John Malcolm Fraser
NAA: A8746, 30/3/78/5
Malcolm Fraser was elected the Member for Wannon (Victoria) in 1955. He served as a minister in the Holt, McEwen, Gorton and McMahon governments.
Fraser became Leader of the Opposition in March 1975. When the Governor-General dismissed the Whitlam government in November, Fraser became caretaker prime minister. His government was returned with a majority at the general election a month later. Fraser was prime minister from 1975 to 1983. He left politics after his government's defeat in March 1983.
What's in the National Archives on John Malcolm Fraser?
- Personal records of Fraser
- Fraser before his term as Prime Minister
- Cabinet records
- Departmental records
- Open records concerning Fraser
- Tamie Fraser
- Photographs
- Relevant research guides
- Research databases
Many of the Archives' records relevant to Malcolm Fraser are not yet available for public access. Under the Archives Act 1983, Commonwealth records are open to public access 30 years from the date they were created. The records of the Fraser government began to come into the open period in 2006.
This page introduces the records relevant to Malcolm Fraser and features those currently available to the public – mainly photographs or audiovisual material that is already in the public domain.
Personal records of Fraser
People in prominent positions often have significant personal collections of records, as well as creating records in the institutions in which they work. These personal collections are usually a mixture of official and private material and often document the person's activities performed while occupying various different positions. The National Archives collects personal records from Governors-General, Prime Ministers, ministers and some judges. See Records of Commonwealth office-holders.
The National Archives holds an extensive collection of Malcolm Fraser's personal records created in his various official capacities. These records were primarily created by Fraser as Prime Minister and Minister and include subject and correspondence files, ministerial media releases and speeches and official photographs, audiotapes, video cassettes, press clippings and invitations. Private (ie non-official) records created by Malcolm Fraser are held at the University of Melbourne Archives.
More detail on Fraser's personal records can be found in RecordSearch. Enter his Commonwealth Person number (CP 51) into the field for 'Reference numbers'. Then select from the 'Search' drop-down menu to search 'Series'. For information about Fraser's private records, see the University of Melbourne's Malcolm Fraser collection of documents, photographs, books and other material.
Fraser before his term as Prime Minister
Before becoming Prime Minister, Fraser was Minister for the Army (1966–68), twice Minister for Education and Science (1968–69, 1971–72) and Minister for Defence (1969–71).
 | Representations by JM Fraser regarding equal wage rates for Aborigines in the Northern Territory, 1965 | 1965 | A452, NT1965/1955 | ||
 | Overseas visits of JM Fraser as Minister for the Army, 1966–67 | 1966–67 | A1209, 1968/8824 | ||
| Correspondence between Prime Minister H Holt and JM Fraser, 1966–67 | 1966–67 | M2684, 129 | ||
 | Statement on defence by JM Fraser as Minister for Defence, 1970 | 1970 | A5954, 99/7 | ||
| Speeches by JM Fraser, 1968–71 | 1968–71 | M1229, 7 | ||
Cabinet records
Cabinet records consist of minutes, submissions, memoranda and other documents of Cabinet decisions. They are a valuable source for research on the work of a former Prime Minister.
Cabinet records created late in 1975 – when the Fraser government first took office – were opened for public access in 2006. See 1975 Cabinet.
Cabinet notebooks record the proceedings of Cabinet meetings, including individual ministers' views. Because this material is more sensitive, the closed period for Cabinet notebooks is longer – 50 years. Cabinet notebooks from Fraser's term will not open until 2026.
For more information, see The Collection – Cabinet.
Fraser became a member of the Gorton Cabinet in February 1968. He was also a member of the McMahon Cabinet from August 1971. These Cabinet records are now open for public access. For an introduction to these records, see
- 1968 Cabinet records
- 1969 Cabinet records
- 1970 Cabinet records
- 1971 Cabinet records
Departmental records
Records documenting the work of former prime ministers can also be found in series created by government departments. For Fraser, relevant records are those created by the departments of
- Prime Minister and Cabinet (CA 1401)
- Army (CA 36)
- Education and Science (CA 1196)
- Defence (CA 46)
Each Commonwealth agency (or CA) has a number, as cited above. These numbers can be used to search RecordSearch for records created by that agency. Enter an agency number (eg CA 1401) into the field for 'Reference numbers'. Then select from the 'Search' drop-down menu to search 'Series'.
Open records concerning Fraser
In 2006, records from the first month of Fraser's prime ministership came into the open period. The remainder will be opened for access each year until 2014.
On occasion, the government authorises the release of Commonwealth records for public access before they are 30 years old. Of relevance to Fraser and his period as Prime Minister are records from 1974 to 1976 concerning the Indonesian incorporation of East Timor. These records were released by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in 2000.
Copies of some records relating to East Timor were published in the DFAT book Australia and the Indonesian Incorporation of Portuguese Timor, 1974–76. Select records concerning East Timor from the Archives collection have also been opened. For a list, see Chapter 8 of the Archives guide Near Neighbours.
Also of relevance are records from 1954 to 1985 relating to the royal commission into British nuclear tests in Australia. These were released for public access in 1986. One exhibit tendered before the Commission contained letters to Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke.
Tamie Fraser
The National Archives holds a significant collection of Tamie Fraser's personal records. It comprises correspondence, invitations and papers relating to overseas visits and state occasions. More detail on Tamie Fraser's records can be found in RecordSearch. Enter her Commonwealth person number (CP 308) into the field for 'Reference numbers'. Then select from the 'Search' drop-down menu to search 'Series'.
Various government departments will have created Commonwealth records relating to Tamie Fraser in her role as spouse of the Prime Minister.
A number of photographs of Tamie Fraser are also in our collection.
Photographic records relating to Fraser
Relevant research guides
The National Archives has produced a number of research guides and fact sheets that may assist you with your research on John Malcolm Fraser. These are available from the website and in print versions.
Records of Australian prime ministers, 1901–71 (Fact Sheet 70)
Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War (Fact Sheet 117)
National service, 1965–72 (Fact Sheet 164)
Near neighbours: Records on Australia's relations with Indonesia (Research Guide 16)
Sound recordings in the National Archives (Research Guide 17)
Australian Overseas Information Service photographs (Fact Sheet 47)
Research databases
RecordSearch contains searchable descriptions of millions of items from our collection. Many of them are wholly digitised.
PhotoSearch allows you to search and browse over 110,000 photographs from our collection.