Peter Nixon dies at 97: National Party reflects on grandee

Political leaders pay tribute to National Party grandee Peter Nixon, following his death aged 97.

Peter Nixon, the East Gippsland farmer who became a federal government minister under five prime ministers in a 22-year political career, has died at the age of 97.

Mr Nixon grew up farming near Orbost and entered politics after the retirement of Gippsland Country Party representative, George Bowden, in 1961.

He died in Melbourne on Thursday, two days before another federal election.

“Right to the end, he did it his way,” a family spokesman said.

“He lived for The Nationals and he was incredibly proud that there are two generations of family members following in his footsteps in voluntary roles with the party.”

Former federal National Party heavyweight Peter Nixon on his farm in Orbost.

Mr Nixon was in his early 30s when he was elected to federal parliament in 1961.

The new Gippsland MP was in awe of then PM Robert Menzies, and the grand man himself gave plenty of encouragement to the fledgling politician.

On the occasion of one of his first speeches, Menzies praised the young Nixon for taking up only 12 of his 20 allocated minutes, as a gentle reprimand to a more loquacious MP.

In a 2021 interview with The Weekly Times, Mr Nixon recalled Menzies asking him how he thought his first day in the House of Representatives went.

“Dreadfully,” the young Nixon replied. Menzies told the new MP: “You will always be the same and if you are not, you will not do justice to the big occasions.”

As the 1960s rolled on, Mr Nixon entered cabinet and saw first hand how the nation’s leader operated. He describes the ill-fated Harold Holt (PM 1966-67) as “one of life’s gentlemen.”

Maverick John Gorton, who served for three years (1968-71) in the wake of Holt’s disappearance, was: “a character. A larger-than-life figure, who had a wonderful way for sensing the public mood.”

Arguably, Mr Nixon’s political apex was reached as Minister for Primary Industry between 1979 and 1983, in the Fraser government.

Mr Nixon was close friends with Malcolm Fraser, even as the latter’s political views drifted leftward in retirement.

“Malcolm was a great leader — in many respects, his achievements in government are often overlooked,” he said.

Transport minister Peter Nixon with PM Malcolm Fraser in Adelaide 12 May 1977 after press conference re: air traffic controllers strike.

Mr Nixon was succeeded as Gippsland MP by Peter McGauran with incumbent Darren Chester the only other MP for the electorate since his retirement in 1983.

In his post-political life, Mr Nixon continued his farming interests and was appointed chairman of Southern Cross Broadcasting.

He also served on the Victorian Football League Commission from 1985 to 1991, and was chief commissioner of East Gippsland Shire in the early 1990s.

Mr Nixon was made an Officer of the order of Australia for his service to the Australian Parliament and to the community in 1993.

Peter Nixon

Mr Chester said he first met Mr Nixon in 1995 and remembered his formidable intellect, passion for regional communities and determination to get things done.

“It’s been an honour to follow in the footsteps of Peter Nixon in Gippsland,” he said.

“Peter will be remembered as a statesman of Australian politics who contributed enormously to the prosperity of regional Australia and was a principal architect and chief strategist for the then Coalition Government.”

Funeral details will be announced in coming days.

Peter Nixon on his Gippsland farm.