Michael MacKellar
Encyclopedia
Michael John Randal MacKellar, AM
(born 27 October 1938) is an Australian politician and was the Liberal
Member
for Warringah
from 1969 until 1994. He is the current president of the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), Melbourne, Australia.
MacKellar was born in Sydney and was an agricultural scientist
before he entered politics. He was first elected to Parliament in 1969, taking over from the controversial Edward St. John. In December 1975, MacKellar was first appointed to the front bench
to the new porfolio of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs
, a position he held until 1979, when he became Minister for Health
and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister. In Opposition, MacKellar acted as Shadow Minister for Science.
MacKellar attracted some controversy over his handling of an incident involving the improper importation of a colour television set. In 1982, a ministerial staffer submitted an incorrect customs declaration form when arranging for the set to be imported. When this was discovered, a fellow Minister, John Moore, attempted a cover-up. Moore and MacKellar both accepted responsibility and resigned as Ministers.
MacKellar resigned from Parliament on 18 February 1994, causing a by-election
that was subsequently won by Tony Abbott
. Also retiring at the same time as Mackellar was his Liberal colleague Jim Carlton. Carlton resigned from his seat and his seat is coincidentally called Mackellar. Due to Michael Mackellar having the same name as that of the seat of Mackellar, in one of Michael Mackellar's last days in Parliament, then Prime Minister Paul Keating mistakenly referred to him as the Member for Mackellar.
In 1998 he became Chairman of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA). He has also acted as Chief Operations Officer of the Baker Medical Research Institute and Chief Executive Officer of the Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 27 October 1938) is an Australian politician and was the Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
Member
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
for Warringah
Division of Warringah
The Division of Warringah is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, and covers most of the land between Middle Harbour and the Pacific Ocean. It extends from Port Jackson in the south to the suburb of Dee Why in the...
from 1969 until 1994. He is the current president of the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), Melbourne, Australia.
MacKellar was born in Sydney and was an agricultural scientist
Agricultural science
Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. -Agriculture and agricultural science:The two terms are often confused...
before he entered politics. He was first elected to Parliament in 1969, taking over from the controversial Edward St. John. In December 1975, MacKellar was first appointed to the front bench
Cabinet of Australia
The Cabinet of Australia is the council of senior ministers of the Crown, responsible to parliament. The Cabinet is appointed by the Governor-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister the Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, and serves at the former's pleasure. The strictly private...
to the new porfolio of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Australia)
In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship is responsible for overseeing the Department of Immigration and Citizenship....
, a position he held until 1979, when he became Minister for Health
Minister for Health and Ageing (Australia)
The Minister for Health and Ageing is a portfolio in the Government of Australia with the responsibility for national health policy. The current Minister for Health and Ageing is Nicola Roxon...
and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister. In Opposition, MacKellar acted as Shadow Minister for Science.
MacKellar attracted some controversy over his handling of an incident involving the improper importation of a colour television set. In 1982, a ministerial staffer submitted an incorrect customs declaration form when arranging for the set to be imported. When this was discovered, a fellow Minister, John Moore, attempted a cover-up. Moore and MacKellar both accepted responsibility and resigned as Ministers.
MacKellar resigned from Parliament on 18 February 1994, causing a by-election
Warringah by-election, 1994
The 1994 Warringah by-election was held in the Australian electorate of Warringah in New South Wales on 26 March 1994. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of the sitting member, the Liberal Party of Australia's Michael Mackellar on 18 February 1994...
that was subsequently won by Tony Abbott
Tony Abbott
Anthony John "Tony" Abbott is the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian House of Representatives and federal leader of the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott has represented the seat of Warringah since the 1994 by-election...
. Also retiring at the same time as Mackellar was his Liberal colleague Jim Carlton. Carlton resigned from his seat and his seat is coincidentally called Mackellar. Due to Michael Mackellar having the same name as that of the seat of Mackellar, in one of Michael Mackellar's last days in Parliament, then Prime Minister Paul Keating mistakenly referred to him as the Member for Mackellar.
In 1998 he became Chairman of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA). He has also acted as Chief Operations Officer of the Baker Medical Research Institute and Chief Executive Officer of the Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association.