Don Chipp

Don Chipp (born Donald Leslie Chipp, 21 August 1925 – 28 August 2006) was an Australian politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for over 25 years, representing the Liberal Party and later founding the Australian Democrats.

Chipp held several ministerial portfolios in the Liberal governments of Harold Holt, John Gorton, and William McMahon, including Minister for Customs and Excise, Minister for Navy, Minister for Social Services, and Minister for Health. He was known for his progressive social views, which often put him at odds with more conservative elements within the Liberal Party.

In 1977, disillusioned with the direction of the Liberal Party under Malcolm Fraser, Chipp resigned from Parliament and founded the Australian Democrats. The party, positioned in the centre of Australian politics, advocated for social justice, environmental protection, and non-violence. He served as the party's first leader until his retirement from politics in 1986.

Chipp's legacy is primarily tied to his founding and leadership of the Australian Democrats, a party that significantly influenced Australian political discourse and policy, particularly on environmental issues and civil liberties, for several decades. He is remembered as a principled and independent voice in Australian politics.