Outspoken multiculturalism champion and former Kooyong MP, Petro Georgiou, has died

Petro Georgiou — who was state director of the Victorial Liberal Party when Jeff Kennett swept to power, and federal member for Kooyong throughout the Howard government era — has died.

Former Liberal heavyweight Petro Georgiou has died.

Former Liberal heavyweight and champion of multiculturalism, Petro Georgiou, has died aged 77,

The family of Mr Georgiou, who was state director of the Victorial Liberal Party when Jeff Kennett swept to power and was federal member for Kooyong throughout the Howard Government era, released a statement saying he had died peacefully on Thursday evening.

Mr Georgiou was born in Corfu in Greece, and came to Australia with his parents and three younger siblings in 1951.

A graduate of Melbourne High School and Melbourne University, he was an academic before taking a role as adviser to former prime minister Malcolm Fraser.

Petro Georgiou’s family says he ‘was loved by communities across Australia’.

“Petro was the inspiration for the introduction of multicultural policies under the then Fraser Government, before leaving to establish SBS and the Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs, where he drove significant reforms across the country,” the family statement says.

“He later became Senior adviser to the Hon Andrew Peacock, State Director of the Victorian Liberal Party and Chief of Staff to John Hewson.

“Petro was an inspirational figure in our lives, and a giant across the Australian community.”

In 1994, he was elected to the seat of Kooyong, which had been held by former Liberal Party leader, Andrew Peacock.

Mr Georgiou was federal member for Kooyong.

He was outspoken about the treatment of asylum seekers, and criticised the government’s mandatory detention policies.

His family say he “championed liberalism, integrity in government, civil liberties, and the interests of Indigenous Australians and Refugees until his retirement in 2010.”

He was unsuccessfully challenged for his seat in 2006 by Josh Frydenberg, who was preselected to replace him in 2010 and went on to become federal treasurer.

Mr Georgiou declined a role as a parliamentary secretary under John Howard early in his life as an MP, which resulted in him remaining on the backbench for the entirety of his parliamentary career.

He was also outspoken about the treatment of asylum seekers, and criticised the government’s mandatory detention policies, leading to clashes with members of his own party.

In 2013 he received Order of Australia honours for “distinguished service to the parliament of Australia, to multiculturalism and human rights advocacy, and to the community”.

His family said “Petro reached every corner of the nation and was loved by communities across Australia”.

Mr Georgiou’s family say he ‘championed liberalism’.

“For many, he was their champion and inspiration, as he was for us.”

They said Mr Georgiou is survived by his partner Roxanne, his children Dino and Alexia and spouses Martha and Davide, his grandchildren Alexander, Zoe, and Gabriele, his sisters Athina and Joanne and their families as well as the family of his late brother Matthew.

Funeral arrangements will be advised.