Harry Edwards

Harold Raymond Edwards (10 January 1927 – 26 June 2012) was an Australian politician, economist and academic.

Early life and education Born in Drummoyne, Sydney, Edwards was educated at Abbotsford Public School until his family moved to Temora, due to the Sydney smog aggravating his sister's asthma. In Temora, Edwards joined the Air Corps and gained his private pilot's licence. When he finished his schooling, he returned to Sydney to attend the University of Sydney, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in economics.

Academic career Edwards received his PhD from Nuffield College, Oxford—his doctoral thesis, Competition and Monopoly in the British Soap Industry, was published as a book in 1962. Among his students was John Hewson.

Political career In 1972, Tom Hughes, the Liberal member for the very safe Australian House of Representatives seat of Berowra was preselected for the seat, but subsequently retired after being removed from the ministry. Edwards nominated for preselection, which he won against a large field of 24 candidates including future Prime Minister John Howard. He was elected at the 1972 federal election, and held the seat until his retirement in 1993.

Edwards was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2005.