Papers relating to the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group and the United Nations Panel of Eminent Persons

This series of paper-based records was accumulated in the period 1985-1989 by former Prime Minister J M (Malcolm) Fraser as, firstly, Chair of the United Nations Panel of Eminent Persons on the Activities of Transnational Corporations in South Africa and Namibia and, secondly, as Co-Chair of the Commonwealth Group of Eminent Persons. The United Nations Secretary-General appointed Mr Fraser to the eleven-member Panel of Eminent Persons (EP) in August 1985, when there was worldwide concern over the links between transnational corporations and South Africa's apartheid regime and the latter's control of Namibia. Some 1000 transnationals, from the USA (over 400), United Kingdom (360), Germany (140) and Australia (24) were estimated to be active in South Africa, particularly in banking and mining and the energy, automotive and electronic industries. Mr Fraser visited South Africa prior to chairing the panel's public hearings in New York (16-20 September 1985). The panel re-convened the following month (10-11 October) to finalise its report, and its work was an important step towards the eventual dismantling of apartheid. The seven-member Commonwealth Group of Eminent Persons (COMGEP) was established on the initiative of Australian Prime Minister R J L (Bob) Hawke. Part of this collection is currently held at the National Archives of Australia. These records are currently held at the University of Melbourne Archives.

3.24 metres (18 boxes)