offered $10 m toward the cost of the 1982 Games. Fraser stated:[38]
The Commonwealth Government will make a grant of $10 million towards the costs of staging the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. The grant will allow the Queensland Government in association with the Brisbane City Council and the Commonwealth Games Foundation to have the maximum flexibility in determining expenditure priorities between sporting facilities and accommodation for competitors. This would be consistent with the Commonwealth’s policy of co-operative federalism. The $10 million contribution is significantly higher than assistance given towards the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, and the 1962 Perth Commonwealth Games.
After this Games grant, Fraser government introduced an International Standard Sports Facilities (ISSF) Program to provide $25 m over three years on a dollar for dollar funding basis with the states. From this program, the Queensland government received $260,000 for the upgrading of one Games’ facility, the Belmont Rifle Range. In 1981-1982 federal budget, $420,000 was provided for the Games village facilities at Griffith University and $200,00 for a Mini-Games rehearsal in 2-4 October 1981.
There was a call for African nations to boycott the Games due aboriginal injustice issues, but it has been suggested that this did not occur due to Fraser’s strong stance on South African sport isolation. The likelihood of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protests led to Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Peterson declaring a State of Emergency and proclaimed street marches illegal. During the Games, street matches and rallies were held and arrests made.
The establishment of the AIS in 1981 assisted many athletes with coaching and training in the lead up to the Games. In July 1982, Fraser stated: [39]
It is also going to be the first significant test of the Australian Institute of Sport which has been operating now for the best part of two years, offering the most modern training techniques. A combination of that with full knowledge and experience, again sports medicine, offering the latest techniques to Australian athletes in a significant number of sports that will be relevant to the competitions in Queensland.
Fraser government also provided $455,000 for the pre-games preparation and out-fitting of the Australian team.
The Games were opened by the Duke of Edinburgh and closed by Queen Elizabeth II with Fraser prominent at both ceremonies. Australia had its most successful games – first on the medal table with 107 medals – 39 gold, 39 silver and 29 bronze. 37 current and former AIS athletes competed in three sports and won 12 gold, 12 silver and 7 bronze medals.
Commonwealth Games Official Report stated that the total cost of the Games was $100 m and the Fraser government contributed almost $40 m. It was noted that approximately $26 m of the $40 m was for the Australian Broadcasting Commission to be host broadcaster (radio and television) and the Commonwealth Arts Festival.[40]
At the conclusion of the Games, Fraser heralded the success of the Games:[41] [42]
“….brought out the best qualities in Australians and those qualities came through clearly in the efforts and achievements of the thousands of competitors and organisers.
I look back to 1976 when I visited the Australian team at the Olympic Games in Montreal where we had not won a single gold medal. The team was depressed; Australians in general were disappointed. The intensive training and coaching and the scientific approach to sport in other countries meant that our athletes were being left behind.
The government had to decide whether we would let the world pass us by or whether we would give our athletes the full-blooded support they needed to win world victories. We established the Australian Institute of Sport; it has cost $34 million to build and equip so far and it has contributed significantly to Australia’s 107 medals (at the Commonwealth Games) this year…..”
Fraser further reflected on the success of the 1982 Games in his 1983 federal election policy speech:[43]
The Commonwealth Games were a great success, and we all felt great pride in our sportsmen and women. We will help them build on their achievements by adding to the Sports Institute’s programs, and set up a centre for the institute in Perth.
After the Games, Fraser announced ten sports scholarships a year at the AIS to selected athletes from developing Commonwealth countries. The announcement stated that ” sport is an area of Commonwealth co-operation, and one in which there is already a firm foundation of friendship and co-operation. The scholarships will assist athletes from developing Commonwealth countries to expand and extend their sporting skills”. [44] This announcement can be regarded as the start of the federal government’s support of Commonwealth athletes and another example of sport diplomacy. It has been continued by following federal governments in supporting Oceania athletes.
