Feature: Australia farewells former PM Malcolm Fraser

Malcolm Fraser, Australia's 22nd prime minister, was remembered for his "tireless service" and helping build a "modern multicultural Australia" after the 84-year- old passed away on Friday morning.

A statement released by his family on Friday said Fraser died after a brief illness.

The Liberal Party leader, who later became one of the party's biggest critics, was dramatically sworn into the country's highest office in 1975 amid a constitutional crisis that saw the Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam dismissed.

During his eight years as leader, Fraser embraced multiculturalism and opened the door to tens of thousands of Vietnamese refugees, led the Commonwealth push to end apartheid in South Africa.

After leaving office following his election defeat in 1983, Fraser became more closely aligned with his former political opponents on the Left, displaying a strong humanitarian streak and becoming a critic of the social policies of subsequent conservative governments, led by John Howard and Tony Abbott.

Yet Abbott put aside any lingering ill-feeling on Friday, releasing a statement which lauded Fraser's contribution to the nation after the Victorian MP won the 1975 snap election with a record swing.

"Malcolm Fraser held true to the belief that his actions were in the best interests of Australia," he said.

"He was determined to 'turn on the lights' and restore Australia's economic fortunes.

"The greatest win in Australian political history confirms that he had correctly read the mood of the public.

"He was rightly proud of his government. As he said when he conceded defeat: Australia is handed over ... in as good a condition or better condition than any other Western country in the world."

Howard, who served as Fraser's treasurer before becoming prime minister from 1996 to 2007, called Fraser a "passionate nationalist" who brought calm and reassurance to the nation after the 1975 dismissal.

"He was somebody, like anyone who holds the office of prime minister, who always wanted to see a united, cohesive country, irrespective of how strongly he might feel about a certain policy, " Howard told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Governor-General Peter Cosgrove said Fraser would "be long remembered for his tireless service to our nation."

"Mr Fraser made an indelible contribution to Australia during his many years in public life, most particularly in his eight years as prime minister," he said.

Queensland's Premier, Labor MP Annastacia Palaszczuk, said Fraser would be remembered "as a conservative with a strong conscience" when it came to social policy.

"The thousands of families from Southeast Asia who came to Australia during the term of his government and became part of the Australian community are proof of that," Palaszczuk said in a statement.

"Malcolm Fraser helped build the modern multicultural Australia we know today and had a strong track record as a fierce opponent of racial discrimination."

Fraser's method of assuming office remains the most controversial in the nation's history.

Governor-General John Kerr dismissed the prime minister, Gough Whitlam, on November 11, 1975 and appointed Fraser, the opposition leader, to the country's top office.

It ended months of budget deadlock in the opposition-dominated Senate and Whitlam's minority government.

Though the Labor party tried to demonize Fraser in the lead up to the Dec. 13 election, the Coalition won with a record swing.

He negotiated a practical border arrangement between Australia and Papua New Guinea, banned whaling around the Australian coast and revived Australia's shrinking immigration program that saw a flood of Southeast Asian refugees make Australia their home.

His economic policies were cemented in traditional conservatism and his financial cuts reined in inflation and the budget deficit, but political pressure began to grow on his government in the early 1980s.

As the country faced drought, a recession and social unrest, Fraser lost his fourth election to Labor's new leader Bob Hawke in 1983.

For many years, he lived in political wilderness, shunned by the Liberal party fearful of his reputation borne from the 1975 dismissal.

Fraser remained deeply observant of the modern political scene, often voicing concerns about the exit strategy from the U.S.-led Iraq invasion, Australia's decision to export uranium to Iran and mandatory detention for asylum seekers arriving by sea.

Fraser is survived by his wife, Tamie, and his four children. Endi