Ian McCahon Sinclair {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AC}} (born 10 June 1929) is an Australian former politician who served as a Member of Parliament for 35 years, and was leader of the National Party from 1984 to 1989. He served as either a minister or opposition frontbencher for all but a few months from 1965 to 1989, and later Speaker of the House of Representatives from March to August 1998.

Sinclair was born in Sydney and studied law at the University of Sydney. He later bought a farming property near Tamworth. Sinclair was elected to parliament in 1963, and added to the ministry in 1965 as part of the Menzies Government. Over the following six years, he held various portfolios under Harold Holt, John McEwen, John Gorton and William McMahon. Sinclair was elected deputy leader of his party in 1971. He was a senior member of the Fraser government, spending periods as Minister for Primary Industry (1975–1979), Minister for Communications (1980–1982), and Minister for Defence (1982–1983). In 1984, Sinclair replaced Anthony as leader of the Nationals. He led the party to two federal elections, in 1984 and 1987, but was replaced by Charles Blunt in 1989. Sinclair was father of the parliament from 1990 until his retirement at the 1998 election. He spent his final six months in parliament as Speaker of the House of Representatives, following the sudden resignation of Bob Halverson; he is the only member of his party to have held the position. He also served as co-chair of the 1998 constitutional convention, alongside Barry Jones.

With the death of Peter Nixon,{{Cite web |date=2025-05-03 |title=Vale Peter Nixon AO |url=https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1772932/vale-peter-nixon-ao |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=richmondfc.com.au |language=en}} Sinclair is the only surviving Country/Nationals MP elected in the 1960s,{{cite web|url=https://australianpolitics.com/parliament/house/living-former-house-members-1949-1972|title=Living Former Members Of The House Of Representatives (1949–1972)|author=Malcolm Farnsworth|year=2020}} and he is the last surviving minister who served in the Menzies, Holt, McEwen, Gorton, and McMahon governments, as well as the First Fraser Ministry. He is entitled to the Right Honourable prefix as one of the few surviving Australian members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.{{cite web | url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/Powers_practice_and_procedure/Practice6/Practice6HTML?file=Chapter5§ion=10&fullscreen=1 | title=Parliament of Australia }}

Early life

Sinclair was born in Sydney on 10 June 1929. He was the son of Gertrude Hazel (née Smith) and George McCahon Sinclair.{{Cite NSW Parliament |id=1887 |name=The Hon. Ian McCahon SINCLAIR, B.A., LL.B (1929– ) |former=Yes |access-date=10 August 2019}} His father was a chartered accountant who also served as deputy mayor of Ku-ring-gai Council, chairman of Knox Grammar School, and an elder of the Presbyterian Church.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125611876|title=George Sinclair 'had appeared reputable'|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=23 July 1980|access-date=10 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810004116/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125611876|archive-date=10 August 2019|url-status=live}}

Sinclair attended Knox Grammar before going on to the University of Sydney, where he graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1949 and Bachelor of Laws in 1952. He served in the No. 22 Squadron RAAF from 1950 to 1952, as part of the Citizen Air Force. Sinclair served his articles of clerkship with Norton Smith & Co., but did not pursue a legal career. He instead took up a grazing property near Bendemeer and set up the Sinclair Pastoral Company, of which he became managing director. He was a director of the Farmers and Graziers' Co-operative Limited from 1962 to 1965.

Sinclair married Margaret Anne Tarrant in 1956, with whom he had one son and two daughters. She died of brain cancer in December 1967.{{cite news|url=https://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/5300724/faces-of-tamworth-barrister-grazier-politician-and-philanthropist-ian-sinclair/|title=Faces of Tamworth: barrister, grazier, politician and philanthropist Ian Sinclair|newspaper=Northern Daily Leader|date=29 March 2018|access-date=10 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810001335/https://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/5300724/faces-of-tamworth-barrister-grazier-politician-and-philanthropist-ian-sinclair/|archive-date=10 August 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107038439|title=Minister's wife dies|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=23 December 1967|access-date=10 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810001334/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107038439|archive-date=10 August 2019|url-status=live}} He remarried on 14 February 1970 to Rosemary Fenton, who had been Miss Australia in 1960; they had one son together. His daughter Fiona married Liberal politician Peter King.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/what-goes-around-comes-around-for-king-20040904-gdjocm.html|title=What goes around comes around for King|date=4 September 2004|access-date=10 August 2019|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810010132/https://www.smh.com.au/national/what-goes-around-comes-around-for-king-20040904-gdjocm.html|archive-date=10 August 2019|url-status=live}}

