756:. Cormack was known to support Peacock, who was a close friend and something of a protégé. However, he only invited Fraser to the dinner party. Fraser was suspicious of Cormack's motives, particularly when he was asked to leave by jumping over the back fence – supposedly to avoid photographers who were waiting outside the front door. Fraser suspected Cormack had actually arranged someone to wait by the back fence and photograph him climbing over, hoping to embarrass him and thus further Peacock's chances. He chose to leave by the front door, where there were in fact no photographers.
548:
763:, one of Melbourne's most popular music radio stations. The station had strong ties to the Liberal Party, and its articles of association provided that any proceeds from its sale would be transferred to organisations with shared goals. When the station licence was sold for $ 15 million in 1986, Cormack initially wished to divide the money between the
700:
to become the
Coalition's nominee for the presidency. It was expected that the vote for the presidency would be tied at 30 votes each for Cormack and the Labor nominee Justin O'Byrne, with the result determined by drawing lots. However, at least one Coalition senator voted for O'Byrne, who defeated
575:
he won a three-year term ending on 30 June 1978. Cormack was chairman of the Joint
Committee on Foreign Affairs from 1967 to 1969, and from 1970 to 1971 chaired the Select Committee on Securities and Exchange. The latter committee's report into financial malpractices received praise from the media,
649:, which was a relatively recent innovation, and believed the Senate should function "largely as a committee chamber" rather than simply mirroring the House of Representatives. Fearing it was "degenerating into a propaganda forum", Cormack introduced new conventions for
43:
653:, allowing government ministers to terminate questions without notice and refusing to allow questions to be directed to assistant ministers. He also allowed ministers to cut short debate on a bill by simply moving that it be considered "urgent".
609:, Liberal MPs "filed in and out of Cormack's room, some from other states, as votes for Gorton were lined up during the leadership struggle". The Liberal Party senators formed Gorton's power base, and Cormack helped keep them on-side during
364:, Cormack went into dairy farming. In later life he observed "I had three dairy farms, and I lost money on every one of them, so I claim to know something about dairying". By 1934, he and his brothers John and William had acquired
668:
regarded him as "completely non-partisan". In
January 1973, he refused a request from the Liberal Party to unilaterally recall the Senate, stating he would only do so on the advice of the government. Cormack played a role in the
1351:
1371:
372:, close to the South Australian border. On 22 November 1935, Cormack married Mary Isabel Macmeikan (known as Mavis) at the registrar's office in Melbourne; she was a divorcee. The couple had four children together.
1170:
1381:
524:, who was 23 years old at the time. Fraser had not expected to win, but mounted a strong grassroots campaign and impressed with his public speaking ability. Cormack stood for the Senate at the
1084:
737:
for the House and Senate, which was the only question where the "No" vote prevailed; he described it as "a fraud and a deceit" which would eventually lead to the Senate's abolition.
1356:
734:
771:, and other similar think tanks. However, Liberal Party official John Calvert-Jones convinced him that the money should be used to establish a new entity, which was named the
587:
1396:
714:
1163:
457:
533:
857:
605:'s ascension to the prime ministership. Their association dated back to the 1940s, when Cormack had helped recruit Gorton into the Liberal Party. According to
1386:
1366:
781:, the foundation's capital had grown to almost $ 70 million by 2017, and it had disbursed $ 60 million in dividends to the Liberal Party since its creation.
1156:
1361:
1376:
1230:
661:
437:
441:
1305:
1220:
1210:
710:
1391:
1235:
1179:
685:
626:
537:
461:
240:
54:
267:
1310:
1130:
681:'s purported resignation letter, instead judging it to be ambiguous and allowing the Senate to debate whether it should be accepted.
