Frederick Michael Chaney,
AO (born 28 October 1941) is a former Australian politician who was deputy leader of the
Liberal Party
The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left.
__TOC__ Active liberal parties
This is a li ...
from 1989 to 1990 and served as a minister in the
Fraser Government. He was a
Senator
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
for
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
from 1974 to 1990, and then served a single term in the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
from 1990 to 1993.
Chaney was born in
Perth
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
, the son of
Sir Frederick Chaney. He was a lawyer before entering politics, graduating from the
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia (UWA) is a public research university in the Australian state of Western Australia. The university's main campus is in Perth, the state capital, with a secondary campus in Albany, Western Australia, Albany an ...
. Chaney was elected to the Senate at the
1974 federal election. He held several portfolios in the Fraser Government, serving in the ministry from 1978 until the government's defeat at the
1983 election. From 1983 to 1990, Chaney served as
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. He was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party
in 1989, under
Andrew Peacock
Andrew Sharp Peacock (13 February 193916 April 2021) was an Australian politician and diplomat. He served as a cabinet minister and went on to become leader of the Liberal Party on two occasions (1983–1985 and 1989–1990), leading the par ...
, but served less than a year before being replaced by
Peter Reith
Peter Keaston Reith (15 July 1950 – 8 November 2022) was an Australian politician who served in the House of Representatives from 1982 to 1983 and from 1984 to 2001, representing the Liberal Party. He was the party's deputy leader from 1990 ...
. Chaney transferred to the House of Representatives at the
1990 election, but served only a single term. After leaving politics he focused on indigenous policy matters, serving on the
National Native Title Tribunal
The National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) is an independent body established under the '' Native Title Act 1993'' in Australia as a special measure for the advancement and protection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Indigenous Au ...
(1994–2007), as co-chair of
Reconciliation Australia
Reconciliation Australia is a non-government, not-for-profit foundation established in January 2001 to promote a continuing national focus for reconciliation between Indigenous (i.e. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and non-Indige ...
(2000–2005), and as co-founder and Vice-President of The
Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation (1995–current).
Early life
Chaney was born in
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
, the son of
Sir Frederick Chaney (a minister in the
Menzies Government
Menzies is a Scottish surname, with Gaelic forms being Méinnearach and Méinn, and other variant forms being Menigees, Mennes, Mengzes, Menzeys, Mengies, and Minges.
Derivation and history
The name and its Gaelic form are probably derived f ...
). His six siblings include businessman
Michael Chaney
Michael Alfred Chaney (born 15 April 1950) is an Australian businessman and former chancellor of the University of Western Australia.
Early life
Chaney was born in Perth on 15 April 1950. He was the third-youngest of seven children born to F ...
and judge
John Chaney. Chaney was educated at
Aquinas College, Perth
, motto_translation = Truth ConquersMassam, p. 18
, location = Salter Point, Perth, Western Australia
, country = Australia
, patron = Saint Thomas Aquinas
, coordinates =
, pushpin_map = Australia Perth
, pushpin_image ...
, and the
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia (UWA) is a public research university in the Australian state of Western Australia. The university's main campus is in Perth, the state capital, with a secondary campus in Albany, Western Australia, Albany an ...
. He practised law and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in Western Australia in 1963. He spent two years practising in the
Territory of Papua and New Guinea
The Territory of Papua and New Guinea, officially the Administrative Union of the Territory of Papua and the Territory of New Guinea, was established by an administrative union between the Australian-administered territories of Papua and New G ...
. Chaney helped found the
Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia in 1973.
Politics
Chaney first attempted to enter politics at the
1971 Ascot by-election, running for the state
Legislative Assembly. He was elected to federal parliament as a
Senator for Western Australia for the
Liberal Party
The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left.
__TOC__ Active liberal parties
This is a li ...
at the
1974 election. He was
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 1983 until 1990 when he became the first member for the
Division of Pearce
The Division of Pearce is an Australian electoral division in the state of Western Australia. It was created at the 1989 redistribution and named after George Pearce, the longest serving member of the Australian Senate, serving from 1901 to 1 ...
in the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
, a position he held until 1993. Although still a Senator at the time, Chaney was named deputy leader of the Liberal Party in May 1989. He retained this post until April 1990, two months after transferring to the lower house.
He was elected Deputy Leader as part of the successful coup that saw Andrew Peacock overthrowing John Howard. This was seen as a betrayal by Howard as he and Chaney had been close friends prior to the coup.
Chaney was ousted as deputy leader after the 1990 election, when he unsuccessfully recontested the position in a field of eight candidates and came in third.
Chaney had earlier defeated Reith for the deputy's position in the leadership coup that ousted Howard in May 1989 in which Reith was Howard's running mate.
