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Kevin Newman (politician)

The Honourable
Kevin Newman
AO
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Bass
In office
28 June 1975 – 26 October 1984
Preceded by Lance Barnard
Succeeded by Warwick Smith
Personal details
Born Kevin Eugene Newman
(1933-10-10)10 October 1933
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died 17 July 1999(1999-07-17) (aged 65)
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Nationality Australian
Political party Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse(s) Jocelyn Newman
Children Campbell Newman
Occupation Army Officer
Military service
Allegiance Australia
Service/branch Australian Army
Years of service 1955–1975
Rank Colonel
Unit 3 RAR
2 RAR
Commands 5 RAR
6th Military District

Kevin Eugene Newman AO (10 October 1933 – 17 July 1999) was an Australian soldier and politician.

He rose to the rank of Colonel in the Australian Army, serving in Malaysia and the Vietnam War.

Newman entered political life through a 1975 by-election for the Division of Bass, Tasmania, in the House of Representatives, as the Liberal candidate. The previous member, former Labor Deputy Prime Minister Lance Barnard, had held it for 21 years without serious difficulty. However, Newman took the seat off Labor with a massive 14-point swing, turning Bass into a safe Liberal seat at one stroke. His primary vote margin was actually large enough to win without the need for preferences. This shock result is reckoned as the beginning of the end for the Whitlam government, which was dismissed only six months later.

Newman easily retained his seat at the December 1975 general election. With the election of the Fraser government, he was appointed Minister for Repatriation in the second Fraser Ministry. In July 1976, he became Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development when Ivor Greenwood became ill. He was responsible for environment issues when the decision was taken to cease sand mining on world heritage listed Fraser Island.


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