Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser sat down for one hour with respected ABC Four Corners host Kerry O’ Brien.
Fraser controversially became prime minister following Gough Whitlam’s dismissal in 1975 and stayed in the position until he resigned in 1983. Fraser’s time in parliament also saw him hold positions as Minister for Army, Minister of State for Defence and Minister for Education and Science.
In the past 30 years since leaving politics, Fraser has maintained a key presence in international relations. Fraser held various roles most notably co-chairing in 1986 the Commonwealth Committee of Eminent Persons formed to encourage reform in South Africa, serving in various high profile capacities with CARE Australia between 1987 and 2001 and being a founding board member of the International Crisis Group from 1996 to 2000.
In 2011, Fraser became a member of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia and received the President’s Gold Medal for Humanitarian Service from B’nai B’rith International, as well as the Australian Human Rights Medal from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
During his conversation with O’Brien, Fraser shared his thoughts on Australia’s strong dependence on the ANZUS treaty, the rearming of Japan and on the military role of Pine Gap, all the while sharing tiny snippets of information from his new book Dangerous Allies.
Brendan Pearce is a Media and Politics student at Southern Cross University. @BrendanPearce19
Podcast production: Aki Shindo
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