Stanwell chairman Warwick Parer at Tarong in September last year

March 15, 2014

Stanwell chairman and former Queensland Senator Warwick Parer, AM, died last night at the age of 77.

Born in Wau, Papua New Guinea, he attended Nudgee College in Brisbane, and then the University of Melbourne, where he received a Bachelor of Commerce.

He went on to found the Non-Destructive Testing Laboratories in 1962 and became Victorian manager of Philips-Stanford Pty Ltd in 1966.

He later became commercial manager and assistant secretary of Utah Development Company in 1973, where he played a pivotal role in the development of the Queensland coal industry in the Bowen Basin at Blackwater, Goonyella, Norwich Park, Saraji and Peak Downs mines; the townships of Moranbah, Blackwater and Dysart; the ports at Gladstone and Hay Point.

He became chairman of Australian Coal Exporters in 1976.

The Queensland Liberal Party enlisted him to occupy a Senate vacancy in 1984.

Parer became a member of the Senate in 1985, and from March 1996 to October 1998 was Minister for Resources and Energy in the Howard Government, where he oversaw the abolition of the three mines uranium policy and the freeing up of the minerals industry by removing federal export controls. This paved the way for industry expansion and jobs growth.

Mr Parer retired from the Senate on February 11, 2000, and his vacant seat was taken by George Brandis.

He was awarded an AM in 2005, and went on to serve as President of the Queensland Liberal Party from 2006 until February 2008.

In May 2012, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Stanwell Corporation.

Mr Parer has also been Chair of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation since 2010.

He is survived by his wife Kathi and children Carol, Martine, Helen, Sonia, Warwick, Justin and Rowan.

Mr Parer was the nephew of acclaimed Australian war photographer Damien Parer.

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Premier Campbell Newman and Treasurer Tim Nicholls offered condolences to the Parer family.

“Warwick’s many years of public service and long contribution to the people of Queensland will always be remembered,” Mr Newman said.

“As a Queensland Senator for 16 years and a former Howard Government Minister for Resources and Energy, he served his State and country proudly and with great dignity.

“Our thoughts are with his wife Kathi, their seven children and many grandchildren, and I say on behalf of all Queenslanders, we are privileged and grateful for his lifetime of service.”

Mr Nicholls said he was shocked and saddened by the loss of a great friend and colleague.

“Queensland will be the poorer for the loss of Warwick’s guidance and vision. His strong leadership as Chairman of Stanwell over the past few years has been invaluable,” he said.

“As well as a distinguished career in the public service, Warwick also lent his business acumen and perspective to the field of innovation as a former Chair of the Energy and Transport Advisory Sector of CSIRO and has been Chair of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation since 2010.”

Energy and Water Supply Minister and shareholding Minister for Stanwell Corporation Mark McArdle said his thoughts were with Mr Parer’s family at this difficult time.

“I know I speak on behalf of the many hundreds of people who knew Warwick, both in his long association with Australia’s energy sector and the other areas of his public and personal life when I say he will be greatly missed.”