Peter Durack

The Honourable Peter Durack QC
Durack in the 1970s
Attorney-General of Australia
In office 6 September 1977 – 11 March 1983
Prime Minister	Malcolm Fraser
Preceded by	Robert Ellicott
Succeeded by	Gareth Evans
SenatorforWestern Australia
In office 1 July 1971 – 30 June 1993
Member of theWestern Australian Legislative Assembly
In office 20 February 1965 – 23 March 1968
Preceded by	Stan Heal
Succeeded by	Terry Burke
Constituency	Perth
Personal details
Born	20 October 1926 Perth,Western Australia, Australia
Died	13 July 2008(2008-07-13)(aged 81) Perth
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Isabel Milne ​ (m.1953)​
Relations	J. P. Durack(father)
Alma mater	University of Western Australia Lincoln College, Oxford
Profession	Barrister

Peter Drew Durack,QC(20 October 1926– 13 July 2008) was an Australian politician, representing theLiberal Party.He rose to becomeAttorney-General of Australia.

He served in theSenatefrom 1 July 1971 to 30 June 1993. From 1987 to 1989, he was a jointFather of the Senatealong withArthur Gietzelt,and from 1989 until his retirement, he held that title alone.

Early life

Durack was born on 20 October 1926 inSubiaco, Western Australia.He was the only child of Pleasance Sarah (née Rowe) andJohn Peter Durack.His father, a prominent barrister, was a member of the prominent Durack pastoralist family, being a grandson ofPatrick Durackand nephew ofMichael Durack.

Durack began his education at Anglican primary schools in Subiaco andWest Perth,then went on to complete his secondary schooling atChristian Brothers' College, Perth,andAquinas College.He matriculated to theUniversity of Western Australia(UWA) in 1944, graduatingBachelor of Lawsin 1948 and winning the prize for the top fourth-year law student. He was a co-founder of the UWA Liberal Club in 1945, a member of the university's debating team, president of theUniversity of Western Australia Student Guildin 1948, and president of theNational Union of Australian University Studentsfrom 1948 to 1949.

In 1949, Durack was awarded aRhodes Scholarshipto attendLincoln College, Oxford,and complete the degree ofBachelor of Civil Law.He graduated with second-class honours and the top mark inequity,subsequently tutoring in law atKeble College.He was admitted toGray's Innas a barrister in 1953. After returning to Australia he was admitted to legal practice in 1954 and joined the firm of Dwyer Durack,which his father had co-founded withWalter Dwyerin 1915.

State politics

At the1965 state election,Durack was elected to theWestern Australian Legislative Assembly.He defeated the incumbentAustralian Labor Party(ALP) memberStan Healin the seat ofPerthby 207 votes.

In parliament, Durack chaired twoselect committees.Hecrossed the floortwice on environmental matters, once to support an opposition bill requiring parliamentary approval for reclamation of land from theSwan River,and once with other Liberals to oppose the demolition of theBarracks Arch.Durack lost his seat at the1968 state election.He was subsequently elected state president of the Liberal Party, holding the post until 1971.

Federal politics

Durack was an unsuccessful candidate for Liberal preselection at the1969 Curtin by-election.He subsequently won one of the Senate seats at the1970 Senate election,taking office on 1 July 1971.

He wasMinister for Repatriationin theFrasergovernment from July to October 1976, when the title of the portfolio was changed to Minister for Veterans' Affairs. In 1977, he was appointed Attorney-General, serving in that office until the Fraser government's defeat in 1983. During that time he was responsible for the passage of theFreedom of Information Act 1982;he had introduced a private member's bill on the same subject in 1972.

He was deputyLeader of the Opposition in the Senatefrom 1983 to 1987, and 1990 to 1992.

In 1992, he failed to win preselection by his party for a further term, and his political career ended in June 1993.

The Commonwealth Law Courts Building on Victoria Avenue inPerth, Western Australiawere named after Durack in 2005.

He died in Perth on 13 July 2008.

Publications

Durack wrote several books, dealing with legal issues and theMabocourt case, with which he was involved during his time as Attorney-General.

• Evidence.ISBN0-644-01371-0/ISBN0-644-01371-0
• The External Affairs PowerISBN0-909536-47-3/ISBN0-909536-47-3
• Mabo and After(with Ron Brunton & Tony Rutherford).ISBN0-909536-36-8/ISBN0-909536-36-8

Family

Durack was a grandson ofKimberleypioneerJeremiah Durack,who was an uncle ofMichael Patrick Durack(1865–1950).He was therefore a cousin of authorsMaryandElizabeth Durack.

Durack was married to Isabel, with whom he had daughter Anne and son Philip.