Tributes flow for ex-Corangamite, Foreign Affairs Minister MP Tony Street

Tributes are flowing for longtime Corangamite MP and ex-Foreign Affairs Minister Tony Street, who was raised at a family property in Lismore.

Tony Street, federal Liberal member for Corangamite, Victoria (1966-1984),

LATE Corangamite MP and former foreign affairs minister Tony Street has been remembered as an “outstanding Australian”.

The political stalwart died on October 25, aged 96.

Mr Street was born in Melbourne in 1926 to Evora and Geoffrey Street and raised at the family property near Lismore in Victoria.

He attended Melbourne Grammar School, leaving in 1944 to join the navy.

Tony Street with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Mr Street later followed in the footsteps of his father, a federal Defence Minister, after being elected to the seat of Corangamite in the 1966 federal election.

Spending two decades in politics, he was first promoted to Assistant Minister for Labour and National Service under Billy McMahon.

Mr Street would later serve under the longtime Malcolm Fraser government in a raft of portfolios including Foreign Affairs, Employment and Industrial Relations and Public Service.

Stuart McArthur, who was elected Corangamite MP following Street’s retirement, remembered him as a “very good friend and colleague”.

Malcolm Fraser launches his new book titled 'Common Ground' at 101 Collins st. l/r Jim Carlton, Michael McKellar, Sir Zelman Cowen, Fraser, Dame Margaret Guilfoyle, Peter Nixon (rear), Tony Street (shaking Zelman's hand) and Ian Mcphee (rear).

“Tony Street was an outstanding Australian both personally and as a longstanding member for Corangamite, and also a very good friend,” he said.

“I was honoured to take his place in parliament as the member of Corangamite.”

Mr McArthur said Mr Street had a track record of providing “thoughtful and common sense” advice when faced with everyday issues.

“Tony Street always had a point of view that was in the national interest, not from a partisan political point of view,” he said.

He announced his retirement from politics in 1984, managing the family property from Ocean Grove in the later years of his life.

Outside politics, Mr Street served as director of several companies and on the committee for the Melbourne Cricket Club.

Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson paid tribute to his extensive career.

“He was highly respected by people from all walks of life for his effectiveness, fairness and decency,” she said.

Tony Street.

“As Australia’s representative on the world stage, Tony Street promoted the importance of consensus and strove to chart a new course for Australia as a ‘middle power’.”

Senator Henderson said she “had the great joy of sharing afternoon tea with Tony and his beloved wife Ricky last year”.

“This gave me a real insight into the very significant contribution that Tony Street made as the Liberal member for Corangamite and to our nation,” she said.

“I convey my deepest condolences to Tony’s family.”

Street is survived by his wife, Ricky, and three sons.

Originally published as Tributes flow for ex-Corangamite, Foreign Affairs Minister MP Tony Street