Life. Be In It
Fraser government financially supported the Life. Be In It program established by the Victorian government in 1975. In September 1977, Kevin Newman, announced that the “Federal Government would allocate $600,000 per year over the next three years to promote a national Life. Be In It campaign.”[45] The aim of the program was to get people active through a humorous media campaign using a middle aged bloke called Norm. It was funded under the provisions of the National Fitness Act 1941. However, in April 1981, Ian Wilson, the minister responsible for sport, stated that Life. Be In It would now be the responsibility of state governments. His media release stated:[46]
The Prime Minister has made it clear, in line with the Government’s federalism policy, that the States must be given the freedom and responsibility to run their own programs,” Mr Wilson said. He said the Government had decided that the “Life Be In It” campaign was one area where the States should now assume full responsibility.
Interestingly, the Fraser government responsible for the Australian Capital Territory, provided $38,000 in funding.
Australian Football
Prime ministers from Victoria have had a strong interest in Australian football with its origins in Melbourne. Fraser like Menzies supported Carlton in the Victorian Football League (VFL). In response to a question of why he supported Carlton, Fraser responded “Probably because of a friendship with Menzies and a friendship with Bob Santamaria, and they were both avid Carlton supporters as you know.” [47] He accepted Carlton’s number one ticket holder after Dame Pattie Menzies in 1982 and held it until 1996. He didn’t naturally have a Melbourne team as he lived at his property in Nareen.
Carlton had an unsuccessful period in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. During his time in federal parliament, it won VFL premierships in 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981 and 1982.[48]On 28 March 1981, Fraser gave speech at the Carlton Breakfast:[49]
I said the same faces are here, and that is a good thing because that means that people who support the Club are coming out to do what they can, to save the flag for Carlton . It is an indication of club loyalty, an indication of the kind of support that our players need. One of the most important things is the connection that we have and the connection that the people on the field have during-the course of a game. I think sometimes connection is more important than a particular skill. I can well remember during an event in October last year when a lot of people were saying: “you’re done, you’ve had it”. But if you believe that a certain result is going to come up at the end of the day, then very often you can make that result come true. I am certain that Carlton will have, and must have, total conviction of their capacity to win, not only today, but at the end of the season. I believe that is the most important thing.
You know five years ago I said that I want sport to put politics off the front page. I never knew that Carlton was going.to assist me so avidly as they did over a period of the last couple of years. I am not suggesting that that should be repeated, but I think next time Carlton puts politics off the front page it should be Carlton winning, maybe even when people do not expect , Carlton to win. So let’s see that Carlton stays on the front pages through the course of this season.
At the 1981 Noerth Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast, he stated: [50]
It’s good to get back to the calmness and sanity of Melbourne on grand-final day after the last week in Canberra. If Carlton loses I threaten Parkin and his boys that I will read to them my long opening speech which I have prepared for CHOGM. In my policies I have to be unprejudiced and unbiased but not in football. I hope Collingwood supporters will forgive me for losing my voice in support of Carlton.
Carlton went to defeat Collingwood 12.20 (92) to 10.12 (72) and Fraser invited the team to The Lodge in Canberra on 11 November 1981. It has been reported the many of the players took away souvenirs from The Lodge – salt pepper shakers and cutlery. At the 1982 North Melbourne Grand Final breakfast, Fraser supported the VFL’s decision to hold the 1984 Grand Final at VFL Park, Waverly. Fraser stated “If the VFL wants to spend its money on a worthwhile plan it should be allowed to go on despite the view of governments of any persuasion. And that’s not political”. [51] He further stated, “if Carlton lost today to Richmond he would establish a Royal commission to find out why.” Carlton went on to defeat Richmond 14.19 (103) to 12.13 (85) and were again invited back to The Lodge. In a news report, Fraser said “This is not an invitation for the winning team, its an invitation when Carlton wins. Win next year and you will be here next year.” Fraser was presented with the grand final match ball, the Weg VFL Grand final poster and a cartoon of the Fraser steaking on to the field at the final siren.
