View source for Tim Fischer

{{Short description|Australian politician (1946–2019)}}
{{about||the American wrestler|Tim Fischer (wrestler)|people with a similar name|Timothy Fisher (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
| name                = Tim Fischer
| honorific-suffix    = {{postnominals|country=AUS|size=100|AC|FTSE}}
| image               = Tim Fischer.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, c. 1996
| office              = [[Deputy Prime Minister of Australia]]
| term_start          = 11 March 1996
| term_end            = 20 July 1999
| primeminister       = [[John Howard]]
| predecessor         = [[Kim Beazley]]
| successor           = [[John Anderson (Australian politician)|John Anderson]]
| office1             = [[National Party of Australia#List of leaders|Leader of the National Party]]
| deputy1             = [[Bruce Lloyd]]<br/>[[John Anderson (Australian politician)|John Anderson]]
| term_start1         = 10 April 1990
| term_end1           = 20 July 1999
| predecessor1        = [[Charles Blunt]]
| successor1          = [[John Anderson (Australian politician)|John Anderson]]
| office2             = [[Minister for Trade and Investment (Australia)|Minister for Trade]]
| term_start2         = 11 March 1996
| term_end2           = 20 July 1999
| primeminister2      = [[John Howard]]
| predecessor2        = [[Bob McMullan]]
| successor2          = [[Mark Vaile]]
| office3             = [[List of Ambassadors of Australia to the Holy See|Australian Ambassador to the Holy See]]
| nominator3          = [[Kevin Rudd]]
| term_start3         = 30 January 2009
| term_end3           = 20 January 2012
| predecessor3        = [[Anne Plunkett]]
| successor3          = [[John McCarthy (ambassador born 1947)|John McCarthy]]
| constituency_MP4    = [[Division of Farrer|Farrer]]
| parliament4         = Australian
| predecessor4        = [[Wal Fife]]
| successor4          = [[Sussan Ley]]
| term_start4         = 1 December 1984
| term_end4           = 8 October 2001
| constituency_MP5    = [[Electoral district of Murray|Murray]]
| parliament5         = New South Wales
| term_start5         = 13 September 1980
| term_end5           = 18 October 1984
| predecessor5        = [[Mary Meillon]]
| successor5          = [[Jim Small]]
| constituency_MP6    = [[Electoral district of Sturt (New South Wales)|Sturt]]
| parliament6         = New South Wales
| term_start6         = 13 February 1971
| term_end6           = 12 August 1980
| predecessor6        = ''New district''
| successor6          = [[John Sullivan (Australian politician)|John Sullivan]]
| birth_name          = Timothy Andrew Fischer
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1946|5|3|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Lockhart, New South Wales]], Australia
| death_date          = {{death date and age|df=yes|2019|8|22|1946|5|3}}
| death_place         = [[East Albury, New South Wales]], Australia
| party               = [[National Party of Australia]]
| nickname            = 
| allegiance          = Australia
| branch              = [[Australian Army]]
| serviceyears        = 1966–1969
| rank                = [[Second lieutenant#United Kingdom and Commonwealth|Second Lieutenant]]
| military_blank1     = Service number
| military_data1      = 2784385
| unit                = [[1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment]]
| commands            = 
| battles             = [[Vietnam War]]
| awards              = [[Companion of the Order of Australia]]
| mawards             = 
| website             = 
| spouse              = {{Marriage|Judy Brewer|1992}}
| children            = 2
}}

'''Timothy Andrew Fischer''' {{small|{{postnominals|country=AUS|size=100|AC|FTSE}}}} (3 May 1946 – 22 August 2019) was an Australian politician and diplomat who served as leader of the [[National Party of Australia|National Party]] from 1990 to 1999. He was the tenth [[Deputy Prime Minister of Australia|deputy prime minister]] in the [[Howard government]] from 1996 to 1999.

Fischer was born in [[Lockhart, New South Wales]]. He served with the [[Australian Army]] in the [[Vietnam War]]. On his return he bought a farming property at [[Boree Creek, New South Wales|Boree Creek]]. He served in the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]] from 1971 to 1984. Fischer was elected to the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] at the [[1984 Australian federal election|1984 election]], representing the [[Division of Farrer]] until his retirement in 2001. He replaced [[Charles Blunt]] as leader of the National Party in 1990, and in the Howard government served as Deputy Prime Minister and [[Minister for Trade (Australia)|Minister for Trade]]. After leaving politics, Fischer served as chairman of [[Tourism Australia]] from 2004 to 2007, and was later [[Australian Ambassador to the Holy See|Ambassador to the Holy See]] from 2009 to 2012.

