Jay,

"....examination of the character of Fraser and Goebbels tends to favour the latter as the superior politician and the better man."

If murdering one's own children is one of your criteria then I guess that you're right.

@Craig Minns, Saturday, 21 March 2015 12:24:56 PM

You are right to say that Fraser presented AND ACTED as a hard economic rationalist. He was also a colossal snob and a right SOB with 'hirelings'(sic) as he saw them. His Commonwealth driver/s might have something to say (and his own dog that bit him).

Frankly I would like to believe that his attitudes changed as he aged. Maybe Tammy had some effect, although she was from a 'select'(sic) background too and may not have changed herself.

No, I would say that Mal always desired personal attention (denied to him by his personality and manner all of his life) and fame, and found and relished the attention he got, easily too, from supporting certain causes.

The test of his change and new-found sensitivity would be what practical things he did that cost HIM personally, rather than the suggestions that others do things (especially internationally). I wonder what his security detail, hotel staff and workers at Narrabeen might say. Did he say hello and care enough to ask them about their lives and maybe tip? Or did he pass them like a naval battleship expecting all to get the hell out of his way?

I should have added that one of the significant differences between Whitlam and Fraser as men was that brash Sydney Whitlam challenged the Melbourne establishment, very landed gentry, and Fraser epitomised Melbourne Establishment.

The hope of Whitlam was a break from the stultifying establishment controlled Oz. In truth Gough did that, successfully challenge the born to rule Melbourne establishment. Although he was a hopeless PM. Fraser had no way of stemming the tide, that broad change in attitude and values, although he did try.

Along the same lines, Gough wrought considerable positive change in thinking and acting in the C'wealth Public Service too. Regrettably the cooperation among departments and concentration on community benefit was brief (the econonomic rationalism of Fraser and later LABOR administrations changed that), and the opportunist middle class stepped in to take advantage.

Fraser became maudlin with age as some men do (Shakespeare), whereas Gough could walk across Lake Burley Griffin practically to the last.

Thank You all for your comments and
contributions to this discussion.
My brain is on over-drive with all of
the various comments I've read - not only on this
thread but on the web and in the newspapers.

Most people are being very constrained and
courteous - and of course - there's plenty
of rude comments as well.

Perhaps as Ben Eltham
pointed out in his Obituary to the man -
the former Prime
Minister's death would be a good opportunity
to reflect on the passing of a key figure in
modern Australian politics and what sort of
legacy did he leave the Liberal Party.

Eltham tells us that Fraser
represented a type of conservative politician
that has almost vanished. Things are so
different now in the strange mutation of political
views in the party Fraser once led. It is difficult
today - to imagine a Liberal politician
hailing from a farming district - a parliamentarian both
conservative and in support of scientific research and
free and open immigration.

Eltham says that -
Fraser's earlier behaviour would probably suit
the current ethos of the Liberal Party. He's referring to
Fraser's tactical
brilliance during the Dismissal - the Machiavellian
but empty belief in power by any means and at any cost.

It will be interesting to see what lies ahead for the
Liberal Party. Change the leaders and you're like Labor,
don't change the leader and you're electorally doomed.
The party faces the choice between a leader who probably
can't win an election versus an alternative they don't
like.

Interesting times ahead.

In the meantime, may our former Prime Minister,
an Oxford educated patrician grazier - seemingly born to rule
who believed in national development, personal liberty,
and conservative social values - Rest In Peace.

Jay, you are forever the Nazi apologist, are you not. <<Goebbels tends to favour the latter as the superior politician and the better man.>> BETTER MAN! Is he your favorite Nazi or something. The man was a maggot of the lowest order, party to the genocide, and mass murder of millions! And the "decent family man" murdered his whole bloody family End of story. Sorry, as you say the 'Holocaust' never happened!

"Malcolm Fraser didn't change - the Liberal Party lurched to the right, and that's where we are now." Poirot my apology you are correct on that.

With respect, Ben Eltham is a lightweight and clueless about the times and political events of the Seventies and Eighties, and that is being generous to him.

There is far too much rewriting of history to suit present attitudes and spin. Students beware!