Mack was the only Australian to have been elected and re-elected as an independent to local, state and federal government

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The former New South Wales independent MP Ted Mack, who served in both state and federal parliaments, has died.

The 84-year-old – dubbed the “father of independents” – died peacefully on Tuesday morning, his family said in a statement, after suffering a stroke last week.

Mack, who was diagnosed with stage-four lung and brain cancer two years ago, represented the federal seat of North Sydney from 1990 to 1996 after a stint in state parliament.

Mack was the only person ever to have been elected and re-elected as an independent to local, state and federal government in Australia.

The former Australian treasurer Joe Hockey paid tribute to Mack, describing him as “a decent and honourable man who redefined politics” on the lower north shore. He said: “A legend has passed.”

The former independent state and federal MP Rob Oakeshott wrote that Mack had lived a life “of both leadership and service”. The former independent state and federal MP Tony Windsor said Mack was “an example to anyone contemplating public service” and a model independent.

Joe Hockey (@JoeHockey) Very sad to learn of the passing of Ted Mack, my predecessor as the Member for North Sydney. He was a decent and honorable man who redefined politics on the lower nort shore. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Mack family. A legend has passed.

Rob Oakeshott (@RobOakeshott1) Ted Mack. A life lived of both leadership and service. Respect.

Tony Windsor (@TonyHWindsor) Sad to hear of the passing of of Ted Mack , an example to anyone contemplating public service and model Independent . Our condolences to Ted’s family.

Mack was propelled into politics when North Sydney council approved a 17-storey office block by his back fence in the early 1970s.

Mack was elected to North Sydney council in 1974 and became mayor in 1980. He promptly sold the mayoral Mercedes and bought community buses with the proceeds.

More fundamentally, Mack introduced a radical system of direct democracy. Mack started by opening up council business, with the public able to see all files and reports and attend all meetings.

Residents could also list proposals to go to referendum and over five years 40 were held, in conjunction with council elections.

In 1981 Mack entered the NSW parliament by winning the Liberal heartland seat of north shore.

He retired in 1988, two days before he would have qualified for a parliamentary pension, as a statement against what he saw as political greed.

Two years later he went to Canberra after beating the Liberal frontbencher John Spender in the federal seat of North Sydney.

His first speech was solely about the need to reform Australia’s corrupt and secretive system of government, run by a small group of politicians, bureaucrats and private interest groups. His basic principle was that a decision by the people was more likely to be right than one by an elite group.

Mack opposed Sydney airport’s third runway, unilateral tariff cuts, privatisation and the first Gulf War. He served two terms and left, again just before he would have been entitled to a generous parliamentary pension.

In 1998 Mack was elected to the constitutional convention. He went into it a Republican but came out an opponent of the model that went to referendum. He became a director of the Real Republic, which pressed for direct election of the president.

“If North Sydney council hadn’t annoyed me, I doubt if I would ever have become involved in politics at all,” Mack said in 1997. “I didn’t have any burning desire to change the world – just a few simple principles like the workings of government should be totally open to public scrutiny.”

A public memorial service will be held in Sydney later this month.