Colt from Kooyong’s strong race

Like most politicians in the running to be prime minister, Andrew Peacock’s career experienced soaring highs and some deep lows. From the age of 27, when he succeeded Sir Robert Menzies in his blue-ribbon Melbourne seat in 1966, the “colt from Kooyong’’ was tipped for high office. He achieved it, largely, as a minister in the Gorton, McMahon and Fraser governments. He also led the Liberal Party twice — to two election defeats against a better politician, Bob Hawke. After leaving politics in 1994, Mr Peacock’s former arch rival in the Liberal Party, John Howard, gave him the chance to serve as Australia’s ambassador to the US, a role in which Mr Peacock excelled, with his extensive US contacts and deep understanding of US politics. The two men had “well and truly buried the hatchet many years ago’’, as Mr Howard said, following Mr Peacock’s death at home in Austin, Texas, on Friday.

Josh Frydenberg, the current member for Kooyong, was spot-on when he said Mr Peacock played his politics as he pursued life — with vigour, dignity and the utmost decency. He was not one to hold a grudge, or to wear his heart on his sleeve. He exemplified a more congenial era in politics, in contrast with the rancour and bitterness that has characterised too much recent debate, especially on social media. Greater magnanimity in the national conversation, from both sides, and from current and past players, would serve the nation well.

Mr Peacock was philosophical when he lost a leadership challenge to Mr Fraser in 1982. “I can take a short-term bucket; I’ve taken it in the past, I can take it again.’’ Two years ago, The Weekend Australian asked Mr Peacock about his biggest defeat. “Unquestionably, far and away it was the 1974 Melbourne Cup when Leilani (which he part-owned) was beaten by Think Big,’’ he said.

On the world stage, Mr Peacock served the nation and our region with distinction, starting with his time as minister for the army during part of the Vietnam War. As minister for external territories, he was instrumental in Papua New Guinea’s transition to independence. “His bonds with Papua New Guinea were such that he visited PNG over 50 times in his career,’’ Scott Morrison said on Friday. As minister for foreign affairs in the Fraser government, Mr Peacock built deep relationships across Australia’s region and the world. As Labor MPs acknowledge, he had plenty of friends on both sides of politics. And he enjoyed mentoring political aspirants, who can learn much from his career.