Political career

A member of the Country Party, Sinclair was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1961. He resigned in order to seek election to the House of Representatives at the 1963 federal election, retaining the Division of New England for the Country Party after the retirement of David Drummond.

=Government minister=

File:Sinclair, Gorton and Anthony.jpg and Doug Anthony in 1971.]]

In 1965, Sinclair was appointed Minister for Social Services in the Menzies Government, replacing Hugh Roberton.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/105830266|title=New Minister is announced|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=22 February 1965|access-date=10 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810005859/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/105830266|archive-date=10 August 2019|url-status=live}} He stood for the deputy leadership of the Country Party after the 1966 federal election, but was defeated by Doug Anthony.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/106951057|title=Anthony is new Deputy Leader|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=9 December 1966|access-date=10 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810005857/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/106951057|archive-date=10 August 2019|url-status=live}} In 1968, he became Minister for Shipping and Transport in the Gorton government.New Transport Minister Freight & Container Transportation April 1968 page 15 When Country Party leader John McEwen retired in February 1971, Anthony was elected as his replacement and Sinclair defeated Peter Nixon for the deputy leadership.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110452801|title=Coalition details considered today|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=3 February 1971}} He was appointed Minister for Primary Industry.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110453057|title=P.M. names a new interior minister in reshuffle|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=4 February 1971}} A month later, William McMahon replaced John Gorton as Liberal leader and prime minister. McMahon wanted Sinclair to become Minister for Foreign Affairs, but for various reasons had to keep him in the primary industry portfolio and appoint Les Bury as foreign minister instead.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110344430|title=If McMahon had had a truly free say|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=23 March 1971}} Sinclair did later serve as acting foreign minister in Bury's absence.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110666539|title=Liberalisation|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=8 July 1971}}

In 1973, Sinclair was one of the six Country MPs to vote in favour of John Gorton's motion calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110785847|title=State CP seeks sex-law change|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=29 June 1974}} After spending the three years of the Whitlam Labor government in opposition, he again became Minister for Primary Industry in 1975, in the Fraser government.{{cite news|url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2F5E4%22;src1=sm1|title=Biography for SINCLAIR, the Rt. Hon. Ian McCahon|publisher=Parliament of Australia|access-date=22 December 2019}} In 1977, Sinclair was appointed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.

==Finnane Report and aftermath==

File:Ian Sinclair 1970 (a).jpg, in 1970]]

In 1978, New South Wales Attorney-General Frank Walker appointed Michael Finnane to inquire into the financial dealings of Sinclair's father George, who had died in January 1976. The Finnane Report, which was tabled in the Parliament of New South Wales on 27 September 1979, alleged that Ian Sinclair had improperly loaned himself money from companies he controlled, attempted to conceal the loans, and forged his father's signature on company returns.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110600735|title=Report says Sinclair forged signatures|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=27 September 1979}}{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/250490851|title=Sinclair named in swindle company|newspaper=Papua New Guinea Post-Courier|date=27 September 1979}} As a result, Sinclair resigned from the ministry.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110601054|title=The letter of resignation|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=28 September 1979}} His supporters criticised the report on several grounds, including that the inquiry was conducted in secret, that its release prejudiced Sinclair's right to a fair trial, and that it was politically biased as both Walker and Finnane were members of the ALP.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110602467|title=An apt time to examine privileges and roles|newspaper=The Canberra Times|first=Jack|last=Waterford|date=3 October 1979}}

In April 1980, Sinclair was charged with nine counts of fraud, relating to forging, uttering, and making false statements on company returns.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110594172|title=Sinclair sent for trial|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=30 April 1980}} He was found not guilty on all charges on 15 August 1980, following a 23-day trial in the District Court of New South Wales.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125616034|title=Sinclair acquitted on all charges|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=15 August 1980}}

Sinclair returned to the ministry in August 1980 as Minister for Special Trade Representations. After the 1980 election he was made Minister for Communications. He was finally made Minister for Defence in May 1982, holding the position until the government's defeat at the 1983 election.

