Former federal minister Nick Bolkus, who played a significant role in shaping modern multicultural Australia, has died aged 75. The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, announced the death on social media on Thursday, stating that the long-time Labor stalwart had passed away peacefully that morning.
Bolkus was elected as a senator for South Australia in 1980 and served as a minister in the Hawke and Keating governments before retiring in 2005. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute, saying Labor mourns one of its great sons, and noted that Bolkus was the first Greek Australian to serve as a cabinet minister.
Born in Adelaide on 17 July 1950, Bolkus entered politics at a remarkably young age, hand-delivering letters to Greek voters during Don Dunstan's campaign in 1966. He was first appointed as a minister under Bob Hawke in 1988, and after the Keating government's re-election in 1993, he became minister for immigration and ethnic affairs, a role he held until 1996.
Malinauskas highlighted Bolkus's pride in allowing tens of thousands of Chinese citizens to remain in Australia after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Bolkus is survived by his wife Mary, daughters Aria and Mikayla, and son Nick. His daughter Aria is the Labor candidate for Colton at the 2026 South Australian election.
