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Political Chronicle 237 QUEENSLAND

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Political Chronicle 237 QUEENSLAND Political Chronicle 237 QUEENSLAND The Election Campaign The first of the policy speeches was delivered on 1 July by Mr. G. F. R. Nicklin (Country Party) at Maroochydore, a seaside resort in his own electorate of Landsborough, where he gave the first part of the Liberal-Country Party policy. This was completed on the following night by Mr. K. J. Morris (Liberal) in Brisbane. Both declared that their parties were the only ones which could secure unity and effective government, and they promised acceleration of develop- ment and a guarantee of civil rights. Mr. J. E. Duggan (Australian Labor Party) in Brisbane on 4 July adopted the slogan "a fair go for all", and made extensive promises of legislative action. He declared that three weeks leave would be implemented as a necessary reform. Immediately he was attacked by Mr. Gair, who charged him with failing to promise immediate legislation, which the party had endeavoured to force upon him. The following day Mr. Duggan promised that if returned he would introduce the measure in the first session of Parliament. Mr. V. C. Gair (Queensland Labor Party) spent half his speech in Brisbane on 8 July in tracing the dispute which led to his defeat, promised an all out attack upon Communism, and assured his hearers of a continuance of the past developmental programme All meetings were largely and enthusiastically attended. Both the Liberal-Country Party and Q.L.P. promised court supervision of union ballots. Nominations closed on 12 July with a record total of 219 candidates, an increase of 55 over the previous record set in 1953. They comprised: Liberal-Country Party 73, A.L.P. 64, Q.L.P. 62, Independents 20. Four seats were uncontested, viz. Toowong (Liberal), Aubigny, Callide and Landsborough (all Country Party). Campaigning was very keen in all contested seats, especially where A.L.P. and Q.L.P. candidates were opposed, with the A.L.P. constantly charging its opponent with sectarianism and alleging direct interference by ministers of religion. Each of the Labor parties made extreme efforts to unseat its rival's leaders, Messrs. Gair and Walsh (Q.L.P.) in South Brisbane and Bundaberg, and Messrs. Duggan and Dittmer (A.L.P.) in Toowoomba and Mount Gravatt. After nominations had closed the Minister for Mines (Mr. G. Devries), Q.L.P. candidate for Gregory, died, and the poll was postponed to a date to be set by the incoming government. A large contingent of speakers from other States and Canberra took part in the A.L.P. campaign, including Mr. A. Calwell, Mr. E. J. Ward, Mr. John Cain, Mr. Clyde Cameron, and Senators McKenna and Kennelly, enabling the A.L.P. to demonstrate its Australia-wide character. Some claims were made by its opponents that some of the lesser lights came to Queensland under pressure, e.g. the Sydney Bulletin asserted they were driven north by the threat "last across the border is a Grouper". When it was announced that Dr. Evatt was cutting short his overseas trip to take part in the Queensland election Mr. R. J. J. Bukowski (President of the Queensland Central Executive of the A.L.P.) declared that the Q.C.E. had not invited Dr. Evatt. An invitation was extended by Trades Hall leaders and Dr. Evatt addressed three meetings in Brisbane. Mr. Bukowski was unable to attend through illness. The campaign committee then sent Dr. Evatt to Bundaberg to join in the campaign against Mr. Walsh. After a few quiet meetings he collapsed with Asian flu. Among his first visitors was Mr. Walsh. 5See Herald, 2 Oct. 1957. 238 The Australian Journal of Politics and History The Election Polling figures for the 71 contested seats (including Gregory) were a record, 94.58 per cent of the voters enrolled in the contested districts. Votes were shared as follows: Valid Votes L.P. C.P. Q.L.P. A.L.P. Others Metropolitan .. 286,615 124,631 65,557 93,498 2,929 South-Eastern .. 253,695 29,703 96,961 55,225 60,815 10,991 Northern .. 108,219 9,807 24,934 27,483 32,065 13,930 Western .. 