1401:
1225:
721:
unanimously ruled that their challenge was invalid. Cormack remained an active player in the Senate after losing the presidency. He
392:. He was discharged in October 1940, but re-enlisted in June 1941 and was commissioned as a lieutenant. He received postings to the
497:
657:
572:
564:
556:
525:
513:
489:
465:
397:
393:
275:
560:
559:, and was elected to a six-year Senate term commencing on 1 July 1962. He would be re-elected to further six-year terms at the
505:
476:
by just 27 votes. In a speech to the
Melbourne University Liberal Club in April 1950, he urged Australia to take possession of
350:
785:
768:
613:'s leadership challenges. Reid described him as "a manoeuvrer who preferred to work in the shadows than in strong sunlight".
733:; he chaired a campaign urging voters to vote "No" on all four questions. He was particularly critical of the proposal for
1054:
433:
361:
504:, telling Menzies that it was "draconian". His first span in the Senate lasted only two years, as he was defeated at the
693:
689:
646:
594:
582:
describing it as "probably the most incisive, impressive and influential document the Senate has ever produced". In the
501:
271:
764:
760:
224:
33:
1295:
1285:
730:
509:
453:
346:
228:
186:
784:
Cormack died in
Melbourne on 26 November 1994, aged 88, after years of ill health. A memorial service was held at
1290:
1265:
1059:
642:
325:. Cormack's father, a medical doctor, decided to relocate to Australia for health reasons. A distant cousin was
469:
445:
322:
664:'s five senators. While presiding over the chamber he was generally regarded as fair and impartial – Labor's
400:, and the Staff College. He transferred to the regular army in August 1942. In July 1943, Cormack arrived in
1114:
718:
417:
381:
282:. Cormack was elected to the Senate presidency in 1971 and retained the position for the first term of the
927:
875:
606:
314:
637:
to become the
Coalition's nominee for the position, despite Withers having the support of Prime Minister
1190:
697:
583:
493:
1346:
1341:
405:
236:
100:
473:
259:
1039:
1019:
999:
979:
959:
912:
889:
772:
674:
568:
517:
508:. Shortly before his term ended, he was one of the senators chosen to represent Australia at the
429:
318:
291:
283:
907:
266:. Cormack's first term in the Senate lasted only two years, during which he notably opposed the
660:, despite winning government. Cormack was re-elected to the presidency with the support of the
1255:
1140:
726:
722:
630:
232:
96:
89:
1245:
1215:
1123:
741:
622:
477:
409:
369:
255:
77:
246:
Cormack was born in the
Scottish Highlands and came to Australia as a child. He grew up in
227:(12 February 1906 – 26 November 1994) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the
1270:
638:
610:
330:
303:
290:. The proceeds from the sale of the radio licence were subsequently used to establish the
150:
831:
1315:
1280:
1089:
777:
753:
749:
541:
521:
449:
448:. Cormack was subsequently recruited to the federal policy committee, at the urging of
338:
25:
1148:
1335:
1260:
1205:
745:
665:
650:
529:
345:. Having begun his formal education in Scotland, Cormack attended a state school in
1275:
1200:
1195:
547:
401:
326:
263:
42:
480:
and populate it with white settlers, in order to pre-empt an
Indonesian takeover.
858:"Commonwealth Members of Parliament who have served in war: the Second World War"
1240:
670:
634:
602:
598:
416:
and receiving his discharge. He finished the war with the rank of major and was
385:
279:
1034:
1014:
994:
974:
954:
871:
678:
413:
308:
725:
a total of twelve times during his career, and was a leading opponent of the
1320:
1300:
167:
684:
After the 1974 election, the balance of power in the Senate was shared by
544:
to describe him as "the unluckiest man in post-war
Australian politics".