==Early life==
Fischer was born on 3 May 1946 in [[Lockhart, New South Wales]].<ref name="Tim Fischer NSW parl">{{cite NSW Parliament |title=Mr (Tim) Timothy Andrew Fischer (1946–2019) |id=2023 |former=Yes |access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkWUCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT27|title=Boy from Boree Creek: The Tim Fischer story|last=Rees|first=Peter|date=2002-08-01|publisher=Allen & Unwin|isbn=978-1-74115-375-0|page=27}}</ref> He was the fourth of five children born to Barbara Mary ({{nee|van Cooth}}) and Julius Ralph Fischer; he was predeceased by an older brother who died of meningitis as an infant.{{sfn|Rees|2001|pp=20-21}} His parents were "from once wealthy Melbourne families whose businesses had collapsed with the onset of the Great Depression".{{sfn|Rees|2001|p=17}} Fischer's father worked as a [[Jackaroo (trainee)|jackaroo]], settling in [[Boree Creek, New South Wales]], in 1936, where he ran a [[stock and station agency]] and later bought a small farm.{{sfn|Rees|2001|p=20}} His paternal grandfather was born in [[Kleve]], Germany, and had his assets frozen due to [[anti-German sentiment]] during World War I. His paternal grandmother was the daughter of a French seaman.{{sfn|Rees|2001|p=19}} Fischer's mother worked as a nurse prior to her marriage. His maternal grandfather was a Dutch immigrant who married the daughter of [[Francis Mason (politician)|Francis Mason]], an Irish immigrant who became [[speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly]].{{sfn|Rees|2001|p=17}}

Fischer grew up on the family property at Boree Creek and attended Boree Creek Public School for six years. From 1958 he boarded at [[Xavier College]] in Melbourne.{{sfn|Rees|2001|p=27}} He graduated in 1963 and won a scholarship to attend university, but returned to Boree Creek to assist his family.{{sfn|Rees|2001|p=44}} In 1966 he was [[conscription|conscripted]] into the [[Australian Army]] and commissioned at the [[Officer Training Unit, Scheyville]]. Fischer served with the [[1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment]] (1RAR) between July 1966 and March 1969 as a [[Second lieutenant#Australia|second lieutenant]].<ref name="Ellery">{{cite news |last1=Ellery |first1=David |title=Tim Fischer says public servants 'played god' with Vietnam National Service ballot |url=https://www.smh.com.au/public-service/tim-fischer-says-public-servants-played-god-with-vietnam-national-service-ballot-20150630-gi15ul.html |access-date=22 August 2019 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=1 July 2015 |quote=He served as a 2nd Lieutenant with 1 RAR from July 1, 1966, to March 31, 1969}}</ref> With his battalion, he served in the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vietnamroll.gov.au/VeteranDetails.aspx?VeteranId=1257970|title=Veteran Search Result: Fischer, Timothy Andrew|work=Nominal Roll of Vietnam Roll Veterans|publisher=Department of Veterans' Affairs|access-date=4 December 2012}}</ref> Fischer was wounded in the [[Battle of Coral-Balmoral]] in May–June 1968.<ref name="SBS">{{cite news |title=Veterans remember Battle of Coral-Balmoral |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/veterans-remember-battle-of-coral-balmoral |access-date=22 August 2019 |work=SBS News |agency=Australian Associated Press |date=11 May 2018}}</ref> 1RAR and the [[1st Australian Task Force]] were awarded [[Unit Citation for Gallantry]] for their actions Battle of Coral-Balmoral and Fischer was entitled to wear the citation insignia.<ref name=Chester>{{cite press release |last=Chester |first=Darren|date=13 May 2018 |title=Gallantry award for service during the Battles of Coral and Balmoral |url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/dchester/media-releases/gallantry-award-service-during-battles-coral-and-balmoral|author-link=Darren Chester |publisher=Department of Defence (Australia) |access-date=29 August 2019}}</ref>

