29/04/2026
Today we acknowledge, with deep respect, the passing of the Newcastle Merchant Navy Memorial Committee’s Honorary Secretary Hon. Peter Morris — a dedicated advocate for Australia’s maritime community and a steadfast custodian of remembrance.
While his achievements and work are diverse across the Hunter and Transportation, it is through his tireless work with the Newcastle Merchant Navy Memorial Service, he played a central role in ensuring the sacrifices of Merchant Navy seafarers were never forgotten. His commitment went far beyond coordination — he brought people together, upheld tradition, and strengthened the connection between generations of maritime professionals and the broader community.
Beyond the memorial, his contribution to the maritime sector and transportation more broadly was both wide-ranging and enduring. He was a passionate supporter of seafarers, a champion for maritime heritage, and someone who understood the importance of recognising the industry’s role in shaping Australia’s past, present, and future.
His legacy lives on in the services he helped sustain, the community he helped build, and the respect he fostered for those who served at sea and in our ports.
Fair winds and following seas.
Former Federal Transport Minister for Shortland MP Peter Morris has passed away this morning aged 93.
Mr Morris served the electorate for 26 years between 1972 and 1998, with the opening of the M1 Motorway between Newcastle and Sydney, and the establishment of the Newcastle Airport, being some of his many achievements.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute on social media, saying the late minister’s work "was always shaped by Labor values and his deeply humane instincts”.
