Kevin Newman

Kevin Eugene Newman, (10 October 1933 – 17 July 1999) was an Australian soldier and politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and held ministerial office in the Fraser government, serving as Minister for Repatriation (1975–1976), Environment, Housing and Community Development (1976–1977), National Development (1977–1979), Productivity (1979–1980), and Administrative Services (1980–1983). He represented the Tasmanian seat of Bass in the House of Representatives from 1975 to 1984. His wife Jocelyn also became a federal government minister, while his son Campbell became premier of Queensland.

Early life Newman was born on 10 October 1933 in Kensington, New South Wales. He was the son of Veronica (née Somes) and Eugene Henry Newman; his father worked as a tiler. He was educated at the Scots College in Sydney, attending from 1943 to 1951.

Military service Newman attended the Royal Military College, Duntroon, from 1952 to 1955. He joined the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, as an infantry platoon commander in 1956 and served overseas during the Malayan Emergency. He later transferred to the School of Infantry in Seymour, Victoria, as an instructor, before moving to Canberra where he taught at the Royal Military College. The by-election was the subject of national attention, occurring during the lead-up to the 1975 constitutional crisis during a period of unpopularity for the Whitlam government. announcing in July 1979 that no new oil exploration would be permitted in the region.

Newman was appointed Minister for Productivity and minister assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs in a December 1979 reshuffle.

Post-political activities After leaving parliament, Newman held roles with various community organisations including as chairman of the Launceston Public Hospitals District (1986–1989), as a director of the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame in Queensland (1985–1999), and as the inaugural chairman of the governing council of Old Parliament House, Canberra (1997–1999). and renovated the Old Bakery Inn in Launceston into a hotel and restaurant. He was involved in National Trust efforts to preserve historic sites from demolition, including the C. H. Smith Buildings in Launceston, Gawler Chambers in Adelaide, and the Woolloomooloo Wharf in Sydney.

Newman was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1994.

Personal life In 1961, Newman married Jocelyn Mullett, with whom he had two children. His wife was also a Liberal Party politician, serving as a senator for Tasmania and as a minister in the Howard government. Their son Campbell Newman served as lord mayor of Brisbane (2004–2011) and premier of Queensland (2012–2015).