DOCSLIB.ORG

Australian Prime Ministers.Pptx

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Australian Prime Ministers.Pptx Australian Prime Ministers Prime Ministers of Australia From To Party 1 Edmund Barton 1 Jan 1901 24 Sept1903 Protectionist 2 Alfred Deakin 24 Sept1903 27 Apr 1904 Protectionist 6 July 1905 13 Nov 1908 Protectionist 2 Jun 1909 29 Apr 1910 Protectionist 3 John Christian Watson 27 Apr 1904 18 Aug 1904 Commonwealth Labor 4 George Houston Reid 18 Aug 1904 5 Jul 1905 Free Trade 5 Andrew Fisher 13 Nov 1908 2 Jun 1909 Commonwealth Labor 29 Apr 1910 24 Jun 1913 Commonwealth Labor 17 Sept 1914 27 Oct 1915 Commonwealth Labor 6 Joseph Cook 24 Jun 1913 17 Sept 1914 Liberal 7 William Morris Hughes 27 Oct 1915 9 Feb 1923 Australian Labor, National Labor, National 8 Stanley Melbourne Bruce 9 Feb 1923 22 Oct 1929 National 9 James Henry Scullin 22 Oct 1929 6 Jan 1932 Australian Labor 10 Joseph Aloysius Lyons 6. Jan 1932 7 Apr 1939 United Australia 11 Earle Christmas Page 7 Apr 1939 26 Apr 1939 Country © A Moment In Our World Prime Ministers of Australia From To Party 12 Robert Gordon Menzies 26 Apr 1939 29 Aug 1941 United Australia 19 Dec 1949 26 Jan 1966 Liberal 13 Arthur William Fadden 29 Aug 1941 7 Oct 1941 Country 14 John Joseph Curtin 7 Oct 1941 6 July 1945 Australian Labor 15 Francis Michael Forde 6 July 1945 13 July 1945 Australian Labor 16 Joseph Benedict Chifley 13 July 1945 19 Dec 1949 Australian Labor 17 Harold Edward Holt 26 Jan 1966 19 Dec 1967 Liberal 18 John McEwen 19 Dec 1967 10 Jan 1968 Country 19 John Grey Gorton 10 Jan 1968 10 Mar 1971 Liberal 20 William McMahon 10 Mar 1971 5 Dec 1972 Liberal 21 Edward Gough Whitlam 5 Dec 1972 11 Nov 1975 Australian Labor 22 John Malcolm Fraser 11 Nov 1975 11 Mar 1983 Liberal 23 Robert James Hawke 11 Mar 1983 20 Dec 1991 Australian Labor 24 Paul John Keating 20 Dec 1991 11 Mar 1996 Australian Labor 25 John Winston Howard 11 Mar 1996 3 Dec 2007 Liberal © A Moment In Our World Prime Ministers of Australia From To Party 26 Kevin Michael Rudd 3 Dec 2007 24 June 2010 Australian Labor 26 June 2013 18 Sept 2013 Australian Labor 27 Julia Gillard 24 June 2010 26 June 2013 Australian Labor 28 Anthony Abbot 18 Sept 2013 Liberal © A Moment In Our World Edmund Barton January 1901 to September 1903 • Australia’s first prime minister • attended Sydney Grammar School and the University of Sydney where he qualified as a lawyer • strongly supported the federation • made new laws such as the White Australia Policy • resigned in 1903 due to poor health and became a judge of the High Court Alfred Deakin Sept. 1903 to April 1904; July 1905 to Nov. 1908; June 1909 to April 1910 • studied law and was a barrister before being elected as a member of the Victorian Parliament • was the Attorney-General in the new Federal Parliament • set up a system of customs duties and tariffs where charges were made on overseas good which were sold in Australia • introduced pensions for old people • made a start in providing Australia with a defence system John Christian Watson April 1904 to August 1904 • was born in Chile in 1867 • moved to New Zealand as a child and became an apprentice compositor in a newspaper office • arrived in Australia in 1886 and became involved in the formation of the new Labor Party • In 1901 was elected leader of the Labor Party • resigned when Parliament would not support his policies George Houston Reid August 1904 to July 1905 • was born in Scotland arriving in Australia in 1852 • studied law and became a barrister in 1898 • was state Premier of New South Wales from 1894 to 1899 • arranged alliances with other parties to become Prime Minister • thought it would be better if goods from other countries could be sold here without customs duties • when retired he became the Australian High Commissioner in London Andrew Fisher Nov. 1908 to June 1909; April 1910 to June 1913; Sept. 1914 to Oct. 1915 • born in Scotland, had little schooling, worked as a coalminer • migrated to Queensland in 1885 and worked as a miner, spending lots of time reading to further his education • elected to the first Commonwealth Parliament in 1901 • followed Watson as leader of the Labor Party • during his time as Prime Minister, the Commonwealth Bank was set up, the railway crossing from the east to the west was begun, the government began paying allowances to mothers on the birth of children, the foundation stone of Canberra was laid. Joseph Cook June 1913 to September 1914 • born in England, starting work in a coal mine at the age of 9 • migrated to Australia when 25 years old and worked in the mines at Lithgow, New South Wales • in 1891, he was elected as a member of the New South Wales Parliament • believed in free trade and became the leader of the Free Trade Party when Reid retired • stayed in politics until 1921 when he became the Australian High Commissioner in London. William Morris Hughes October 1915 to February 1923 • born in London, migrated to Australia in 1884 • had many different jobs; worked as a drover, a ship’s cook, a bookseller and studied law • became the leader of the Labor Party in 1915 • was a great wartime Prime Minister, organising the Australian people to help Britain fight in World War I • thought young men should be compelled to fight in the war • left the Labor Party with a small number of supporters and joined the National Party • stayed in politics as a member of Parliament until he died in 1952 Stanley Melbourne Bruce February 1923 to October 1929 • born in Melbourne, but spent a lot of time in England • joined the British Army during World War I where he received 2 awards for bravery • when wounded in the war, he returned to Australia and became a member of Parliament in 1918 • his government