John Malcolm Fraser, a Victorian grazier, was Liberal Party Prime Minister of Australia from 1975 until 1983. As the Leader of the Opposition in 1975, he brought about a constitutional crisis by refusing to pass the Labor Government's supply bills and the Governor General broke the deadlock by disolving parliament on 11 November. The Liberal Party won the subsequent election in a landslide. Fraser's government maintained a conservative economic policy for eight years although it did continue with a number of judicial and human rights reforms intiatiated by Gough Whitlam's government. Defeated by Bob Hawke's Labor Party in the 1983 elections, Fraser retired after 29 years in parliament.
Fraser has been particularly prominent in support of black African movements and in bringing about the end of apartheid in South Africa. He continued this active involvement after retirement from parliament, most noticeably as a member of the international group of 'eminent persons' encouraging dialogue in South Africa and as head of CARE Australia.
Malcolm Fraser was educated at Geelong Grammar preparatory school, then Tudor House, Moss Vale, New South Wales, before going on to Melbourne Grammar and then Oxford University.