Upon his return from Vietnam, Fischer took over the family property at Boree Creek and became active in the [[National Party of Australia – NSW|Country Party]], as the party was then called.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nationals.org.au/about/our-history/ |title=Our history |publisher=National Party of Australia }}</ref>

==Career==
===State politics===
Fischer represented [[Electoral district of Sturt (New South Wales)|Sturt]] in the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]] from 1971 to 1980 and [[Electoral district of Murray|Murray]] from 1980 to 1984. He served on the opposition [[frontbench]] from 1978 to 1984.<ref name="Tim Fischer NSW parl" />

===Federal politics===
[[File:Tim Fischer Portrait 2013.jpg|thumb|right|Fischer in 2013]]
In 1984, Fischer won the federal seat of [[Division of Farrer|Farrer]] in the New South Wales far west for the [[National Party of Australia]], as the Country Party had been renamed.<ref>{{cite Au Parliament |mpid=DG4|name=Hon Timothy Fischer |former=yes |access-date=21 August 2022}}</ref> Within a year he was on the opposition frontbench, and soon became a popular figure in both the party and parliament. His sometimes rustic manner and bumbling English concealed a shrewd political brain. In 1990, when an attempt by [[Charles Blunt]] to modernise the Nationals' image ended with him losing his own seat, Fischer succeeded him as leader, defeating the former leader [[Ian Sinclair]].<ref name="obit"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/obituary-tim-fischer-19462019/news-story/cd9ba5c01bca2fe116a1bbe76400bffb |first=Dennis |last=Shanahan |title=Obituary: Tim Fischer, 1946–2019 |newspaper=[[The Australian]] |access-date=22 August 2019 }}</ref>

Fischer was an enthusiastic supporter of the "Fightback" package of economic and tax reforms proposed by the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] leader [[John Hewson]] in 1991. But he was unsuccessful in persuading the majority of rural voters, particularly in [[Queensland]], that the proposed changes, particularly the [[Goods and Services Tax (Australia)|goods and services tax]], were in their interests, and [[Australian Labor Party|Labor]] under [[Paul Keating]] won the 1993 election. On 23 March 1993, ten days after the election, Ian Sinclair unsuccessfully challenged Fischer for the leadership.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127203954 |title='Kind' challenge won by Fischer|first=Tom |last=Connors|date=24 March 1993|newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |via=Trove: [[National Library of Australia]] }}</ref>

In January 1994, Fischer suffered head and neck injuries in a car accident {{convert|15|km|mi}} south of his property in [[Lockhart, New South Wales]]. His car [[Side collision|T-boned]] a vehicle that had failed to yield to a give-way sign; the driver and passenger in the other vehicle were killed. Fischer was knocked unconscious in the accident and taken to hospital in [[Wagga Wagga]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126922053|title=Lucky escape for Fischer after two killed in car accident|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=12 January 1994}}</ref> He took a month off from politics to aid his recovery, with his deputy [[John Anderson (Australian politician)|John Anderson]] acting as party leader in his absence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134302080|title=Fischer makes 'bonus days' count|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=15 February 1994}}</ref>

The Liberals finally regained office under [[John Howard]] in 1996. Fischer became Deputy Prime Minister and [[Minister for Trade (Australia)|Minister for Trade]]. The Liberals had won a majority in their own right in the 1996 election, leaving the Nationals in a much weaker position compared to previous Coalition governments. Nonetheless, Fischer was fairly active. He supported the government introducing tough [[gun control]] measures on automatic and semi-automatic weapons following the [[Port Arthur massacre (Australia)|Port Arthur massacre]] in April 1996 alongside then-prime minister [[John Howard]], measures which were opposed by much of his party's rural base.<ref name="obit" /><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-22/tim-fischer-man-behind-gun-reform-australia-port-arthur-massacre/11439954 |title=Many Australians are alive today because of Tim Fischer |last=Dalzell |first=Stephanie |date=2019-08-22 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia |language=en-AU |access-date=2019-08-22}}</ref>

Fischer also had difficulty with the determination of many Liberals, including the Treasurer, [[Peter Costello]], to carry out sweeping free-market reforms, including abolishing tariff protection for rural industries, deregulating petrol prices and implementing other measures which farmers' organisations regarded as harmful to themselves.