=Party leader=

Doug Anthony announced his resignation as NCP leader in December 1983. Sinclair was elected as his replacement on 17 January 1984, defeating Stephen Lusher by an unspecified margin (the party did not release the results of leadership ballots).{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116385061|title=New leader Sinclair faces questions on credibility|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=18 January 1984|access-date=22 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418112011/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116385061|archive-date=18 April 2019|url-status=live}} In an interview with Australian Playboy in July 1984, Sinclair acknowledged a previous extramarital relationship with socialite Glen-Marie North. Copies of the interview were distributed in his electorate during the 1984 election campaign. In the lead-up to the election, Sinclair controversially attributed the spread of HIV/AIDS in Australia to the Labor Party's recognition of de facto relationships and normalisation of homosexuality.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122529377|title=Sinclair: I'm not guilty of double standards|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=20 November 1984}} After the deaths of three babies from HIV-contaminated blood transfusions, he stated that "if it wasn't for the promotion of homosexuality as a norm by Labor, I am quite confident that the very tragic and sad passing on of the AIDS disease [...] to those three poor babies would not have occurred.{{cite book |last1=Sendziuk |first1=Paul |title=Learning to trust: Australian responses to AIDS |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1trSx2c_pEYC&q=%22ian+sinclair%22+homosexuality&pg=PA57 |access-date=5 October 2009 |year=2003 |publisher=UNSW Press |location=Sydney |isbn=0-86840-718-6 |page=58 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215224307/https://books.google.com/books?id=1trSx2c_pEYC&pg=PA57&lpg=PA57&dq=%22ian+sinclair%22+homosexuality#v=onepage&q=%22ian%20sinclair%22%20homosexuality&f=false |archive-date=15 December 2019 |url-status=live }}

In 1985, Sinclair came into conflict with the National Farmers' Federation over his claims that the organisation did not have the support of farmers.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127206727|title=Farmers' leader criticises Sinclair|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=6 July 1985}} He also came into conflict with the Liberal Party on a number of occasions. He publicly rejected calls for a Liberal–National party merger, citing the incompatibility of the National Party's conservatism and the "small-l liberal" wing of the Liberal Party.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122516635|title=Sinclair douses suggested National-Liberal merger|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=17 June 1985}} In March 1986, he accused Liberals of undermining the leadership of John Howard and thereby harming the Coalition's chances of victory.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118108413|title=Sinclair: Liberal discontent doing tremendous harm|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=22 March 1986}} He denounced former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser's support of sanctions against apartheid South Africa, accusing him of "prejudice against Southern Africa and the whites there". Sinclair proclaimed a "deep abhorrence" of apartheid, but believed the sanctions were too "heavy-handed". He supported the re-admission of South Africa to the United Nations, the lifting of the sporting boycott, the re-establishment of an Australian trade commission, and direct flights between Australia and South Africa.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118126740|title=Sinclair tips a bucket on 'Fraser's bigotry'|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=21 June 1986}}{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/132374956|title=Nationals abandon Fraser on S. Africa|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=28 October 1985}}

In addition to his leadership of the National Party, Sinclair continued to be the opposition spokesman on defence. In August 1986, he suggested the formation of a Pacific trade bloc at a meeting of the International Democrat Union in Sydney. The proposal, also supported by shadow foreign minister Andrew Peacock, was designed to "minimise the harmful policies of major protectionist trading nations" like the U.S. and the European Communities.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/119467015|title=Sinclair and Peacock propose Pacific trading bloc|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=9 August 1986}} Later in the year, Sinclair questioned the value of ANZUS, stating that Australia should reconsider its commitments to New Zealand as it had become too isolationist. He also believed Australia should adopt a more assertive role than provided for in the Dibb Report.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131836794|title=Rethink NZ alliance: Sinclair|date=5 September 1986|newspaper=The Canberra Times}}{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118269523|title=Sinclair questions ability to meet ANZUS obligations|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=17 October 1986}} He opposed trade sanctions on Fiji following the 1987 coups d'état and was accused by foreign minister Bill Hayden of sympathising with the perpetrators.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118306729|title=Hayden slates Sinclair on Fiji|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=28 May 1987}}{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122109733|title=Willis rejects call over ACTU's Fiji sanctions|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=23 October 1987}}

