Fraser Government and Public Inquiries

ABSTRACT This paper reviews the Fraser government's use of public inquiries during its nearly eight years in office. This includes both royal commissions and other non‐statutory inquiries. In addition to assessing the reasons for their appointment, roles and impacts, the paper also compares their use to its predecessor, the Whitlam Labor government. Although the Fraser government came to office to reverse the Whitlam government's expanded use of public inquiries, the Fraser government itself appointed many public inquiries. Some of these were ‘watershed’ inquiries that had lasting impacts on public policy. Such extensive use of public inquiries by the Fraser government indicates there was more continuity with the Whitlam government than partisan debate indicated at the time.