Pat McNamara (Australian politician)

Patrick John McNamara AM (born Melbourne, 11 August 1949) is a former Australian politician who was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, representing Benalla for the National Party from 1982 to 2000.

[1] During his tenure as Deputy Premier, Kennett's Liberals actually held a majority in their own right.

Following the defeat of the Liberal-National coalition at the 1999 Victorian election, McNamara resigned the party leadership.

A year later, he resigned from parliament, triggering a by-election which resulted in the Nationals losing the seat to the Labor Party.

[2] McNamara was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours for "significant service to rowing, to the Parliament of Victoria, and to the community through a range of roles".