In the lead-up to the 1987 election, Sinclair dealt with the "Joh for Canberra" campaign, an ambitious bid by Queensland Joh Bjelke-Petersen, leader of his party's most powerful state branch, to enter federal politics and become prime minister. The campaign "derailed any semblance of non-Labor unity from the beginning of 1987", and caused a split in the Coalition. Due to an ensuing rash of three-cornered contests, Labor won an increased majority. After the election, the Queensland branch continued its efforts to oust Sinclair from the leadership.{{cite book |last=Davey |first=Paul |year=2010 |title=Ninety Not Out: The Nationals 1920–2010 |location=Sydney |publisher=University of NSW Press |page=258}}

In the late 1980s, Sinclair was drawn into the debate over the levels of Asian immigration to Australia, favouring a reduction in the number of Asians allowed into the country.{{cite book |last=Bird Rose |first=Deborah |title=Dislocating the Frontier: Essaying the Mystique of the Outback |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vy51kJnI8JoC&q=bird+rose |access-date=30 November 2007 |year=2005 |publisher=Australian National University E Press |location=Canberra |isbn=1-920942-37-8 |pages=35 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809084140/http://books.google.com/books?id=vy51kJnI8JoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=bird+rose |archive-date=9 August 2013 |url-status=live }} In August 1988, he said:

"What we are saying is that if there is any risk of an undue build-up of Asians as against others in the community, then you need to control it ... I certainly believe, that at the moment we need ... to reduce the number of Asians ... We don't want the divisions of South Africa, we don't want the divisions of London. We really don't want the colour divisions of the United States."

{{cite book

| last = Markus

| first = Andrew

| title = Race: John Howard and the Remaking of Australia

| publisher = Allen & Unwin

| year = 2001

| pages = 89

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=UA0-5v3JN0QC

| isbn = 1-86448-866-2

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130809095219/http://books.google.com/books?id=UA0-5v3JN0QC&printsec=frontcover

| archive-date = 9 August 2013

| url-status = live

}}

A few days later, Sinclair "toned down his statements" at the request of Howard and denied that he had specifically targeted Asians.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/102043033|title=Immigration: Howard pulls Sinclair in|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=13 August 1988}} The following month, following pressure from Howard, he sacked National Senate leader John Stone from the shadow ministry for making similar comments, "with regret".{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/102070834|title=Howard axes Stone|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=14 September 1988}} This was seen by many in his party as a capitulation to the Liberals.{{sfn|Davey|2010|p=261}}

In May 1989, there were simultaneous leadership challenges in both Coalition parties, with Peacock displacing Howard as Liberal leader and Charles Blunt replacing Sinclair. The immediate trigger for Sinclair's defeat was dissatisfaction with his conditional support for the Hawke government's deregulation of the wheat industry. However, there was also a sense that it was time for a generational change in the party leadership.{{sfn|Davey|2010|pp=261–269}} When Blunt lost his seat at the 1990 election, Sinclair made an attempt to regain the NPA leadership, but was defeated by Tim Fischer, and retired to the back bench. He was thus the first NPA leader since the formation of the Coalition to have never served as Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.