did not have enough members in Parliament, so relied on the support of the Country Party • he encouraged migrants to settle in Australia, supported schemes to help people become farmers, set up the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIRO)in 1926 James Henry Scullin October 1929 to January 1932 • worked in a grocery shop while taking night classes • joined the Labor Party and was elected to Parliament in 1910 • became the leader of the Labor Party in 1928 • had a hard time as Australia was feeling the effects of the world-wide Depression • he could not find a way to solve all the problems and was defeated in the elections in 1931 Joseph Aloysius Lyons January 1932 to April 1939 • born in Tasmania, he worked as a teacher until elected to the Parliament there in 1909 • was selected by James Scullin to be Postmaster-General and Minister for Works and Railways • he didn’t agree with some of Scullin’s decisions and resigned in 1931 • helped form a new political party – the United Australia Party and became Prime Minister • he died in 1939, his wife was the first woman to elected to the House of Representatives in 1943 Earle Christmas Grafton Page 7 April 1939 to 26 April 1939 • was a doctor and farmer in New South Wales • was an army doctor in France and Egypt during World War I • helped for the Australian Country Party after the war • he was the leader of this Party from 1921 to 1939 • in the 1920’s they supported Bruce’s government and Page became the Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer • in 1934, he formed an alliance with the United Australia Party and was deputy Prime Minister • became a ‘caretaker’ Prime Minister for 19 days after Lyons died Arthur William Fadden August 1941 to October 1941 • after school he studied accountancy and became the Town Clerk of Mackay in 1916 • was elected to Parliament in 1936 as a Country Party representative and was leader of this party from 1941 to 1958 • for most of his political life, Fadden was Menzies’ Treasurer • 1951 he introduced the ‘Horror Budget’ to try and cut government spending • he became Prime Minister for 5 weeks after Menzies resigned John Joseph Curtin October 1941 to July 1945 • after school worked in a printing office in Melbourne, he then became interested in politics and joined the Labor Party • moved to Western Australia and first entered Parliament in 1928 as a member for Fremantle. • he was Prime Minister during World War II, so spent most of his time solving the problems this created such as rationing food, petrol, clothing and increasing taxes • he was also able to introduce widow pensions, child endowments, unemployment and sickness benefits towards the end of the war Francis Michael Forde 6 July 1945 to 13 July 1945 • born and educated in Queensland, becoming a schoolteacher and engineer before being elected to Parliament in 1922 • became Deputy Prime Minister while Curtin was in office • he was also the Minister for the Army during the war years • was ‘caretaker’ Prime Minister after Curtin died • became the Australian High Commissioner in Canada from 1946 to 1953 Joseph Benedict Chifley July 1945 to December 1949 • born in Bathurst in 1885 • became an engine driver after school and developed an interest in trade unions • elected into Parliament in 1928, he made himself an expert in finance and was appointed Treasurer in 1941 • when Curtin died, Chifley became the leader of the Labor Party and the Prime Minister • he established the Snowy Mountains Scheme to harness waters of several rivers for electricity and irrigation Robert Gordon Menzies April 1939 to August 1941; December 1949 to January 1966 • born in Victoria in 1894, after school in Melbourne he went on to study law • started his political career in the Victorian Parliament and won a seat in the Federal Parliament in 1934 • in 1936 he became the deputy leader of the United Australia Party and the leader and the Prime Minister in 1939 after Lyons died • was forced
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Some Aspects of the Federal Political Career of Andrew Fisher
    SOME ASPECTS OF THE FEDERAL POLITICAL CAREER OF ANDREW FISHER By EDWARD WIL.LIAM I-IUMPHREYS, B.A. Hans. MASTER OF ARTS Department of History I Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne Submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements of the degr'ee of Masters of Arts (by Thesis only) JulV 2005 ABSTRACT Andrew Fisher was prime minister of Australia three times. During his second ministry (1910-1913) he headed a government that was, until the 1940s, Australia's most reformist government. Fisher's second government controlled both Houses; it was the first effective Labor administration in the history of the Commonwealth. In the three years, 113 Acts were placed on the statute books changing the future pattern of the Commonwealth. Despite the volume of legislation and changes in the political life of Australia during his ministry, there is no definitive full-scale biographical published work on Andrew Fisher. There are only limited articles upon his federal political career. Until the 1960s most historians considered Fisher a bit-player, a second ranker whose main quality was his moderating influence upon the Caucus and Labor ministry. Few historians have discussed Fisher's role in the Dreadnought scare of 1909, nor the background to his attempts to change the Constitution in order to correct the considered deficiencies in the original drafting. This thesis will attempt to redress these omissions from historical scholarship Firstly, it investigates Fisher's reaction to the Dreadnought scare in 1909 and the reasons for his refusal to agree to the financing of the Australian navy by overseas borrowing.
