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Born in Brisbane of Spanish and Irish parents, Al Grassby (1926–2005) was a journalist before he entered politics. He was the State Labor member for the New South Wales seat of Murrumbidgee (1965–1969) and federal Member for Riverina (1969–1974). He was appointed Minister for Immigration in 1972.
Known for his brightly coloured shirts and ties and equally colourful personality, Grassby's dream was to achieve in Australia a rich, blended and tolerant society. During his term as Minister for Immigration in the Whitlam Government, Grassby put ethnic affairs and multiculturalism on the political agenda and achieved the formal abolition of the White Australia policy.
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