Fred Chaney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fred Chaney
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Official portrait, 1974
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| Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party | |
| In office 9 May 1989 – 3 April 1990 |
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| Leader | Andrew Peacock |
| Preceded by | Andrew Peacock |
| Succeeded by | Peter Reith |
| Leader of the Opposition in the Senate | |
| In office 11 March 1983 – 27 February 1990 |
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| Preceded by | John Button |
| Succeeded by | Robert Hill |
| Minister for Social Security | |
| In office 3 November 1980 – 11 March 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Margaret Guilfoyle |
| Succeeded by | Don Grimes |
| Minister for Aboriginal Affairs | |
| In office 5 December 1978 – 3 November 1980 |
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| Preceded by | Ian Viner |
| Succeeded by | Peter Baume |
| Minister for Administrative Services | |
| In office 25 August 1978 – 5 December 1978 |
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| Preceded by | Peter Durack |
| Succeeded by | John McLeay |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Pearce |
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| In office 24 March 1990 – 8 February 1993 |
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| Preceded by | New division |
| Succeeded by | Judi Moylan |
| Senator for Western Australia | |
| In office 18 May 1974 – 27 February 1990 |
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| Preceded by | Syd Negus |
| Succeeded by | Ian Campbell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 October 1941 Perth, Western Australia |
| Political party | Liberal (to 1995) |
| Spouse | Angela Clifton |
| Relations | Fred Chaney Sr. (father) Michael Chaney (brother) John Chaney (brother) Kate Chaney (niece) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Western Australia |
Frederick Michael Chaney, also known as Fred Chaney, was born on October 28, 1941. He is an Australian who used to be a very important politician. He was the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party from 1989 to 1990.
Fred Chaney also served as a minister in the government led by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. He was a Senator for Western Australia from 1974 to 1990. After that, he was a member of the House of Representatives from 1990 to 1993.
Before becoming a politician, Fred Chaney was a lawyer. He studied at the University of Western Australia. After leaving politics, he worked a lot on issues important to Indigenous Australians, especially about land rights and reconciliation.
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Early Life and Education
Fred Chaney was born in Perth, Western Australia. His father, Sir Frederick Chaney, was also a minister in an earlier Australian government. Fred has six brothers and sisters, including businessman Michael Chaney and judge John Chaney.
Fred went to Aquinas College, Perth for his schooling. Later, he studied law at the University of Western Australia. In 1963, he became a lawyer in Western Australia. He even worked as a lawyer in Territory of Papua and New Guinea for two years.
In 1973, Fred Chaney helped start the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. This organization helps Indigenous people with legal advice and support.
A Career in Politics
Fred Chaney first tried to enter politics in 1971, running for a seat in the state parliament of Western Australia. He was elected to the Australian Parliament as a Senator for Western Australia in 1974. He was part of the Liberal Party.
Important Roles in Government
Fred Chaney held several important jobs as a minister in the government. From August to December 1978, he was the Minister for Administrative Services. This role involved looking after government buildings and services.
From December 1978 to November 1980, he was the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. In this job, he worked on policies and programs for Indigenous Australians. After that, from November 1980 until 1983, he was the Minister for Social Security. This role involved managing welfare and support programs for people in need.
He also helped other ministers. He assisted the Minister for Education from 1978 to 1979. He also assisted the Minister for National Development and Energy from 1979 to 1980.
Leading the Opposition
From 1983 to 1990, Fred Chaney was the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. This meant he was the main spokesperson for the Liberal Party in the Senate when they were not in government.
In May 1989, while still a Senator, he became the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party. This is a very senior role within the party. He held this position until April 1990.
In 1990, Fred Chaney moved from the Senate to the House of Representatives. He became the first member for a new area called the Division of Pearce. He stayed in this role until 1993.
After Politics: Working for Change
After leaving politics in 1993, Fred Chaney continued to work on important issues. In 1994, he was appointed to the National Native Title Tribunal. This tribunal helps to resolve land claims by Indigenous Australians. He became a full-time member in 1995 and a deputy president in 2000, retiring in 2007.
Fred Chaney was also the leader (Chancellor) of Murdoch University from 1995 to 2002. From 2000 to 2005, he was a co-chair of Reconciliation Australia. This organization works to build better relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
In 1995, Fred Chaney left the Liberal Party. He felt that his work on Indigenous issues needed him to work with people from all political backgrounds, without being tied to one party.
In 2020, it was announced that Fred Chaney would be part of a group helping to design an Indigenous voice to government. This is a way for Indigenous Australians to have a direct say in government decisions.
Awards and Recognition
In 1997, Fred Chaney was given a special award called an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This award recognized his service to the Australian Parliament and his important work with the Aboriginal community. This included helping to set up the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia and his work with the National Native Title Tribunal.
Murdoch University gave him an honorary doctorate of laws in 2003. This was for his work towards Aboriginal reconciliation and his time as Chancellor of the university. In 2017, the Australian National University also gave him the same honor. This was for his great contributions to public service and his lifelong dedication to Indigenous issues.
On January 25, 2014, Fred Chaney was named the Senior Australian of the Year. This award celebrates Australians over 65 who have made significant contributions to society.