389:
334:
247:
677:'s ability to pass legislation through the Senate. He refused to accept
578:
342:
354:
251:
748:
from the leadership. The leading contenders to replace
Snedden were
274:. After several unsuccessful candidacies, he was re-elected at the
1085:"Deal behind the treasure chest that's tearing the Liberals apart"
546:
1352:
Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia
496:
ticket in Victoria. He was one of the few Liberals to oppose the
516:, Cormack unsuccessfully contested Liberal preselection for the
286:. After leaving politics he served as chairman of radio station
1372:
Australian Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
1152:
656:
The Labor Party did not secure a majority in the Senate at the
645:
over the executive. He strongly supported the expansion of the
412:
in January 1944, where he spent four months before leaving for
306:, Scotland. He was the oldest of five children born to Violet (
744:, where he and other leading Liberals discussed how to remove
287:
528:
without success, and then the following year was defeated by
432:
before the war, and joined the Liberal Party in 1946. At the
860:. Australian Parliamentary Library: Research Papers 2016–17.
856:
Church, Nathan; Gobbett, Hannah; Speldewinde, Simon (2016).
759:
After leaving parliament, Cormack served as the chairman of
353:. From 1926 to 1931, he worked as a production manager with
384:
in July 1940, and was posted to anti-aircraft regiments at
740:
In March 1975, Cormack held a dinner party at his flat in
492:, Cormack was elected to the Senate in fifth place on the
555:
Cormack won first place on the Coalition ticket at the
313:) and William Petrie Cormack. His maternal grandfather
278:, becoming known for his committee work and support of
836:
The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate
641:. As president, Cormack was known as a defender of
588:
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
333:, who was also born in Wick. The family arrived in
192:
182:
174:
157:
137:
132:
95:
83:
71:
53:
23:
444:, helping defeat the long-serving Labor incumbent
420:for "gallant and distinguished service in Papua".
590:(KBE), "for long political and public service".
1382:People educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide
294:, an investment vehicle for the Liberal Party.
896:. William Heinemann Australia. pp. 54–56.
713:unsuccessfully challenged the legality of the
1357:Members of the Australian Senate for Victoria
1164:
8:
633:by 31 votes to 26. He had earlier defeated
1171:
1157:
1149:
1110:
673:" of 1974, which had implications for the
540:'s resignation. His losses led journalist
41:
20:
1397:Australian Army personnel of World War II
916:(Supplement). 1 January 1970. p. 36.
832:"CORMACK, Sir Magnus Cameron (1906–1994)"
520:. His opponent was future prime minister
460:from 1948 to 1949. Cormack stood for the
404:as part of the headquarters staff of the
955:"Sir Magnus Cormack President of Senate"
302:Cormack was born on 12 February 1906 in
250:and worked as a production manager with
797:
258:. During World War II he served in the
995:"Request for recall of Senate refused"
934:. Shakespeare Head Press. p. 189.
825:
823:
821:
254:for several years, later farming near
819:
817:
815:
813:
811:
809:
807:
805:
803:
801:
629:on 17 August 1971, defeating Labor's
307:
239:(1951–1953, 1962–1978), including as
124:28 April 1951 – 30 June 1953
67:17 August 1971 – 8 July 1974
7:
1055:"The lost art of crossing the floor"
1035:"ALP nominee gets Senate presidency"
1015:"Senator Wood to Contest Presidency"
1387:20th-century Australian politicians
1367:Presidents of the Australian Senate
1180:Presidents of the Australian Senate
113:1 July 1962 – 30 June 1978
601:in 1967, Cormack played a role in
337:in about 1912, and settled on the
14:
715:first joint sitting of parliament
16:Australian politician (1906–1994)
1362:Members of the Australian Senate
1083:Pamela Williams (24 July 2017).
872:"Dutch N.G. Urged For Australia"
567:. The latter was cut short by a
456:. He was state president of the
394:Royal Military College, Duntroon
1377:Scottish emigrants to Australia
231:and served multiple terms as a
205:
769:Centre for Independent Studies
1:
975:"Two setbacks for Mr McMahon"
434:1947 Victorian state election
709:In August 1974, Cormack and
621:Following the retirement of
428:Cormack was a member of the
351:St Peter's College, Adelaide
1392:People from Wick, Caithness
894:Malcolm Fraser: A Biography
765:Institute of Public Affairs
701:Cormack by 31 votes to 29.
