Kevin Cairns (politician)

Kevin Michael Kiernan Cairns (15 May 1929 – 6 July 1984) was an Australian dentist and politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served as Minister for Housing in the McMahon Government from 1971 to 1972. He served in the House of Representatives for 15 years, representing the Queensland seat of Lilley from 1963 to 1972 and 1974 to 1980.

The Honourable Kevin Cairns
Minister for Housing
In office 22 March 1971 – 5 December 1972
Prime Minister	William McMahon
Preceded by	Annabelle Rankin
Succeeded by	Gough Whitlam
Member of the Australian Parliament for Lilley
In office 30 November 1963 – 2 December 1972
Preceded by	Don Cameron
Succeeded by	Frank Doyle
In office 18 May 1974 – 18 October 1980
Preceded by	Frank Doyle
Succeeded by	Elaine Darling
Personal details
Born	Kevin Michael Kiernan Cairns 15 May 1929 Five Dock, Sydney, Australia
Died	6 July 1984 (aged 55) Clayfield, Brisbane, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Tonia
Relations	Clare Martin (niece)
Alma mater	University of Sydney
Occupation	Dentist

Early life

Cairns was born in Sydney and completed his leaving certificate in 1945 at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill. He qualified as a dentist and once in Parliament also gained degrees in Arts and Economics.[1]

Politics

A member of the Liberal Party, Cairns made three unsuccessful bids for the Division of Brisbane in Queensland before finally being elected to the House of Representatives for the nearby seat of Lilley. He was Minister for Housing in the junior ministry of William McMahon from 22 March 1971 to the defeat of the McMahon government at the 1972 election, when he lost his own seat by 35 votes. He won Lilley back at the 1974 election, but was again defeated at the 1980 election.[1][2]

Later life

Cairns worked as an economic consultant for the Queensland Tourist and Travel Corporation and Mount Isa Mines. He was a member of the Independent Air Fares Committee under the Fraser and the Hawke governments, when the federal government regulated airfares on interstate routes. He eventually became President of the Queensland Economic Society.[3][4]

Personal life

Cairns died in 1984 and following a state funeral was buried in Nudgee Cemetery.[5] He was survived by his wife, Tonia and their four sons and three daughters.[5]

Cairns was the uncle of Clare Martin, a Labor Party politician who was Chief Minister of the Northern Territory from 2001 to 2007.[6]

References

1. Hawke, Bob (21 August 1984). "Death of the Hon. K. M. K. Cairns". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
2. Cameron, Don (21 August 1984). "Death of the Hon. K. M. K. Cairns". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
3. Sinclair, Ian (21 August 1984). "Death of the Hon. K. M. K. Cairns". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
4. Cross, Manfred (21 August 1984). "Death of the Hon. K. M. K. Cairns". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
5. Cairns, Kevin Michael Kiernan (1929–1984) — Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
6. Finnane, Kieran: Ideals a family tradition for Clare Martin, Alice Springs News, 29 May 2002.