In pushing to permanently extinguish [[Native title in Australia|native title]] rights of [[indigenous Australians]] following the [[Mabo v Queensland (No 2)|Mabo]] and [[Wik Decision|Wik]] decisions, Fischer attracted much criticism.<ref name="obit" />

Further trouble for Fischer and the Nationals came with the rise of [[One Nation (Australia)|One Nation]], a [[right-wing populism|right-wing populist]] party led by [[Pauline Hanson]], a disendorsed Liberal candidate who was nonetheless elected member for the [[Queensland]] seat of [[Division of Oxley|Oxley]] at the 1996 federal election. One Nation had its greatest appeal in country areas of New South Wales and Queensland—the Nationals' traditional heartland. For much of 1997 and 1998, it looked as though One Nation might sweep the Nationals out of existence. In the 1998 election campaign, however, Fischer strongly counter-attacked One Nation, mainly on the grounds of their "flat tax" economic policies, and succeeded in holding the Nationals' losses to one [[Australian Senate|Senate]] seat in Queensland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/22/tim-fischer-obituary-singular-political-character-who-rose-to-become-australias-deputy-pm |title=Tim Fischer obituary: singular political character who rose to become Australia's deputy PM |work=[[Guardian Australia]] |date=22 August 2019 |access-date=22 August 2019 }}</ref>

In 2001, shortly before the expiry of his last parliamentary term, Fischer made public his support for an [[Republicanism in Australia|Australian republic]] in the future.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Fischer |first=Tim |interviewer=Hamish Robertson |title=Tim Fischer reignites Republican debate with new referendum options |url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s336991.htm |publisher=[[Radio National|ABC Radio National]] |location=Australia |date=28 July 2001 |work=[[AM (Australian radio series)|AM]] |access-date=22 August 2019 }}</ref>

As an MP, and later as leader of the Nationals, Fischer often had a rather hectic schedule of visits to various rural National branch meetings, and other relevant functions and gatherings. As a result, he earned the affectionate nickname of "Two-Minute Tim" – often he would arrive, speak to the gathering for a few minutes (i.e. the "Two-Minutes"), grab a quick bite to eat while chatting to some of the attendees, then have to head off to the next stop on his schedule.<ref>{{cite book|last=Davey|first=Paul|title=The Nationals: The Progressive, Country, and National Party in New South Wales 1919–2006|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fpyw6Oncs5QC&pg=PA359|year=2006|publisher=Federation Press|isbn=978-1-86287-526-5|page=359}}</ref>

In 2014 it was revealed on the ABC program ''A Country Road'' that sometime before the 1998 federal election, Fischer, then National Party leader, had met with his deputy [[John Anderson (Australian politician)|John Anderson]] and former minister [[John Sharp (Australian politician)|John Sharp]] for a luncheon at which they were surprised to learn from each other that they all intended to retire at the forthcoming election. They agreed that it was not a good idea for all of them to retire at the same time, as it could give a negative image to the party which at the time was battling against perceptions that its future was uncertain. In the end, only Sharp retired, with Fischer and Anderson delaying their own retirements and successfully recontesting the election.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Episode 3 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/country-road-the-nationals/ |access-date=23 August 2019 |series=A Country Road: The Nationals |first=Heather (presenter) |last=Ewart |network=[[ABC TV (Australian TV channel)|ABC TV]] |location=Australia |date=15 May 2017 |minutes=59 }}</ref>

In 1999, he surprised his colleagues by resigning as party leader and as a minister, and by announcing that he would retire at the [[2001 Australian federal election|election due in 2001]]. His decision to quit politics was motivated partly by the demands of his family, in particular that his son Harrison has [[autism]] (Fischer himself claimed to have "high functioning" autism, though he was never professionally diagnosed).<ref>{{cite interview |last=Fischer |first=Tim |interviewer=Kieran McLeonard |title=Tim Fischer tells of life with autism |url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s72724.htm |publisher=[[Radio National|ABC Radio National]] |location=Australia |work=[[AM (Australian radio series)|AM]] |date=13 December 1999 |access-date=29 November 2010 }}</ref>

Fischer is the only person to have served the entirety of his ministerial career as Deputy Prime Minister.

