Overview

Alexander James de Burgh Forbes (16 December 1923 – 10 August 2019), commonly known as Jim Forbes, was an Australian politician who represented the Liberal Party in federal parliament for nearly two decades. He served as the Member of the House of Representatives for Barker from 1956 until he left federal politics in 1975. Forbes held senior ministerial office across multiple governments, a continuity that spanned five successive prime ministers and three major portfolios.

Early life and military service

Forbes was born in Hobart, Tasmania, and came of age during the Second World War. He served in the Australian Army during World War II and was discharged in 1947. After military service he pursued higher education, studying at the University of Adelaide and later at Oxford University, which shaped his outlook before entering public life. He subsequently settled in the Adelaide suburb of St Peters in South Australia.

Parliamentary career and ministerial roles

Forbes entered federal parliament at the 1956 election and maintained the seat of Barker for the Liberal Party until 1975. During that period he served in ministerial posts under five prime ministers: Robert Menzies, Harold Holt, John McEwen, John Gorton and William McMahon. His sustained presence in cabinet and ministry made him a familiar figure in Canberra during a time of political and social change.

  • Minister for the Army, 1963–1966 — responsible for the administration and readiness of the Australian Army during the mid-1960s.
  • Minister for Health, 1966–1971 — oversaw national health matters across a period of growing public attention to health services and medical policy.
  • Minister for Immigration, 1971–1972 — held the immigration portfolio in the closing phase of the long postwar Liberal government, at a time when immigration policy was evolving.

Contributions and significance

Forbes's career illustrates the role of a senior minister who provided continuity across successive administrations. While not always a household name outside political circles, his stewardship of portfolios such as Health and Immigration coincided with important national debates about public services, population and Australia's international posture. Serving under five prime ministers is a notable feature of his political life, reflecting both durability and adaptability.

Later life and legacy

After leaving parliament in 1975, Forbes remained associated with South Australian civic life and kept a low public profile compared with some of his contemporaries. He was recognised in later years for his long service in public life. Forbes died in a hospital in Adelaide on 10 August 2019 at the age of 95, leaving a record of wartime service, academic study and nearly two decades of federal parliamentary work.

Notable facts and further reading

Key points about Forbes's life and career include his wartime military service, education in Adelaide and at Oxford, representation of the rural electorate of Barker, and senior ministerial roles in Army, Health and Immigration. For a concise summary of his parliamentary service and the governments he served under, see references to the prime ministers and offices noted above.

Related links: Prime Ministers he served under, Member of Parliament.