- Footage of Fraser after1981 VFL Grand Final (YouTube)
- Footage 1982 Dinner at The Lodge (YouTube)
- Malcolm Fraser Wearing a Carlton Football Club Badge(State Library of Victoria)
Cricket
World Series Cricket
Fraser does not appear to have been a regular cricket attendee like Menzies. But during his time as prime minister, there were several major cricket crises in Australia. After the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) refused to accept Channel Nine’s bid to gain exclusive television rights to Australia’s test matches in 1976, Kerry Packer established World Series cricket competition including leading Australian, English, Pakistani, South African and West Indian players. Fraser supported Word Series as he was concerned that leading players might seek the riches of South African cricket tours unless they were adequately recompensed by cricket authorities. [52] In January 1979, Fraser attended the test between India v West Indies whilst in India holding meetings with Indian prime minister Desai. He made several comments regarding Australian cricket in an article titled – PM Bats for Peace: [53]
Australian cricket authorities would have to resolve the differences between the World Series Cricket troupe and the Australian Cricket Board if they were going to win a Test series.
India’s last tour in Australia was a great success. It was cricket at its best.
The English tour is not quite as exciting, the Australians aren’t going so well. We’re having problems with Mr Packer’s WSC… People will have to sort themselves out. It creates a problem if we’re going to beat England or anyone else with the best players divided.
World Series cricket ended on 30 May 1979 when the ACB granted Packer’s Channel Nine exclusive rights to telecast Australian cricket.
Underarm Incident
On 1 February 1981, in the one day international between Australia and New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australian captain Greg Chappell directed his brother Trevor to bowl the last ball of the match underarm to deny New Zealand a draw. This led to frayed relations between Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand prime minister Muldoon described it as “the most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket” and “”it was an act of true cowardice and I consider it appropriate that the Australian team were wearing yellow.”[54] Fraser agreed with many in the community and stated that it “was a very serious mistake – quite contrary to the good and decent traditions of cricket”. [55] Cartoonist Geoff Pryor published a cartoon with Fraser stating “Young Chappell Has To Realise That Winning’s Not Everything”.[56] Former Australian captain Richie Benaud commentating on the match stated it was one of the worst things he had seen on a cricket field. The incident did not lead to a disruption in Australia and New Zealand relations as Fraser called out the indiscretion.
Golf
Fraser took up golf late in life and when in Canberra played golf at Royal Canberra Golf Club. There are reports of Fraser playing golf with world leaders. In October 1981, he played golf with several Commonwealth leaders at Royal Canberra Golf Club as part of the 1981 CHOGM. [57] In 1992, political journalist Tony Wright reflected on Fraser and golf: [58]
The Press Gallery invited Fraser to tee off at the annual Press Gallery golf day. Fraser, being the sort of chap he was, decided he needed a bit of driving practice – couldn’t make a fool of himself, y’know.
He headed out to the Federal Golf Club, loaded himself up with about 200 balls and set to with a Number 2 wood. When you happen to be about 200cm tall and you haven’t been on a golf course for months and perhaps years, thumping 200 balls down a driving range can be a bit of a health hazard. Sometime about the 50th ball, Big Mal’s back made a nasty cracking noise. He should have stopped right then, but this was Malcolm Fraser. He had another 150 balls and he was going to deal with them. By the time he was finished, he was a basket case. He ended up in hospital, and any chance of an election by the end of 1982 went out the door.
After he retired from parliament, he regularly played golf with his wife Tammie at the Flinders Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula where he retired. Ranald Macdonald, who played with Fraser said, “But being a tall man perhaps didn’t have the ball under control.”[59]
Conclusion
Whilst not having a strong sporting background, Fraser and his government had a significant impact on the development of sport in Australia. After winning the 1975 federal election with a limited sport policy, several events led to his government intervening into the Australian sport system. This intervention was at odds with previous Coalition governments that believed that sport should control its own destiny.
