Peter Nixon

Who is Peter Nixon?

Peter James Nixon AO is a former Australian politician representing the National Party.

Born in Orbost, Victoria, Nixon was a grazier and company director. Prior to the 1961 election he gained Country Party pre-selection for the rural Division of Gippsland, following the sudden death of the original candidate. He was elected and was returned at every subsequent election he contested. Nixon quickly became a senior member of the Country Party and first entered the ministry as Minister for the Interior in October 1967 before moving to the Shipping and Transport portfolio in 1971 under John Gorton. He retained this portfolio under William McMahon. He is mentioned in the song Gurindji Blues, saying "Buy your land back, Gurindji" referring to his assessment of the Wattie Creek land rights strike.

In opposition from 1972 to 1975, Nixon was a prominent figure in persuading his National Party colleagues to help pass Australian Labor Party legislation opposed by the Nationals' coalition partner, the Liberal Party. This helped prove to voters the National Party's independence from the Liberal Party and in cases such as when the Nationals supported Labor's policy on educational grants to public schools, helped to show the National Party's connection with core voter issues. Nixon was also a longtime critic of what he saw as bias by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation against the National Party.