440:'s campaign in the seat of
424:Early political involvement
1418:
1073:Ayres (1987), pp. 246–248.
510:coronation of Elizabeth II
396:, the headquarters of the
368:, a grazing property near
222:Sir Magnus Cameron Cormack
1186:
1137:
1128:
1120:
1113:
1060:The Sydney Morning Herald
731:1977 referendum proposals
643:parliamentary sovereignty
506:1953 half-Senate election
398:Australian Imperial Force
262:and attained the rank of
215:
128:
117:
106:
60:
49:
40:
1402:Australian Army officers
532:in a ballot to fill the
462:House of Representatives
380:Cormack enlisted in the
323:British House of Commons
1131:President of the Senate
1115:Parliament of Australia
627:President of the Senate
617:President of the Senate
500:'s attempts to ban the
418:mentioned in dispatches
241:President of the Senate
55:President of the Senate
735:simultaneous elections
662:Democratic Labor Party
625:, Cormack was elected
552:
315:John Macdonald Cameron
270:'s attempt to ban the
932:The Gorton Experiment
658:1972 federal election
586:, Cormack was made a
584:1970 New Year Honours
550:
466:1949 federal election
276:1961 federal election
170:, Victoria, Australia
944:Reid (1971), p. 355.
786:Old Parliament House
349:and then boarded at
696:. Cormack defeated
474:Division of Fawkner
260:New Guinea campaign
243:from 1971 to 1974.
1040:The Canberra Times
1020:The Canberra Times
1003:. 11 January 1973.
1000:The Canberra Times
980:The Canberra Times
960:The Canberra Times
913:The London Gazette
830:Browne, Geoffrey.
773:Cormack Foundation
675:Whitlam government
597:of Prime Minister
569:double dissolution
553:
518:Division of Wannon
498:Menzies Government
458:Victorian Liberals
430:Young Nationalists
408:. He moved to the
292:Cormack Foundation
284:Whitlam government
268:Menzies Government
30:Sir Magnus Cormack
1329:
1328:
1147:
1146:
1138:Succeeded by
1063:. 12 August 2006.
983:. 17 August 1971.
963:. 18 August 1971.
727:Fraser government
723:crossed the floor
219:
218:
1409:
1173:
1166:
1159:
1150:
1124:Alister McMullin
1121:Preceded by
1111:
1102:
1101:
1099:
1097:
1080:
1074:
1071:
1065:
1064:
1051:
1045:
1044:
1031:
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1005:
1004:
991:
985:
984:
971:
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951:
945:
942:
936:
935:
924:
918:
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904:
898:
897:
886:
880:
879:
878:. 18 April 1950.
868:
862:
861:
853:
847:
846:
844:
842:
827:
690:Liberal Movement
647:committee system
623:Alister McMullin
478:Dutch New Guinea
438:William McDonald
410:New Guinea Force
376:Military service
370:Apsley, Victoria
362:Great Depression
329:, a Senator for
327:Sir Josiah Symon
312:
256:Apsley, Victoria
209:
207:
164:
161:26 November 1994
148:12 February 1906
147:
145:
133:Personal details
122:
111:
86:
78:Alister McMullin
74:
65:
45:
21:
1417:
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1177:
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1068:
1053:
1052:
1048:
1043:. 10 July 1974.
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838:
829:
828:
799:
794:
775:. According to
707:
694:Michael Townley
639:William McMahon
619:
611:William McMahon
551:Cormack in 1962
512:. Prior to the
502:Communist Party
486:
426:
378:
331:South Australia
304:Wick, Caithness
300:
272:Communist Party
211:
208: 1935)
203:
199:
198:Mavis Macmeikan
183:Political party
166:
162:
151:Wick, Caithness
149:
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118:
112:
107:
84:
72:
66:
61:
36:
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28:
17:
12:
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5:
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1144:
1141:Justin O'Byrne
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1127:
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1103:
1090:The Australian
1075:
1066:
1046:
1026:
1023:. 8 July 1974.
