Editing Malcolm Fraser (section)

=== Foreign policy ===
[[File:John Fraser Prime Minister of Australia and Jimmy Carter during a state visit arrival ceremony. - NARA - 175240.tif|left|upright|thumb|Fraser and US president [[Jimmy Carter]] in June 1977]]
Fraser was particularly active in foreign policy as prime minister. He supported the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] in campaigning to abolish [[South Africa under apartheid|apartheid]] in South Africa and refused permission for the aircraft carrying the [[South Africa National Rugby Union team|Springbok]] rugby team to refuel on Australian territory en route to their controversial [[1981 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand|1981 tour of New Zealand]].<ref name="SMH_cricket">{{cite web |title=When talk of racism is just not cricket |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=16 December 2005 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/when-talk-of-racism-is-just-not-cricket/2005/1215/1134500961607.html |access-date=19 August 2007 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> However, an earlier tour by the South African ski boat angling team was allowed to pass through Australia on the way to New Zealand in 1977 and the transit records were suppressed by Cabinet order.<ref name=Transit_suppressed>{{cite web |title=Australia let apartheid-era team pass through to NZ |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=2 January 2008 |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10484995}}</ref>

Fraser also strongly opposed white minority rule in [[Rhodesia]]. During the 1979 Commonwealth Conference, Fraser, together with his Nigerian counterpart, convinced the newly elected British prime minister, [[Margaret Thatcher]], to withhold recognition of the internal settlement [[Zimbabwe Rhodesia]] government; Thatcher had earlier promised to recognise it. Subsequently, the [[Lancaster House Agreement]] was signed and [[Robert Mugabe]] was elected leader of an independent [[Zimbabwe]] at the inaugural [[1980 Zimbabwean parliamentary election|1980 election]]. Duncan Campbell, a former deputy secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has stated that Fraser was "the principal architect" in the ending of white minority rule.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/you-got-him-in-so-help-kick-him-out/story-e6frg7ef-1111116070981 |title=You got him in, so help kick him out |last=Colebatch |first=Hal G. P. |author-link=Hal Gibson Pateshall Colebatch |work=[[The Australian]] |publisher=[[News Corp Australia]] |date=16 April 2008 |access-date=20 March 2015 |archive-date=31 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531184922/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/you-got-him-in-so-help-kick-him-out/story-e6frg7ef-1111116070981 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[President of Tanzania]], [[Julius Nyerere]], said that he considered Fraser's role "crucial in many parts" and the [[President of Zambia]], [[Kenneth Kaunda]], called his contribution "vital".<ref name=Colebatch>{{cite web |first=Hal G.P. |last=Colebatch |title=You got him in, so help kick him out |work=Australian |publisher=News |date=16 April 2008 |access-date=14 December 2012 |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23545662-7583,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418071306/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23545662-7583,00.html | archive-date=18 April 2009 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Under Fraser, Australia recognised [[Indonesia]]'s [[Indonesian occupation of East Timor|annexation]] of [[East Timor]], although many East Timorese refugees were granted [[asylum in Australia]].

Fraser was also a strong supporter of the United States and supported the boycott of the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] in Moscow. However, although he persuaded some sporting bodies not to compete, Fraser did not try to prevent the [[Australian Olympic Committee]] sending a team to the Moscow Games.