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Former Defence Minister Peter Reith passed away at the age of 72 due to Alzheimer’s disease, his family announced on Tuesday.
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The former Member for Flinders lost his battle with Alzheimer’s disease his family confirmed in a Tweet on Tuesday evening.
“It is with deep sadness that we confirm that following a brave battle with Alzheimer's disease, Peter Reith died peacefully on the afternoon of 8 November 2022,” his family stated.
Reith served as a Member of the House of Representatives for more than 17 years, and held several portfolios under Liberal leaders Malcolm Fraser, Andrew Peacock, John Hewson, Alexander Downer and John Howard.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton paid tribute to the “stalwart” in a statement.
“If ever there was a stalwart of the Liberal Party, it was Peter Reith.”
“He was loyal to each leader as he was to his party, whether in government or opposition,” Dutton wrote.
After being elected to the seat of Flinders in 1982, Reith was the Liberal party's deputy leader from 1990 to 1993, and served as a minister in the Howard government, having the portfolios of industrial relations, small business, employment and workplace relations and finally defence.
Reith has introduced tough reforms following the 1998 waterfront dispute, one of his most high-profile acts during his time as Minister for Industrial Relations.
Reith became embroiled in the “children overboard affair,” in the 2001 election campaign after the Howard government claimed that asylum seekers threw children overboard, but failed to correct the record when advised there was no evidence for the claims.
Reith also served as a political commentator and company director after leaving politics.
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