Liberal Party stalwart Peter Reith, a confidant of John Howard, dies at 72

Former Howard government minister Peter Reith has died, aged 72, after a long battle with illness.

He died peacefully on Tuesday afternoon after a "brave battle" with Alzheimer's disease, a family spokesman said.

"We are proud of his many achievements and his lifelong commitment to public service," the family said, according to a statement released by former staffer Ian Hanke.

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"A beloved grandfather, father, husband, brother, friend and respected colleague. He will be dearly missed and always cherished."

Former prime minister John Howard led tributes to "a dear friend" and "a great warrior for the Liberal cause".

"Today I have lost a dear friend in Peter Reith," Howard said in a statement.

"He played a major role in the successful reforms of the Howard government. Amongst many things, he was responsible for the long overdue reform of the Australian waterfront.

"However contested the outcome of the 1998 Waterfront Dispute may have been, it was undeniable that world ranking productivity replaced ruinous behaviour which severely damaged some of the most productive businesses in Australia.

"As minister for workplace relations, Peter Reith drove this reform, with the crucial assistance of Chris Corrigan of Patrick Stevedores."

Howard said Reith believed in "free enterprise, market-based solutions, and an industrial relations system that allowed energetic businesses and workers alike to prosper".

"The Liberal Party has lost a tireless champion of what it believes in.

"I extend my deepest sympathy to his wife Kerrie and his four sons, and their families."

Reith was elected to the seat of Flinders in 1982, were he served as a Member of the House of Representatives for more than 17 years.

Reith served under Liberal leaders Malcolm Fraser, Andrew Peacock, John Hewson, Alexander Downer and John Howard.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Reith was as loyal to each leader as he was to his party.

"He was loyal to each leader as he was to his party, whether in government or opposition," Dutton said.

"His analytical and sharp policy mind was reflected in the positions he held as a shadow minister, from industrial relations and education, to foreign affairs and defence, to education and sport, and more besides.

"Peter was a powerful and effective manager of opposition business."

Former prime minister Tony Abbott served as a junior minister under Reith in the employment portfolio and described him as a colleague and mentor.

Abbott said his former boss was "one of the very biggest of the many big figures in the Howard government".

"He came to the fore in an era that was characterised by strong leadership, policy courage and personal integrity," Abbott said.

"He will always be remembered for the workplace reforms of the Howard government and for helping to make our waterfront, at least for a time, globally competitive."

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg praised Reith's "real courage and conviction".

"He was a powerful parliamentarian and policymaker who will be greatly missed. Farewell my friend," Frydenberg said.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said he was sad to hear of his friend's passing.

"Peter was a giant of the Liberal Party with a big heart and he was rightly regarded as a champion of reform," the premier said.

James Newbury, the state Liberal Member for Brighton in Victoria, where Reith loomed large, echoed many by describing Reith as a "warrior" for Liberal values.

"My community of Brighton has lost a dear friend," he said.

"And the Reith family has lost their beloved patriarch.

"Few people profoundly shape their nation - Peter Reith did."

Reith will be best remembered for his prominence in the Howard government, where he had ministerial responsibilities for industrial and workplace relations, small business, and defence.

He was a consultative cabinet minister and confidant of Howard, Dutton said.

Reith is survived by his wife Kerrie and four sons Paul, Simon, David and Robert.