Pat McNamara (Australian politician)

The Honourable Pat McNamara AM
24th Deputy Premier of Victoria
In office 6 October 1992 – 21 October 1999
Premier	Jeff Kennett
Preceded by	Jim Kennan
Succeeded by	John Thwaites
Member of the Victorian Parliament for Benalla
In office 3 April 1982 – 12 April 2000
Preceded by	Tom Trewin
Succeeded by	Denise Allen
Personal details
Born	11 August 1949 Melbourne
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Nationals
Profession	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. From 1988 to 1999, he was leader of the National Party in Victoria and was Deputy Premier of Victoria under Jeff Kennett from 1992 to 1999. He held several ministerial positions in the Kennett government, including Minister for Agriculture and Resources, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrections. During his tenure as Deputy Premier, Kennett's Liberals actually held a majority in their own right. Although Kennett did not need the support of McNamara's Nationals, the coalition was retained.

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.

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".