===Post-political career===
After his retirement, he returned to farming at Boree Creek, and became involved in charity work, assisting organisations such as the [[St Vincent de Paul Society]], the [[Fred Hollows]] Foundation and Autism New South Wales.<ref name="obit" />

Fischer served as chairman of [[Tourism Australia]] from 2004 until 2007. He was made a fellow (FTSE) of the [[Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering]] (ATSE) in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.applied.org.au/our-fellows/meet-our-fellows/ |title=Meet our Fellows |publisher=[[Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering]] |access-date=22 August 2019 |archive-date=1 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401141658/https://www.applied.org.au/our-fellows/meet-our-fellows/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He served as chairman and a patron of the [[Crawford Fund]], an initiative of the ATSE supporting international agricultural research, from 2001 to 2006. He was vice-chair and chair of the [[Crop Trust]] (2013–2017) and a "vigorous supporter" of the [[Svalbard Global Seed Vault]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crawfordfund.org/news/vale-tim-fisher/|title=Vale Tim Fischer |first=Colin |last=Chartres |publisher=[[Crawford Fund]] |date=22 August 2019 |access-date=22 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822115517/https://www.crawfordfund.org/news/vale-tim-fisher |archive-date=22 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> He served as national chairman of the [[Royal Flying Doctor Service]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/news/vale-tim-fischer/ |title=Vale Tim Fischer |first=Amanda |last=Vanstone |publisher=[[Royal Flying Doctor Service]] |date=22 August 2019 |access-date=22 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822120559/https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/news/vale-tim-fischer/ |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> He also served as founding Patron of [[Australia for UNHCR]] (2001–2006),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unrefugees.org.au/media/1431/australia_for_unhcr_2006_annual_report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315155408/https://www.unrefugees.org.au/media/1431/australia_for_unhcr_2006_annual_report.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 March 2019 |title=Australia for UNHCR Annual Report 2006 |date=23 August 2019 |access-date=23 August 2019 }}</ref> an Australian charity that raises funds for the UN's refugee agency.

Fischer was appointed a Companion of the [[Order of Australia]] (AC) in the 2005 [[Australia Day]] [[Australian honours system|Honours' List]] in recognition of his contributions to Australian politics, trade liberalisation, rail transport development, support of humanitarian aid, and to fostering community acceptance of cultural differences.<ref name=AC>{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=1057549 |recipient=The Honourable Timothy Andrew FISCHER |award=Companion of the Order of Australia |postnominal=AC |citation=For service to the Australian and New South Wales Parliaments, to advancing the national interest through trade liberalisation and rail transport development, to supporting humanitarian aid in developing countries and to fostering openness and acceptance of cultural difference in the community. |date=26 January 2005 |access-date=22 August 2019 }}</ref>

On 21 July 2008, Fischer was nominated by Prime Minister [[Kevin Rudd]] as the first resident Australian [[List of ambassadors of Australia to the Holy See|Ambassador]] to the [[Holy See]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24049946-5017593,00.html |title=Tim Fischer announced ambassador to the Holy See |work=The Australian |author=Maiden, Samantha |date=21 July 2008 |access-date=1 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080729213910/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24049946-5017593,00.html |archive-date=July 29, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Fischer worked closely with the Vatican on all aspects of the canonisation of Australia's first Roman Catholic saint, [[Mary MacKillop]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.celebrityspeakers.com.au/political-speakers/the-hon-tim-fischer/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723002914/http://www.celebrityspeakers.com.au/political-speakers/the-hon-tim-fischer/|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 July 2012|title=Speaker Profile of Tim Fischer at The Celebrity Speakers Bureau}}</ref> He retired from the post on 20 January 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2012/2012120_619.shtml |date= 20 January 2012 |title=Arriverderci Rome. Welcome Home Tim Fischer |website=Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney |location=Sydney, Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319065622/http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2012/2012120_619.shtml |archive-date=19 March 2014 |url-status = dead}}</ref>

In August 2013, following the shooting death of Australian baseball player Christopher Lane in Oklahoma, Fischer called for a tourism boycott of the United States to protest the activities of the [[National Rifle Association of America]] and what he felt were overly lax American gun laws.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/tim-fischer-boycott-us-christopher-lane_n_3786687.html |title=Tim Fischer, Australian Politician, Urges Boycott of U.S. Following Christopher Lane Shooting Death |work=HuffPost Australia |date=20 August 2013 |access-date=22 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820211516/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/tim-fischer-boycott-us-christopher-lane_n_3786687.html |archive-date=August 20, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In 1992, Fischer married Judy Brewer. They had two sons.<ref name="obit"/>

