Vale Andrew Peacock AC GCL

Andrew Peacock AC GCL, former Australian Liberal minister, has passed away on 16 April 2021 aged 82 years.  He played an instrumental role in ushering PNG towards independence in 1975.

After being recognised for his work pre- and post-independence era of Papua New Guinea with the Grand Companion of the Logohu in 2006, which carries the title of chief in PNG Andrew Peacock said: ‘I committed a lot of my life to Papua New Guinea, but it gave me much more back. And it’s wonderful.’

Andrew Peacock became External Territories Minister, responsible for PNG, on 2 February 1972 at age 32 years. 

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that as the minister for external territories, Peacock built a close relationship with Michael Somare and was instrumental in gaining Australian acceptance for Papua New Guinea independence. ‘His bonds with Papua New Guinea were such that he visited PNG over 50 times in his career,’ the prime minister said.

Mr Peacock has been remembered as a ‘great Australian’.