Former Liberal leader Andrew Peacock remembered for his ‘elegance, style and substance’
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says his predecessor as Kooyong MP, former Liberal leader Andrew Peacock, “combined great elegance, style, and substance” and would be missed after his death at 82.
Meanwhile, Mr. Peacock’s chief Liberal Party rival John Howard says the Victorian “played a dominant role” in the party’s history, and the pair had “buried the hatchet” long ago.
Mr. Peacock dubbed the “colt from Kooyong,” served in parliament for over 28 years, was a minister in the Gorton, McMahon, and Fraser governments, and led the Liberal Party to two elections.
He was also a foreign minister from 1975 to 1980 in the Fraser government.
Mr. Peacock died on Friday at his home in the United States. United States.” src=”https://sl.sbs.com.au/public/image/file/7599ff19-b4a8-454b-9405-68f73868f119″ alt=”Former Liberal leader Andrew Peacock has died at the age of 82 in the United States.” width=”700″ height=”474″ />
Mr. Frydenberg, the current member for Kooyong in Melbourne’s east, said Mr. Peacock had “left an indelible mark” on Australian politics.
“He carried the baton of his (Kooyong) predecessor Sir Robert Menzies – there was no more popular, no more respected Victorian Liberal than Andrew Peacock,” Mr Frydenberg told reporters on Saturday.
“His passing will be mourned by those on both sides of the political aisle because he pursued his politics as he pursued life – with vigor, dignity, and the utmost decency.”
Mr. Frydenberg said Mr. Peacock “combined great elegance, style, and substance” and was honored to follow in his footsteps as Kooyong MP.
Mr. Peacock and Mr. Howard – who served as prime minister from 1996 to 2007 – tussled for the Liberal leadership for much of the late 1980s. Mr. Peacock launched Mr. Frydenberg’s first campaign to win the Kooyong seat and was one of his referees for pre-selection, along with Mr. Howard. Mr Howard said he had long ago “buried the hatchet” with Mr. Peacock, who he labeled a man of flair and distinction with a deep understanding of US politics.
After leaving parliament in 1994, Mr. Peacock served as Australia’s ambassador to the United States from 1997 to 1999. “As is well known, Andrew and I had our differences, but we well and truly buried the hatchet many years ago,” Mr Howard said. “We were both very committed to the future of the Liberal Party and, above all else, to our country.
