Shane Paltridge

Who was Shane Paltridge?

The Hon. Sir Shane Dunne Paltridge KBE was an Australian politician. He was a Senator in the Parliament of Australia representing Western Australia from 1951 until his death in 1966. During that period he held a number of ministerial portfolios.

Paltridge was born at Leederville, a suburb of Perth, Australia. He was educated in Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales, including Fort Street Boys' High School, Sydney. He joined the Royal Australian Airforce in 1940, and after failing training, the second Australian Imperial Force in 1942. In April 1945, he served on Morotai and in May in the Battle of Tarakan.

Paltridge became a member of the Liberal and Country League of Western Australia in 1946. In 1951 he was elected to the Australian Senate. He became Minister for Shipping and Transport and Minister for Civil Aviation under Prime Minister Robert Menzies. In April 1964, he became Minister for Defence, during the early period of Australia's participation in the Vietnam War. Although he recommended against the immediate introduction of conscription in 1964, Cabinet decide to introduce it anyway.