Chaney was
Minister for Administrative Services from August to December 1978,
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs from December 1978 until November 1980 and
Minister for Social Security from November 1980 until the defeat of the
Fraser Government at the
1983 election. He was also Minister Assisting the
Minister for Education from August 1978 to December 1979 and Minister Assisting the
Minister for National Development and Energy from December 1979 to November 1980.
[
When Chaney retired in 1993, ]John Hewson
John Robert Hewson AM (born 28 October 1946) is an Australian former politician who served as leader of the Liberal Party from 1990 to 1994. He led the Liberal-National Coalition to defeat at the 1993 Australian federal election.
Hewson was ...
unexpectedly led the Coalition to defeat at that year's election and it is the opinion of analyst and commentator Antony Green
Antony John Green (born 2 March 1960) is an Australian psephologist and commentator. He is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's chief election analyst.
Early years and background
Born in Warrington, Lancashire, in northern England, Gree ...
that Chaney could have succeeded him as Liberal leader had he not decided to retire.
John Hewson described Fred Chaney as the little ..... from the west.
Later life
Chaney was appointed to the National Native Title Tribunal
The National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) is an independent body established under the '' Native Title Act 1993'' in Australia as a special measure for the advancement and protection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Indigenous Au ...
in 1994, initially on a part-time basis. He became a full-time member in 1995 and deputy president in 2000, retiring in 2007. He was also chancellor of Murdoch University
Murdoch University is a public university in Perth, Western Australia, with campuses also in Singapore and Dubai. It began operations as the state's second university on 25 July 1973, and accepted its first undergraduate students in 1975. Its n ...
from 1995 to 2002, and co-chair of Reconciliation Australia
Reconciliation Australia is a non-government, not-for-profit foundation established in January 2001 to promote a continuing national focus for reconciliation between Indigenous (i.e. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and non-Indige ...
from 2000 to 2005. Chaney left the Liberal Party in 1995, believing that his work "required engagements across party lines and without political involvement".
On 15 January 2020, it was announced that Chaney would be one of the members of the National Co-design Group of the Indigenous voice to government.
Criticism of the Liberal Party
In early May 2022, Chaney wrote an article criticising the Liberal Party, saying that the party lost its way. Chaney stated "members f parliamentare no longer able to successfully execute what the electorate demands and it is now in the sad position of being held hostage by its extremes and those of he National Party, in particular the party's lack of action on climate change. Chaney called for the election of more centrist independents, against "politics as usual". Chaney announced support for his niece, Kate Chaney
Katherine Ella Chaney (born 21 January 1975) is an Australian independent politician, who was elected to the Australian House of Representatives at the 2022 Australian federal election, succeeding Liberal Party MP Celia Hammond in the divisi ...
, running as a Climate 200
Climate 200 is an Australian company that provides political funding. It describes itself as a "community crowdfunding initiative" that supports community-backed independents to stand for election to advance climate policy, reduce greenhouse g ...
-backed independent for the seat of Curtin against the incumbent Liberal member Celia Hammond
Celia Hammond (born 25 July 1943) is an English former model who has since become known as a campaigner against fur and for neutering of cats to control the feral population.
Early life
Hammond was born to English parents and raised in Australia ...
in the 2022 Australian federal election
The 2022 Australian federal election was held on Saturday 21 May 2022 to elect members of the 47th Parliament of Australia. The incumbent Liberal/National Coalition government, led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, sought to win a fourth conse ...
. Kate Chaney subsequently won the seat at the election.
Honours
Chaney was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
(AO) in 1997 "for service to the Parliament of Australia and to the Aboriginal community through his contribution to the establishment of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia and mediating with the National Native Title Tribunal".
Chaney was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from Murdoch University in 2003 "for services towards Aboriginal reconciliation and as Chancellor", and in 2017 the Australian National University
The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton encompasses seven teaching and research colleges, in addition to several national academies and ...
awarded him the same honour, "for his exceptional contribution to public service through parliament and his lifelong commitment to Indigenous issues".
On 25 January 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbott
Anthony John Abbott (; born 4 November 1957) is a former Australian politician who served as the 28th prime minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015. He held office as the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia.
Abbott was born in Londo ...
announced Chaney as the 2014 Senior Australian of the Year
The Australian of the Year is a national award conferred on an Australian citizen by the National Australia Day Council, a not-for-profit Australian Governmentowned social enterprise. Similar awards are also conferred at the State and Territo ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaney, Fred
1941 births
Living people
People educated at Aquinas College, Perth
Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia
Members of the Australian Senate
Members of the Australian Senate for Western Australia
Members of the Australian House of Representatives
Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Pearce
Members of the Cabinet of Australia
University of Western Australia alumni
Murdoch University Chancellors
Officers of the Order of Australia
20th-century Australian politicians