Newman rose to the rank of colonel in the Australian Army, serving in the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation and the Vietnam War.
[1] Newman entered political life through a 1975 by-election for the Division of Bass, Tasmania, in the House of Representatives, as the Liberal candidate.
This shock result proved to be the beginning of the end for Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, whose government was dismissed six months later after the Opposition blocked supply to force new elections for a House barely a year old.
He was responsible for environment issues when the decision was taken to cease sand mining on world heritage listed Fraser Island.
In retirement, Newman was appointed President of the National Trust Tasmania, a member of the board of the Menzies Foundation and a director of the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach, Queensland.