Fischer was noted as a tireless advocate for [[rail transport]] and was probably Australia's best known [[railfan]]. He had a childhood hobby of studying rail gauges of the world. After retiring from politics he continued his association with rail as special envoy for the [[Adelaide]] to [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] railway line and travelled on the first freight train and first ''[[The Ghan|Ghan]]'' passenger train to Darwin in 2004. The V class GT46C locomotive V544, owned and operated by Aurizon, is named after him. In 2007 he led the Rail Freight Network Review into [[Rail transport in Victoria|rail freight in Victoria]], as commissioned by the [[Government of Victoria (Australia)|Victorian Government]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/DOI/DOIElect.nsf/$UNIDS+for+Web+Display/54E33823FAE1EF29CA2573B7001B1E96/$FILE/RFNR-FinalReport.pdf |title=Victorian Rail Freight Network Review |publisher=Victorian Department of Transport |date=December 2007 |access-date=20 February 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Between 2008 and 2009, Fischer hosted three series of [[ABC Local Radio]] podcasts ''The Great Train Show'', covering a wide range of railway topics from around the world and within Australia.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Fischer, Tim |title=The Great Train Show |medium=Podcast |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/sites/greattrain/ |access-date=10 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904080207/http://www.abc.net.au/local/sites/greattrain/ |archive-date=4 September 2013 |format=streaming audio |location=[[ABC Goulburn Murray]] |publisher=[[ABC Local Radio]] |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

In October 2018, Fischer was diagnosed with [[acute myeloid leukaemia]]. He died on 22 August 2019 at the Albury-Wodonga Cancer Centre in [[East Albury, New South Wales]] at age 73.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/former-deputy-prime-minister-tim-fischer-dies-20190821-p52j9x.html|title=Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer dies|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=22 August 2019}}</ref> Fischer himself attributed the illness to exposure to [[Agent Orange]] during his service in Vietnam.<ref name="obit">{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-22/tim-fischer-dies-from-leukaemia/10448110|title=Tim Fischer, former Nationals leader and deputy PM, dies from leukaemia, aged 73|last=Norman|first=Jane|date=22 August 2019 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia |language=en-AU |access-date=2019-08-22}}</ref> Fischer was given a state funeral, which was held in [[Albury]] on 29 August 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-29/tim-fischer-farewelled-on-train-carrying-coffin-to-funeral/11457664|title=Tim Fischer farewelled at state funeral in Albury as 'titan of regional Australia'|author=Moyra Shields|date=29 August 2019 |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia |language=en-AU |access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>

==Honours==
{| class="wikitable"
! Ribbon !! Award !! Date awarded !! Notes
|-
|[[File:AUS Order of Australia (civil) BAR.svg|100x20px]] || [[Companion of the Order of Australia]] (AC) || 26 January 2005 || <ref name=AC/>
|-
|[[File:Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 ribbon.png|100x20px]] || [[Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975]] || with [[Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975#VIETNAM|VIETNAM]] clasp ||rowspan=3| <ref name=aus/>
|-
|[[File:Vietnam Medal BAR.svg|100x20px]] || [[Vietnam Medal]] ||  
|-
|[[File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|100x20px]] ||[[Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal]] || 1977
|-
|[[File:AUS Centenary Medal ribbon.svg|100x20px]] || [[Centenary Medal]] || 1 January 2001 || <ref>{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=1115216 |date=1 January 2001 |recipient=The Hon. Timothy Andrew Fischer |award=Centenary Medal |postnominal=n/a |citation=For service as Deputy Prime Minister and to expanding Australia's international trade |access-date=22 August 2019 }}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Australian Defence Medal (Australia) ribbon.png|100x20px]] ||[[Australian Defence Medal]]||  ||
|-
|[[File:Anniversary of National Service Medal (Australia) ribbon.png|100x20px]] ||[[Anniversary of National Service 1951–1972 Medal]]||  || rowspan=2| <ref name=aus/>
|-
|[[File:Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|100x20px]] || [[Vietnam Campaign Medal]] (South Vietnam) ||  
|-
|[[File:ARG Order of May - Grand Cross BAR.png|100x20px]]||Grand Cross of the [[Order of May]] (Argentina)||  ||rowspan=3|<ref name=hons>{{cite web|title=Hon Tim Fischer AC, former Deputy Prime Minister and Ambassador to the Holy See.|url=http://www.saxton.com.au/tim-fischer/|publisher=Saxton Speakers Bureau|access-date=2 April 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924094845/http://www.saxton.com.au/tim-fischer/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
|-
|[[File:CHL Order of Bernardo O'Higgins - Grand Cross BAR.png|100x20px]]||Grand Cross of the [[Order of Bernardo O'Higgins]] (Chile) || 
|-
|[[File:BRA - Order of the Southern Cross - Grand Officer BAR.svg|100x20px]]||Grand Officer of the [[Order of the Southern Cross]] (Brazil)||
|-
|[[File:VAT Order of Saint Gregory the Great Comm w-Star BAR.svg|thumb]]
|Knight Commander with Star of the [[Order of St. Gregory the Great|Order of St Gregory the Great]] (Holy See)
|2019
|[https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/6453621/a-fitting-finale-for-tim-fischer/]
|-
|[[File:Order Pius Ribbon 1kl.png|100x20px]]||Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of Pius IX]] (Holy See)|| 2012 ||<ref name=aus>{{cite news|title=An audience with Pope Benedict XVI is the final act in Tim Fischer's posting as Australia's first Rome-based abassador to the Vatican. Picture: Romano L'Osservatore|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/photos-fn59niix-1226238569543?page=1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140402084144/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/photos-fn59niix-1226238569543?page=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 April 2014|access-date=2 April 2014|newspaper=The Australian|date=2012}}</ref> 
|}