1006:
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966:
946:
937:
919:
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863:
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796:
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793:
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778:The Australian
754:Malcolm Fraser
750:Andrew Peacock
706:
703:
631:Justin O'Byrne
618:
615:
565:1974 elections
542:Don Whitington
534:casual vacancy
522:Malcolm Fraser
485:
482:
450:Robert Menzies
425:
422:
377:
374:
339:Eyre Peninsula
321:member of the
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165:(aged 88)
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93:
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90:Justin O'Byrne
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69:
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58:
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50:
47:
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38:
37:
32:
29:
26:The Honourable
24:
15:
13:
10:
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6:
4:
3:
2:
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1199:
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789:
787:
782:
780:
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766:
762:
757:
755:
751:
747:
746:Billy Snedden
743:
738:
736:
732:
728:
724:
720:
716:
712:
711:James Webster
704:
702:
699:
695:
691:
687:
682:
680:
676:
672:
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666:John Wheeldon
663:
659:
654:
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651:question time
648:
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640:
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632:
628:
624:
616:
614:
612:
608:
604:
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596:
595:disappearance
591:
589:
585:
581:
580:
574:
573:1975 election
571:, and at the
570:
566:
562:
558:
557:1961 election
549:
545:
543:
539:
535:
531:
530:George Hannan
527:
526:1955 election
523:
519:
515:
514:1954 election
511:
507:
503:
499:
495:
491:
490:1951 election
483:
481:
479:
475:
471:
467:
463:
459:
455:
454:Richard Casey
451:
447:
443:
439:
436:, he managed
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319:Liberal Party
316:
311: Cameron
310:
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281:
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229:Liberal Party
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195:
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44:
39:
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1088:
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902:
893:
890:Philip Ayres
884:
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839:. Retrieved
835:
783:
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708:
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359:
301:
245:
221:
220:
163:(1994-11-26)
119:
108:
85:Succeeded by
62:
18:
1347:1994 deaths
1342:1906 births
908:"No. 45000"
841:21 December
705:Later years
686:Steele Hall
671:Gair Affair
635:Reg Withers
603:John Gorton
599:Harold Holt
538:John Spicer
470:Bill Bourke
446:Bill Slater
386:Puckapunyal
360:During the
280:John Gorton
175:Nationality
73:Preceded by
1336:Categories
1271:McClelland
1231:Cunningham
1135:1971–1974
876:The Herald
792:References
719:High Court
679:Vince Gair
593:After the
536:caused by
414:Townsville
298:Early life
178:Australian
153:, Scotland
144:1906-02-12
1216:Kingsmill
1096:21 August
928:Alan Reid
607:Alan Reid
494:Coalition
347:Tumby Bay
341:south of
168:Melbourne
120:In office
109:In office
63:In office
1316:Brockman
1296:Ferguson
1246:McMullin
1211:Newlands
930:(1971).
892:(1987).
698:Ian Wood
406:II Corps
390:Werribee
335:Adelaide
248:Adelaide
237:Victoria
101:Victoria
1291:Calvert
1256:O'Byrne
1251:Cormack
1241:Mattner
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688:of the
579:The Age
488:At the
484:Senator
472:in the
464:at the
382:Militia
343:Whyalla
233:Senator
210:
202:
187:Liberal
97:Senator
1281:Beahan
1276:Sibraa
1261:Laucke
1206:Givens
1201:Turley
767:, the
742:Toorak
717:. The
442:Dundas
366:Koijak
355:Holden
317:was a
252:Holden
193:Spouse
1321:Lines
1306:Parry
1266:Young
1236:Brown
1226:Hayes
1221:Lynch
1196:Gould
1191:Baker
576:with
264:major
204:(
200:
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1301:Hogg
1286:Reid
1098:2018
843:2022
752:and
692:and
563:and
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235:for
158:Died
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146:)
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