Ex-Liberal leader, debonair diplomat: Andrew Peacock dead at 82

Two-time Liberal leader Andrew Peacock has died at his home in the US, with his wife by his side. He was 82.

Former Liberal leader Andrew Peacock with his daughter Ann in 1998.

Two-time Liberal leader Andrew Peacock has died at his home in the US, with his wife by his side. He was 82.

Mr Peacock, one of the most significant political figures of the 1980s and 1990s, led the Liberal Party to the 1984 and 1990 federal elections, losing both times to Bob Hawke’s Labor Party.

Dubbed the “colt from Kooyong’’, Mr Peacock succeeded ­Robert Menzies in the blue-ribbon Liberal seat of Kooyong in 1966.

Stylish, debonair and articulate, Mr Peacock rose quickly in political circles, becoming the minister of the army at the age of 30 and foreign minister at 36.

But his much-publicised relationship with actress Shirley MacLaine earned him almost as much publicity. MacLaine once famously said he was the only politician she had ever known to own a Gucci toothbrush.

Mr Peacock married three times. His first marriage to Susan Rossiter ended in 1977. They had three daughters: Jane, Ann and Caroline. Susan later became a socialite, marrying Robert Sangster and then Sir Frank Renouf.

Mr Peacock married Margaret Ingram in 1983 and the pair ­divorced in 1995.

His third marriage was to Penne Korth, a business­woman, former US ambassador, former Texas beauty queen and a staunch Republican in 2002. The pair moved to Austin, Texas, in 2007.

Mr Peacock’s rivalry with John Howard became one of the defining political relationships of the 1980s as the pair battled for the heart and soul of the Liberal Party. Mr Peacock became the leader after the defeat of the Fraser government in 1983 and gained a swing in the 1984 election. But he resigned the leadership the following year after he failed to have his deputy, Mr Howard, removed.

Mr Peacock, leader of the “wet” faction, unsuccessfully challenged Mr Howard, the leader of the economic “dries”, in 1987. Instead he was elected deputy leader. But he succeeded in replacing Mr Howard in 1989.

Mr Peacock’s second term lasted less than a year. He resigned after the Liberals lost the 1990 election. He left politics in 1994, paving the way for Mr Howard to return to the leadership the following year — and be dubbed Lazarus with a triple bypass. Mr Howard went on to defeat the Keating government in 1996.

Andrew Peacock at his home in Austin, Texas, in 2019. Picture: Brian Birzer

In 1997 Mr Peacock was ­appointed ambassador to the US.

Despite never becoming prime minister, Mr Peacock thrived in his post-political life and never lost his sense of humour. Asked about his biggest defeat, in an interview with The Weekend Australian in 2019, Mr Peacock said: “Unquestionably, far and away it was the 1974 Melbourne Cup when Leilani was beaten by Think Big.’’

The horseracing enthusiast was a part-owner of Leilani. “I still have nightmares over it,” he said. “Leilani won everything but the Melbourne Cup. She came second and she was favourite, but she got caught in the shadows of the post. That was a shattering blow.’’

Tributes flowed for Mr Peacock on Friday night. Daughter Ann posted on Instagram: “To my beautiful, loving, most caring, thoughtful, generous and brilliant father, you will be so greatly missed, your guidance and deep love for us will live in my heart, we are absolutely devastated.

“Daddy, love you more than the world, please continue to look after all us. You will live within us forever and ever xx.’’

Mr Howard said he was saddened by the news of Mr Peacock’s death. “Andrew gave years of service to Australia and to the Liberal Party,’’ he said.

“His early years as minister for external territories helped prepare Papua New Guinea for independence. He was a strong Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Fraser government and won the respect of our close allies, especially in our immediate region.

“I welcomed the opportunity of appointing him as Australia’s ambassador to the United States in 1996. He discharged that role with much distinction. His knowledge of American politics enabled him to provide special insights regarding our most important ally. Australia lost a man who brought flair and style as well as high intelligence to his years in public life.”

Scott Morrison said Mr Peacock was “a great Australian” and a “treasure” of the Liberal Party. “Andrew Peacock served in parliament for over 28 years and was a minister in the Gorton, McMahon and Fraser governments; and led the Liberal Party to two elections,’’ the Prime Minister said.

He said Mr Peacock, after entering parliament at 27 and following Menzies as the member for Kooyong, had had “big shoes to fill, but he was not daunted and filled them in his own way’’.

Josh Frydenberg paid tribute to his predecessor in the seat of Kooyong. “Australia has lost one of its political greats in Andrew Peacock,” the Treasurer said. “Combining style and substance he left an indelible mark on the Australian political scene.

“He was authentic, tough and possessed a dry sense of humour. He will be remembered fondly by those on both sides of the political aisle as he played his politics as he pursued life: with vigour, dignity and the utmost decency.”

Former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott said Mr Peacock was “the happy warrior of Australian politics and the most genial man ever to lead the Liberal Party”. “He never made a lasting enemy,” he said.

Speaking in 2019 to mark his 80th birthday Mr Peacock ­reflected on his life in politics.

“Unlike most of my colleagues I did not hunger for the job as prime minister,’’ he says. “I truly was more interested in what we were doing than the post itself. I wanted good posts. I wanted to be the foreign­ minister, but being prime minister was not the central orient; it wasn’t the central purpose to what I was doing.

“I mean it was still important and disappointing to lose (in 1990). I don’t want to put it down, but I wasn’t sitting there like some do plotting to be prime minister. It wasn’t in my nature.’’

Mr Peacock's funeral will be held in Austin.

Vale Andrew Peacock

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