Ian McLachlan

The Honourable Ian McLachlan AO
Ian McLachlan (far left)
45th Australian Defence Minister
In office 1996–1998
Preceded by	Robert Ray
Succeeded by	John Moore
Personal details
Born	2 October 1936
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia

Ian Murray McLachlan AO (born 2 October 1936) is an Australian landowner, former first-class cricketer, and former member of the Australian House of Representatives.

Early life

Born in North Adelaide, McLachlan was educated at St. Peter's College, Adelaide, where he first displayed his cricketing prowess, and Jesus College at the University of Cambridge.^[1]

He played 72 matches of first-class cricket for Cambridge University and South Australia between 1956 and 1964, scoring 3743 runs at an average of 31.72, with 9 centuries.^[2]

Professional life

His business career includes managing director of Nangwarry Pastoral Co. Pty. Ltd., deputy chairman of SA Brewing Pty. Ltd (1983–1990), director of Elders IXL Ltd. (1980–1990) and president of the National Farmers Federation (1984–1988). He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in January 1989 for "service to primary industry".^[3] He was a long term president (till 2014) of the South Australian Cricket Association.

Political life

Ian McLachlan

Personal information
Full name	Ian Murray McLachlan
Born	2 October 1936 North Adelaide, South Australia
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right-arm leg-spin
Relations	Brother, Angus McLachlan
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1956 to 1958	Cambridge University
1960-61 to 1963-64	South Australia
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 72 Runs scored 3743 Batting average 31.72 100s/50s 9/17 Top score 188* Balls bowled 606 Wickets 6 Bowling average 63.66 5 wickets in innings – 10 wickets in match – Best bowling 2/33 Catches/stumpings 40/–
Source: Cricket Archive, 16 November 2013

McLachlan was the member for Barker from 1990 until 1998 when he retired. He was Federal Minister for Defence from 1996 to 1998.^[4]

There was an earlier attempt to get McLachlan into Parliament in the lead-up to the 1987 election. According to John Howard, then Opposition Leader, stated in 2014 that Liberal MP Alexander Downer had offered to stand aside from his seat of Mayo in favour of McLachlan but the offer was declined.^[5]

It was revealed in 2006 that McLachlan was present at a meeting between John Howard and Peter Costello, arranging a handover of power after one and a half terms if Howard was allowed to become opposition leader without challenge, and then won office from the Australian Labor Party (ALP). Howard later reneged on this deal, leading to controversy and public bickering between Prime Minister Howard and Treasurer Costello.^[6][7] The revelation was made by McLachlan himself and Howard later said in The Howard Years documentary series that he had decided to handover the Prime Ministership to Costello in 2006 but changed his mind as a result of the revelation of the deal. McLachlan therefore cost Costello his final opportunity to become Prime Minister.

References

1. Wisden 1958, p. 291.
2. Ian McLachlan at Cricket Archive
3. "McLachlan, Ian Murray". It's an Honour. Government of Australia. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
4. "Biography for McLachlan, the Hon. Ian Murray, AO". ParlInfo Web. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
5. A Country Road: The Nationals Episode 2
6. Howard, Costello rift deepens, Jim Middleton, Lateline, ABC TV (10 July 2006)
7. Costello bombshell on PM 'deal', AAP, SMH (10 July 2006)