Function and purpose

This series mainly comprises correspondence between J M (Malcolm) Fraser, as Leader of the Opposition (March-November 1975), and members of his Shadow Ministry. A particularly important component of the series, however, are the several files relating to Shadow Cabinet meetings under both Fraser and, to some extent, his predecessor B M Snedden. These also include the less frequent Shadow Ministry and Joint Party meetings and clearly (but not necessarily fully) document the Opposition's focus and approach in the months leading up to the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor Government. A small number of papers relate to the period of Fraser's 'caretaker' Government (November-December 1975).

The files for individual Shadow Ministers mainly include correspondence and other papers specific to the respective portfolio. The Shadow Cabinet files include agenda, record of meetings, briefing notes for Fraser, policy documents and some newspaper articles. Both types of file record the development of Liberal Coalition policy on various subjects, including defence, foreign affairs, federalism, rural matters, social welfare, appointment of permanent heads to Commonwealth departments, pecuniary interests of members of Parliament, urban and regional development, environment and conservation, tourism and the Senate's power to reject Appropriation and Supply Bills. Working papers of Fraser's staff to support the activities of the Shadow Cabinet are also present in the series.

The records were transferred to archival custody in March 1983 and initially controlled as Accession AA1983/666. They were converted to series M1360 in November the same year. The series registration and single number system of control imposed on the files were revised as part of the Prime Ministers Papers Project in October 2004. Part of the series was transferred to the custody of the University of Melbourne Archives on 8 February 2006 (items 1-8, 10-17, 19-20, 22, 24-26, 28-29, 31, 33-35, 38-39, 41-51, 53, 55-61). Items 40 and 54 transferred to the custody of the University of Melbourne Archives on 3 April 2006.