=Post-leadership and Speakership=

Sinclair underwent a double heart bypass surgery in September 1991.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122381805|title=Ian Sinclair recovering after surgery|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=4 September 1991|access-date=10 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810011908/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122381805|archive-date=10 August 2019|url-status=live}} In March 1993, aged 63, ten days after the Coalition lost the 1993 federal election, Sinclair unsuccessfully challenged Tim Fischer for the party leadership.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127203954|title='Kind' challenge won by Fischer|author=Tom Connors|date=24 March 1993|newspaper=The Canberra Times|access-date=10 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810002908/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127203954|archive-date=10 August 2019|url-status=live}}

By 1993, Sinclair was the Father of the House, the only sitting MP to have served with Robert Menzies, and "the last of the Right Honourables" (MPs with membership in the Privy Council). He was seen as a candidate for the speakership if the Coalition won the 1993 election,{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127199517|title=Sinkers-for-Speaker move just a coincidence. Or is it?|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=4 March 1993}} however this did not eventuate. In June 1997 Howard appointed Sinclair as co-chairman of the Constitutional Convention, alongside Barry Jones, which debated the possibility of Australia becoming a republic; the Convention reported in February 1998 and set the basis for the 1999 Australian republic referendum. A staunch monarchist, Sinclair was a leading advocate for the successful 'No' campaign.https://www.gleninnesexaminer.com.au/story/7896991/a-very-remarkable-monarch-says-australias-last-privy-counsellor/ Aged nearly 70, Sinclair announced his intention to retire from Parliament at the next federal election. When Speaker Bob Halverson suddenly resigned in March, Sinclair was elected to replace him, the first National to hold the post. He served as speaker for the last six months of his term, during which he usually wore an academic gown.

On his first day in office, Sinclair faced a motion of dissent from Labor opposition frontbencher Simon Crean when he ruled Labor MP Janice Crosio's question out of order; the dissent motion was not carried and Sinclair's ruling upheld.https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CHAMBER;id=chamber%2Fhansardr%2F1998-03-04%2F0050;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F1998-03-04%2F0007%22 On 2 April, he named Crean apparently for shaking his head, although Sinclair maintained it was due to "disorderly conduct". When another Labor frontbencher Martin Ferguson remarked "You are a disgrace!" he was also subsequently named, for refusing to withdraw an "objectionable remark when directed to do so by the Chair".https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/votes/1998-04-02/0011%22

Sinclair became Speaker during a controversial time for Parliament; as a result, he usually presided over raucous sessions and was seen at times as giving rulings lenient to the government whilst being combative to the opposition. However, his vast experience of Parliament quickly established him as an assertive Speaker.https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Art/Stories_and_Histories/HMC/Speakers/Ian_McCahon_Sinclair As of {{year}}, he is the only member of his party to have served as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

As a result of his election as Speaker, Sinclair wanted to remain in Parliament, in order to stay on as Speaker if the Howard government were to be re-elected. However, Stuart St. Clair had already been preselected as National candidate in New England. Ultimately, Sinclair was unable to reverse his retirement, and St. Clair refused to stand aside for him. St. Clair ultimately succeeded Sinclair at the 1998 election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/angst-alert-for-the-coalition-19980309-k80f0|title = Angst alert for the Coalition|date = 9 March 1998}} At the time of his retirement, he was the last parliamentary survivor of the Menzies, Holt and Gorton governments.

After politics

In January 2001, Sinclair was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).{{Cite web |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/884397 |title=It's an Honour: AC |access-date=5 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515115701/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/884397 |archive-date=15 May 2021 |url-status=live }} As of 2009, Sinclair was the President of AUSTCARE, an international, non-profit, independent aid organisation.{{cite web |url=http://www.austcare.org.au/aboutus/our-board.aspx |title=Austcare – Our Board |access-date=2009-07-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602194820/http://www.austcare.org.au/aboutus/our-board.aspx |archive-date=2 June 2009}} On 1 March 2000, Sinclair became the inaugural chairman of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), a non-profit organisation which issues grants to regional communities. He retired on 30 June 2019 and was succeeded by Tim Fairfax.{{cite news|url=https://www.frrr.org.au/cb_pages/news/board_leadership_changes.php|title=Board leadership changes at the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal|date=13 June 2019|publisher=Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal|access-date=22 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222031453/https://www.frrr.org.au/cb_pages/news/board_leadership_changes.php|archive-date=22 December 2019|url-status=live}} Sinclair also served for several years as the Honorary President of the Scout Association of Australia, New South Wales Branch, retiring in 2019. He received Scouts' National Presidents Award on World Scout Day 2020.