Michael MacKellar

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Michael John Randal MacKellar (born 27 October 1938) is an Australian politician and was the Liberal Member for Warringah from 1969 until 1994.

MacKellar was born in Sydney, New South Wales and was an agricultural scientist before he entered politics. He was first elected to Parliament in 1969, taking over from the controversial Edward St. John. In December 1975, MacKellar was first appointed to the front bench to the new porfolio of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, a position he held until 1979, when he became Minister for Health and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister. In Opposition, MacKellar acted as Shadow Minister for Science.

MacKellar attracted some controversy over his handling of an incident involving the improper importation of a colour television set. In 1982, a ministerial staffer submitted an incorrect customs declaration form when arranging for the set to be imported. When this was discovered, a fellow Minister, John Moore, attempted a cover up. Moore and MacKellar both accepted responsibility and resigned as Ministers.

MacKellar resigned from Parliament on 18 February 1994, causing a by-election that was subsequently won by Tony Abbott. In 1998 he became Chairman of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA). He has also acted as Chief Operations Officer of the Baker Medical Research Institute and Chief Executive Officer of the Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association.

[edit] References

• Parlinfo Web Biography from the Parliament of Australia
• Chronology of Events relating to the Membership of the 37th Parliament
• Australian Electoral Commission: Warringah (NSW) By-election (26 March 1994)
• Ministerial Resignations and Dismissals Since 1901
• Papers on Parliament No. 28 - November 1996 - Poets, Presidents, People and Parliament Republicanism and other issues - Chapter 6 - The Minister and His Private Office
• ABC electoral profile for Warringah
• ANZFA Annual Report, 1999-2000 (PDF)
• Department of Health and Ageing press release: New chairman for Australia New Zealand Food Authority

Political offices
Preceded by Tony Street	Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs 1975 – 1979	Succeeded by Ian Macphee
Preceded by Ralph Hunt	Minister for Health 1979 – 1982	Succeeded by Peter Baume
Preceded by Robert Ellicott	Minister for Home Affairs and the Environment 1981	Succeeded by Ian Wilson
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Edward St. John	Member for Warringah 1969–1994	Succeeded by Tony Abbott