Australia’s poor performance at the 1976 Olympic Games led to criticism from the sporting and general community about inadequate government financial assistance to the preparation of athletes. This led to Fraser government establishing the AIS – that has been financially supported by all subsequent federal governments. Fraser came to view sport in terms of enhancing Australia’s international reputation – a nationalism view.
Fraser was also willing to use sport as part of diplomatic and foreign relations. He maintained the Whitlam government’s ban on South African sporting teams and stood by the 1977 Gleneagles Agreement. This led to his high standing in many African and Caribbean Commonwealth countries. This stance led to these countries not boycotting the 1982 Commonwealth Games even though a South African rugby team had toured New Zealand in 1981. His government’s determination to boycott 1980 Olympic Games led to divisions within Australian sport and led to the Australian Olympic movement determined to achieve financial independence from the federal government. His government provided funding to the 1982 Commonwealth Games but did not support a 1988 Olympic Games bid due to its significant cost.
As part of Fraser government’s “new federalism”, there was the expectation that states would fund sport development and develop their own institutes of sport. The turnover of sport ministers resulted in lack of an overall sport policy – this would be pursued by the Hawke government that came into office in March 1983.
Fraser’s decisions highlighted that sport and politics do mix when appropriate.
References
[1] National Archives of Australia, National Museum of Australia, Museum of Australian Democracy biographies.
[2] Kevin Newman, Speech at the launching of the Australian Olympic Federation’s campaign to send the Australian team to the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow – Melbourne, 18 August, 1977, Media Release – Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development, 18 August 1977
[3] Allan Coles. Report of the Australian Sports Institute Study Group. Canberra, Department of Tourism & Recreation, 1975
[4] Greg Hartung, The Great Arm Wrestle: Australian Sport Policy Since 1939. Sydney, Halstead, 2023.
[5] Hartung, p.60
[6] Bob Ellicott, National Sports Training Institute to open in 1981, Dept. of Home Affairs News Release, 25 January 1980
[7] Malcolm Fraser, Opening of the National Indoor Sports Centre and the Australian Institute of Sport, Prime Minister Media Release, 26 January 1981
[8] $3m Project Started, The Canberra Times, 8 December 1979, p. 40
[9] Andrew Peacock. Governor-General’s Speech: Address-in-Reply, House of Representatives Hansard, 4 March 1976, p. 569
[10] National Archives of Australia. Australia And The Issue Of Apartheid In Sport – Fact Sheet
[11] 1981 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand and the United States – Wikipedia
[12] Malcom Fraser, Questions Without Norice: Commonwealth Games. House of Representatives Hansard, 6 May 1982, p. 2333
[13] Malcom Fraser, West Indian Cricketers’ Tour Of South Africa, Prime Minister Media Release, 21 January 1983 h
[14] AAP, Whitlam Vital in Sydney Olympics Win, Nine.com.au, 21 October 2014
[15] Malcolm Fraser, Olympic Appeal, Prime Minister Press Release, 26 January 1976
[16] Olympics, The Canberra Times, 5 July 1976 p.16
[17] Malcolm Fraser, Questions – National Anthem, House of Representatives Hansard, 4 May 1976, p. 1842
[18] John Bloomfield, Australia’s Sporting Success: Inside Story. Sydney, University of New South Wales Press, 2023, p. 45
[19] Bloomfield, p.45
[20] Inquiry Move is ‘Pathetic, Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, 3 August 1976, p. 22
[21] Malcolm Fraser, Fund Raising Campaign Of Australian Olympic Federation, Prime Minister Media Release, 10 February 1979
[22] Malcom Fraser, Doorstop Interview Melbourne – On Olympic Games, Transcript Door Stop Interview, 14 January 1980
[23] Doug Anthony, Olympic Games Boycott – Statement By The Acting Prime Minister. Prime Minister Media Release, 15 April 1980
[24] Harry Gordon, Australia at the Olympic Games, Brisbane, University of Queensland Press, 1994, p. 328
[25] A.O.F. Reaffirms Decision To Send Team To Moscow Games – Denial Of National Responsibility: PM, The Canberra Times, 20 June 1980, p. 1
[26] Malcolm Fraser, Electorate Talk, Prime Minister Media Release, 25 May 1980
[27] Malcolm Fraser. Statement in response to Phil Coles,’ Statement, Office of the Prime Minister, 3 August 1980
[28] Malcom Fraser, Moscow Olympic Games, House of Representatives Hansard, 16 September 1980, p, 1356
[29] House of Representatives Standing Committee on Expenditure. Payments To Athletes And Teams Who Did Not Participate In The 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service, 1984. p. 3.
