Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser has died at the age of 84.

His office says he passed away after a brief illness.

Fraser led a conservative government from 1975 to 1983, after his political rival and Labour opponent Gough Whitlam was sacked by the governor general.

Fraser quit his own Liberal party five years ago and has criticised its tough immigration policy and involvement in the Iraq war.

He's described current Prime Minister Abbott as a "dangerous politician".

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