==Publications==
* {{cite book |author1=Fischer, Tim  |title=Seven days in East Timor: Ballot and Bullets |publisher=Allen & Unwin |year=2000 |isbn=978-1-86508-277-6 }}
* {{cite book |author1=Rees, Peter |author2=Fischer, Tim |title=Tim Fischer's Outback Heroes: and communities that count |publisher=Allen & Unwin |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-86508-831-0 }}
* {{cite book |author1=Fischer, Tim |title=Transcontinental Train Odyssey: the Ghan, the Khyber, the Globe |publisher=Allen & Unwin |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-74114-450-5 |series=A personal guide to the great transcontinental railways of the world }}
* {{cite book |author1=Fischer, Tim |title=Asia & Australia: tango in trade, tourism and transport |publisher=University of New England Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-86389-922-2 }}
* {{cite book |author1=Fischer, Tim |title=Trains Unlimited |publisher=Harper Collins |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-7304-9740-0 }}
* {{cite book |author1=Fischer, Tim |title=Steam Australia: Locomotives that Galvanised the Nation |publisher=NLA Publishing |year=2018 |isbn= 978-0-64227-929-3 }}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Rees |first=Peter |title=The boy from Boree Creek: the Tim Fischer story |publisher=Allen & Unwin |year=2001 |isbn=1-86508-534-0 }}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
{{wikiquote|Timothy Andrew Fischer}}

*[http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;adv=;db=;group=;holdingType=;id=;orderBy=customrank;page=0;query=Timothy%20Andrew%20Fischer;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=Default Parliament biography]
*[http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2001/s288265.htm Interview with Tim Fischer] by [[Kerry O'Brien (journalist)|Kerry O'Brien]] (''[[The 7.30 Report]]'')
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060519051731/http://www.tourism.australia.com/NewsCentre.asp?lang=EN&sub=0315&al=607 Inauguration of Tourism Australia]

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{{s-ttl |title= [[Electoral district of Sturt (New South Wales)|Member for Sturt]]|years=1971–1980 }}
{{s-aft|after= [[John Sullivan (Australian politician)|John Sullivan]]}}
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{{s-ttl |title= [[Electoral district of Murray|Member for Murray]]|years=1980–1984 }}
{{s-aft|after= [[Jim Small]]}}
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{{succession box | title = [[Division of Farrer|Member for Farrer]] | before = [[Wal Fife]] | after = [[Sussan Ley]] | years = 1984–2001}}
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{{succession box | title = [[Minister for Trade (Australia)|Minister for Trade]] | before = [[Bob McMullan]] | after = [[Mark Vaile]] | years = 1996–1999}}
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{{S-ttl|title=[[List of Australian Ambassadors to the Holy See|Australian Ambassador to the Holy See]]|years= 2008–2012 }}
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