Today The Nationals WA mourn the passing of former Nationals Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Hon Tim Fischer AC.
Known as ‘The Boy from Boree Creek’, Tim was Leader of The National Party from 1990-1999, Deputy Prime Minister in the Howard Government from 1996 to 1999, Chairman of Tourism Australia from 2004 to 2007 and Ambassador to the Holy See from 2009 to 2012.
His storied life took him from rural New South Wales to the battlefields of Vietnam and then onto Parliament House and eventually to the Vatican.
Biographer and journalist Peter Rees described Tim as a “once-in-a-generation politician.”
President of The Nationals WA James Hayward described Mr Fischer as a great man and a true champion for all Australians.
“Tim’s legacy was established when he fought for reforms to Australia’s gun laws under Prime Minister John Howard,” he said.
“Despite facing strong backlash from rural areas, Tim never buckled under pressure and helped deliver safer gun laws for our nation.
“As Trade Minister, he was dubbed Two-Minute Tim for his frenetic pace, opening up 60 new countries for trade with Australia in just three years.
“Tim was passionate about rail transport. He was on board the maiden voyage of The Ghan passenger train from Adelaide to Darwin, and he also hosted the ABC Podcast, The Great Train Show from 2008-2009.
“Tim Fischer was genuinely loved by all sides of politics, a strong supporter of The National Party and a true champion for all of those who call regional Australia home.”
Mr Fischer passed away surrounded by his close family after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Our thoughts are with Tim’s wife Judy, sons Harrison and Dominic and the broader Nationals family across the nation who today lost a great man and leader.
