James Webster

James Joseph Webster (14 June 1925 – 3 April 2022) was an Australian politician. He was a Senator for Victoria from 1964 to 1980, representing the National Country Party (NCP). He served as Minister for Science (1975–1978) and Science and the Environment (1978–1979) in the Fraser government. He left politics to become High Commissioner to New Zealand, serving from 1980 to 1983.

Early life Webster was born on 14 June 1925 on Flinders Island, Tasmania. He was the youngest of three sons born to Eileen (née Thorne) and Leslie Webster. His father was the chairman of the Flinders Island Butter Factory and served as president of the Flinders Island Municipal Council.

In 1929, Webster and his family moved to his father's home state of Victoria. His father ran a timber and hardware business in Melbourne before settling the family on a farm in Greenval in 1932. He subsequently said that the government would seek to end illegal "pirate" whaling and was "firmly committed to a policy of vigorous and active protection of whales". During his tenure Australia and Seychelles successfully lobbied the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to introduce the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

In 1975, his constitutional eligibility to sit in the Senate was questioned, prompting the Parliament to introduce the Common Informers (Parliamentary Disqualifications) Act 1975, although ultimately the High Court found that he was not ineligible and he continued to serve until his retirement in 1980.

Later life In December 1979, it was announced that Webster would retire from politics in order to be appointed High Commissioner to New Zealand. He formally resigned from the Senate in January 1980, Webster served as High Commissioner during the negotiations leading up to the Closer Economic Relations agreement. According to John Menadue, he opposed the Fraser government's 1981 changes to the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, which required New Zealanders to carry passports when entering Australia. His term as High Commissioner ended in October 1983. He subsequently resumed farming in Victoria.