Eric Robinson (Australian politician)

Eric Laidlaw Robinson (18 January 1929 – 7 January 1981) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and held ministerial office in the Fraser Government, serving as Minister for the Capital Territory (1975–1976), Post and Telecommunications (1976–1977), and Finance (1977–1979, 1979–1980). He represented the Queensland seat of McPherson in the House of Representatives from 1972 until his death in 1981.

The Honourable Eric Robinson
Minister for Finance
In office 27 February 1979 – 3 November 1980
Prime Minister	Malcolm Fraser
Preceded by	John Howard (acting)
Succeeded by	Margaret Guilfoyle
In office 20 December 1977 – 23 February 1979
Prime Minister	Malcolm Fraser
Preceded by	Phillip Lynch
Succeeded by	John Howard (acting)
Minister for Post and Telecommunications
In office 6 February 1976 – 20 December 1977
Prime Minister	Malcolm Fraser
Preceded by	Vic Garland
Succeeded by	Tony Staley
Minister for the Capital Territory
In office 22 November 1975 – 16 February 1976
Prime Minister	Malcolm Fraser
Preceded by	Reg Withers
Succeeded by	Tony Staley
Member of the Australian Parliament for McPherson
In office 2 December 1972 – 7 January 1981
Preceded by	Charles Barnes
Succeeded by	Peter White
Personal details
Born	18 January 1929 East Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Died	7 January 1981 (aged 51) Southport, Queensland, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal
Occupation	Businessman Politician

Early life

Robinson was born on 18 January 1929 in East Brisbane, Queensland, the son of Florence Evelyn (née Laidlaw) and Arthur Neville Robinson. He attended the Slade School in Warwick and then joined his father's sporting goods business. Prior to entering politics he served as managing director and chairman of Robinson Holdings Pty Ltd, overseeing "a chain of stores in coastal Queensland". In 1964 he married Narelle Beel (née Jones), who had two children from a previous marriage.[1]

Politics

Robinson joined the Queensland Liberal Party in 1957 and in 1963 was a founding member of the Surfers Paradise branch.[1] He was state president of the Liberals from 1968 to 1973.[2] He was elected to the Federal seat of McPherson in the House of Representatives at the 1972 federal election.[1]

Following Malcolm Fraser's win at the 1975 election, he was appointed Minister for the Capital Territory in the Fraser ministry. In February 1976, he was moved to Minister for Post and Telecommunications. He was appointed Minister for Finance following Phillip Lynch's standing down in 1977. Allegations of malpractice by him were dealt with in the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Matters in Relation to Electoral Redistribution in Queensland 1977, which exonerated him of wrongdoing.[3] On 22 February 1979, he resigned from the ministry, stating in a letter to Fraser that he could no longer give him his "unqualified support". On 27 February he agreed to return as Minister for Finance—Fraser said that "there were no significant differences" between them.[4] He was not reappointed to the ministry following the 1980 election.

Robinson died suddenly in 1981 in Southport of acute myocardial infarction, while still in office. He was survived by his wife, Narelle, a son and a daughter.[3]

References

1. Markwell, Donald (2012). "Robinson, Eric Laidlaw (1929–1981)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 18.
2. Fraser, Malcolm (24 February 1981). "Death of Honourable Eric Laidlaw Robinson". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
3. Hodges, John (24 February 1981). "Death of Honourable Eric Laidlaw Robinson". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
4. "Members of Commonwealth ministries" (PDF). Parliament of Australia. 4 June 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2007.