[30] Len Johnson, Games Boycott Wrong Policy: Fraser, The Age, 19 March 2008
[31] Greg Blood, The Relationship between the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Sports Commission, Sporting Traditions, V35 (1) May 2018, p.55-77
[32] Malcolm Fraser, Australian Olympic Federation Appeal Launch, Prime Minister Media Release, 31 January 1983
[33]Victorian Application Olympic-Proposal Costs Shared, The Canberra Times, 21 November 1980, p. 9
[34] Olympic Games, The Canberra Times, 19 February 1981, p. 11
[35] Malcolm Fraser, Olympic Games, House of Representatives Hansard, 25 February 1981, p. 122
[36] Costs ‘Force End’ to Games Bid, The Canberra Times, 25 February 1981, p. 3
[37] Malcom Fraser, Commonwealth Games – Brisbane 1982, Prime Minister Media Release, 20 September 1977
[38] Commonwealth Games – Brisbane 1982,
[39] Malcolm Fraser, Commonwealth Games Cheque Handover, Prime Minister Media Release, 24 July 1982
[40] XII Commonwealth Games Australia (1982) Foundation The XII Commonwealth Games, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, September 30-October 9 1982: The Official History, A Spectacular Of Sport. Brisbane, The Foundation, 1983, p.59-60
[41] Hartung, p.45
[42] Malcolm Fraser, Electorate Talk, Prime Minister Media Release, 10 October 1982
[43] “Liberals ’83 The Liberal Party’s Policies, The Canberra Times, 16 February 1983, p. 12
[44] Malcolm Fraser, Scholarships To The Australian Institute Of Sport For Developing Commonwealth Countries, Prime Minister Media Release, 8 October 1982
[45] Kevin Newman, National Life. Be In It. Campaign, Minister For Environment, Housing and Community Development Media Release, 9 September 1977
[46] Ian Wilson, Life Be In It Statement, Minister for Home Affairs & the Environment Media Release, 30 April 1981
[47] Tony De Bolfo, Former PM Flags Finals Successes, Carlton Football Club website, 25 August 2011
[48] Tony De Bolfo
[49] Malcolm Fraser, Address to Carlton Football Breakfast, Prime Minister Media Release, 28 March 1981
[50] Fraser’s Warning Heeded, The Canberra Times, 27 September 1981, p. 6
[51] PM backs VFL: Government to be Ignored, The Canberra Times, 26 September 1982, p. 27
[52] Richard Cashman, Paradise of Sport, Melbourne, Oxford University Press, 1995, p. 124
[53] PM Bats for ‘Peace, The Canberra Times, 28 January 1979, p. 1
[54] Five Examples That Show Australians Are Bad Sports, Sydney Morning Herald, 17 November 2015
[55] Russell Barton, PM Gets His Wish Again – Sport on the Front Page, Sydney Morning Herald, 3 February 1981, p. 1
[56] Geoff Pryor, Young Chappell Has To Realise That Winning’s Not Everything [Malcolm Fraser], 1981
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