50,347 1,294 17,825 15,269 15,593 366 Totals 698,876 165,435 139,720 163,534 201,971 28,216 Per cent. 23.67 19.99 23.4 28.9 4.04 Thus the combined Liberal and Country Party totals were 43.66 per cent. of the valid votes polled, as against the combined Labor total of 52.3 per cent. Adjustment for uncontested seats brings the respective totals to 45 per cent. and 50.7 per cent. respectively, compared with the 1956 election figures of 46.26 and 50.54 respectively. Electorates where only one Labor candidate appeared usually showed gains by the Liberal or Country Party candidate, but where both Labor parties appeared, the Liberal or Country Party vote decreased, except in a very few instances. The A.L.P. lost both its Leader and Deputy Leader, but the Q.L.P. retained both. In Flinders Mr. F. M. Forde lost by one vote, but subsequently lodged a petition with the Elections Tribunal, alleging wrongful disallowance of some votes. The hearing was set down for 17 February 1958 before Mr. Justice Philp. In three electorates, Rockhampton, Keppel and Hinchinbrook, Independents prevented possible Liberal-Country Party gains. The Q.L.P. lost fourteen seats, but its members returned included seven of the ten Cabinet members facing election. Those defeated were Messrs. H. Collins (Agriculture and Stock), W. Moore (Health and Home Affairs) and T. Moores (Transport). The A.L.P. lost six, but gained two from the Q.L.P. The Country Party gained eight seats and the Liberals ten, leaving the new party totals: Country Party 24, Liberal Party 18, A.L.P. 20, Q.L.P. 11, Independents 2. The two Independents re-elected were Messrs. T. Aikens (Mundingburra) who stands as a North Queensland Labor Party candidate, and A. Coburn (Burdekin). Of the twenty Independents, ten lost their deposits, with one, who promised to secure lumpless cheese, securing the record low total of nine votes. The Gregory Election This took place on 5 October. Fresh nominations were called and for a time it appeared that Mx. A. Watson (Australian Workers' Union Western District Secretary) would continue to be the A.L.P. candidate. The Q.C.E. was anxious for Mr. Duggan to stand so Mr. Watson withdrew in his favour. The Country Party and the Q.L.P. both nominated candidates, and the election was made a real trial of strength with leaders of all parties taking a very active part. Some comment was caused by the failure of Mr. Bukowski (State Secretary of the A.W.U. and President of the Q.C.E.) to appear in the campaign, the Q.L.P. alleging that he was so unpopular over the shearing dispute of 1955-6 that he was afraid to appear. Although in 1956 the Country Party candidate had polled only 1,516 votes against 2,847 for Mr. Devries, the new poll resulted: W. Rae (C.P.) 2,075 J. E. Duggan (A.L.P.) 1,328 K. Smith (Q.L.P.) 955 The New Government A Liberal-Country Party Government thus took office for the first time since 1932 and the second since 1915. Of the new Cabinet six members came from the Country Party and five from the Liberals. In each case the selection was made by exhaustive ballot among the parliamentary representatives of each party, acting separately. Portfolios were allocated as follows: Premier and Chief Secretary .. G. F. R. Nicklin (C.P.) Deputy Premier and Labour and Industry .. K. J. Morris (L.P.) Political Chronicle 239 Education J. C. A. Pizzey (C.P.) Attorney-General A. W. Munro (L.P.) Treasurer and Housing • • T. A. Hiley (L.P.) Development, Mines and Main Roads • • E. Evans (C.P.) Public Lands and Irrigation • • A. G. Muller (C.P.) Health and Home Affairs • . Dr. H. W. Noble (L.P.) Agriculture and Stock 0. 0. Madsen (C.P.) Public Works and Local Government J. A. Heading (C.P.) Transport .. G. W. W. Chalk (L.P.) Labour and Industry was promoted from fourth to second place and Education (formerly Public Instruction) from tenth to third place. Housing was transferred from Public Works to the Treasury, Local Government was given Cabinet rank, and a new portfolio of Development was created. Main Roads was taken from Transport. The old name of Secretary was abandoned in favour of the general term Minister Two changes of special note were made. First, all Cabinet Ministers were required to surrender all directorships and positions with co-operative societies and public bodies. Secondly, on 7 October the Premier announced the appointment of a Cabinet secretariat under Mr. A. Fletcher, to keep Cabinet records. During the session it was decided in future to refer to the Country-Liberal Government. Other Parties in the House The A.L.P. became the official Opposition. It elected Mr. L. A. Wood as its Leader and Mr. E. G. Lloyd as his Deputy. Others chosen to occupy the front bench were Messrs. J. H. Mann (the former Speaker), J. J. Dufficy, J. Donald, F. D. Graham, J Clark, and P. J. Hanlon (at 27 the youngest member in the House and the son of the former Premier, the late Mr. E. M. Hanlon). Mr. C. G. JessOn became Party Whip and Mr. J. Donald Parliamentary Secretary. The Q.L.P. had a strong front bench, with eight ex-Cabinet Ministers, viz.
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