Jim Forbes interviewed by Mel Pratt for the Mel Pratt collection [sound recording]

Dr. Jim Forbes, Federal politician for the Liberal Party and Commonwealth Minister for the Army and Minister for Assisting the Treasury, 1963-65, Minister for Health, 1966-71, Minister for Immigration, 1971-72, talks of his reasons for joining the army; Darwin, 1943; 2nd Mountain Battery; armaments; his Military Cross award; Japan; the victory contingent to the UK; his early interest in politics; Adelaide University; Magdalen College, Oxford; campaigning for election to the seat of Kingston; pre-selection for Barker; working in the electorate; using the Press; his achievements as Member for Barker; visits to the electorate; local functions; his maiden speech; his experience as a backbencher; socialising of the Members in Parliament; his trip to Indonesia and Malaysia with Menzies; Menzies' control of the Party; selection as Minister for the Army; relations with the Defence Dept.; Malcolm Fraser as Minister for the Army; expansion of the Army to meet worsening South-East Asian situation; improvements to service conditions; conscription; the gap between medical charges and benefits; the introduction of Medibank.

Forbes discusses his appointment of Armstrong as the Secretary of the Dept. of Immigration; reduction of the Immigration program; the Immigration Control Association; the 1972 election; the election of the Deputy Leader; the election of shadow ministers; his experience as Shadow Minister for Defence; defence policy; the amalgamation of defence group departments; Labor and the Services vote; the 1974 election; Gorton's defeat; Fraser's deposing of Snedden in 1975.