Jim Forbes, 1923-2019
The last surviving Liberal member of Robert Menzies’ ministry died this week. He was a highly distinguished soldier, politician and servant of Australia. By David Furse-Roberts.
A curtain finally closed on a significant chapter of Australian political history this week with the passing of Jim Forbes, the last surviving Liberal MP to serve in the ministry of Sir Robert Menzies, whom he said was a “very great man.”
During his political career, Forbes served under Prime Ministers Menzies, Holt, McEwen, Gorton, McMahon and Fraser (as caretaker PM). In Canberra during the early 1970s, he also shared residence with a young Paul Keating.
Alexander James de Burgh Forbes was born in Hobart on 16 December 1923 and was raised in both Sydney and Adelaide. In 1942 he graduated from Royal Military College, Duntroon, to embark on his military career with the Australian Army. For brave and distinguished service in both Darwin and Papua New Guinea during WWII, Forbes was awarded the Military Cross.
Following his discharge from the army in 1947, Forbes built up his academic career graduating with a BA (Hons) from the University of Adelaide in 1950 and a PhD from Magdalene College, Oxford, in 1954. Returning to Australia, he lectured in political science at the University of Adelaide before entering parliament in 1956.
Winning the South Australian seat of Barker in 1956, Forbes would serve for 19 years in the House of Representatives before retiring in 1975. His diligence as a junior backbencher soon caught the eye of Prime Minister Menzies and after the 1963 election, he became Minister for the Army and Minister for the Navy. In these portfolios, Forbes was responsible for the introduction of a selective national service scheme under the National Service Act 1964. Forbes introduced conscription on the grounds that with the emerging threats in south-east Asia at the time, the personnel shortage in Australia’s defence forces needed to be addressed.
Following the retirement of Menzies in early 1966, Forbes became Minister for Health in the Holt and Gorton Governments. As Health Minister, he was tasked with implementing the Gorton government’s national health scheme. Coming into effect from 1970, this scheme provided free health insurance for low-income earners.
With William McMahon replacing John Gorton as Prime Minister in March 1971, Forbes moved to the immigration portfolio. In October the next year, under pressure from McMahon, Forbes deported British singer Joe Cocker for drug possession and assault charges. Forbes remained Immigration Minister until the election of the Whitlam Government in December 1972.
In Opposition, Forbes became disillusioned with the leadership tensions in the Liberal Party between Sneddon, Peacock and Fraser and retired from politics at the end of 1975. In recognition of his parliamentary service, Forbes was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1977.
In his post-parliamentary career, Forbes remained loyal to the Liberal cause, serving as president of the South Australian division of the Liberal Party from 1979 to 1982 and Federal president of the Party from 1982 to 1985.
Forbes married Margaret Blackburn in 1952 and together they had five children, Alex, Sarah, Emma, Anna and David. Remaining in Adelaide in his retirement years, Forbes died on 10 August 2019 at the age of 95.
James Alexander Forbes is noteworthy for not only having been the last living link to the ministries of Robert Menzies but for his distinguished public service to Australia as a soldier, a scholar and a parliamentarian.