This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(December 2015) |
Ralph James Dunnet HuntAO(31 March 1928 – 22 May 2011) was a Deputy Leader of the National Party of Australia.
Ralph Hunt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Deputy Leader of the National Party | |
| In office 17 January 1984 – 23 July 1987 | |
| Leader | Ian Sinclair |
| Preceded by | Ian Sinclair |
| Succeeded by | Bruce Lloyd |
| Minister for Transport | |
| In office 8 December 1979 – 11 March 1983 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Fraser |
| Preceded by | Peter Nixon |
| Succeeded by | Peter Morris |
| Minister for Health | |
| In office 22 December 1975 – 8 December 1979 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Fraser |
| Preceded by | Don Chipp |
| Succeeded by | Michael MacKellar |
| Minister for the Interior | |
| In office 5 February 1971 – 5 December 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | John Gorton William McMahon |
| Preceded by | Peter Nixon |
| Succeeded by | Kep Enderby |
| Member of theAustralian Parliament forGwydir | |
| In office 7 June 1969 – 24 February 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Ian Allan |
| Succeeded by | John Anderson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ralph James Dunnet Hunt 31 March 1928 Narrabri,New South Wales |
| Died | 22 May 2011 (aged 83) Sydney,New South Wales |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | National Party of Australia |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal(before 1947) |
| Spouse | Miriam McMahon |
| Children | 3 |
| Occupation | Grazier |
Hunt was born inNarrabri,New South Wales to an established farming and grazing family, which traditions he continued after completing his schooling atThe Scots College,Sydney.His mother's family, the Dunnetts, owned theNorth Western Couriernewspaper. He was a councillor ofBoomi Shire Councilfrom 1956 to 1968 and vice-president from 1962 to 1968.
He won the seat ofGwydirin theAustralian Parliamentfor theCountry Partyat aby-electionin June 1969 following the resignation ofIan Allan.He was appointedMinister for the Interiorin theSecond Gorton Ministryin February 1971 and retained that position in theMcMahon Ministryuntil the defeat of the government at the1972 election.[1]
Following theLiberal-National Country Party Coalition's win at the1975 election,Malcolm Fraserappointed himMinister for Health.He was responsible for introducingMedibank Mark II.In December 1979, Fraser appointed HuntMinister for Transport.His portfolio becameTransportandConstructionin April 1982, but the coalition government was defeated at the1983 election.
He had returned to the backbench in preparation for retirement; but whenDoug Anthonyresigned in 1984, Hunt was persuaded to return to the front bench and was elected Deputy Leader of the National Party toIan Sinclair,holding the position from 1984 to 1987. He became shadow minister for primary industries, and resigned from Parliament in February 1989.[1]
He was made an Officer of theOrder of Australiain January 1990.[2]
Ralph Hunt died inSydneyon 22 May 2011, aged 83.[3]He was survived by his wife Miriam (Mim) née McMahon, whom he married in 1953; and three children.
Notes
edit- ^ab"Biography for Hunt, the Hon. Ralph James Dunnet".ParlInfo Web.Parliament of Australia.Archived fromthe originalon 15 September 2007.Retrieved6 November2007.
- ^"Hunt, the Hon. Ralph James Dunnet".It's an Honour.Government of Australia.Retrieved6 November2007.
- ^Sydney Morning Herald, 22 May 2011