    [Show full text]
  • Andrew FISHER, PC Prime Minister 13 November 1908 to 2 June 1909; 29 April 1910 to 24 June 1913; 17 September 1914 to 27 October 1915
    5 Andrew FISHER, PC Prime Minister 13 November 1908 to 2 June 1909; 29 April 1910 to 24 June 1913; 17 September 1914 to 27 October 1915. Andrew Fisher became the 5th prime minister when the Liberal- Labor coalition government headed by Alfred Deakin collapsed due to loss of parliamentary Labor support. Fisher’s first period as prime minister ended when the new Fusion Party of Deakin and Joseph Cook defeated the government in parliament. His second term resulted from an overwhelming Labor victory at elections in 1910. However, Labor lost power by one seat at the 1913 elections. Fisher was prime minister again in 1914, as a result of a double-dissolution election. Fisher resigned from office in October 1915, his health affected by the pressures of political life. Member of the Australian Labor Party c1901-28. Member of the House of Representatives for the seat of Wide Bay (Queensland) 1901-15; Minister for Trade and Customs 1904; Treasurer 1908-09, 1910-13, 1914-15. Main achievements (1904-1915) Under his prime ministership, the Commonwealth Government issued its first currency which replaced bank and State currency as the only legal tender. Also, the Commonwealth Bank was established. Strengthened the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Introduced a progressive land tax on unimproved properties. Construction began on the trans-Australian railway, linking Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie. Established the Australian Capital Territory and brought the Northern Territory under Commonwealth control. Established the Royal Australian Navy. Improved access to invalid and aged pensions and brought in maternity allowances. Introduced workers’ compensation for federal public servants.
    [Show full text]
  • Prime Ministers of Australia
    Prime Ministers of Australia No. Prime Minister Term of office Party 1. Edmund Barton 1.1.1901 – 24.9.1903 Protectionist Party 2. Alfred Deakin (1st time) 24.9.1903 – 27.4.1904 Protectionist Party 3. John Christian Watson 27.4.1904 – 18.8.1904 Australian Labor Party 4. George Houstoun Reid 18.8.1904 – 5.7.1905 Free Trade Party - Alfred Deakin (2nd time) 5.7.1905 – 13.11.1908 Protectionist Party 5. Andrew Fisher (1st time) 13.11.1908 – 2.6.1909 Australian Labor Party - Alfred Deakin (3rd time) 2.6.1909 – 29.4.1910 Commonwealth Liberal Party - Andrew Fisher (2nd time) 29.4.1910 – 24.6.1913 Australian Labor Party 6. Joseph Cook 24.6.1913 – 17.9.1914 Commonwealth Liberal Party - Andrew Fisher (3rd time) 17.9.1914 – 27.10.1915 Australian Labor Party 7. William Morris Hughes 27.10.1915 – 9.2.1923 Australian Labor Party (to 1916); National Labor Party (1916-17); Nationalist Party (1917-23) 8. Stanley Melbourne Bruce 9.2.1923 – 22.10.1929 Nationalist Party 9. James Henry Scullin 22.10.1929 – 6.1.1932 Australian Labor Party 10. Joseph Aloysius Lyons 6.1.1932 – 7.4.1939 United Australia Party 11. Earle Christmas Grafton Page 7.4.1939 – 26.4.1939 Country Party 12. Robert Gordon Menzies 26.4.1939 – 29.8.1941 United Australia Party (1st time) 13. Arthur William Fadden 29.8.1941 – 7.10.1941 Country Party 14. John Joseph Ambrose Curtin 7.10.1941 – 5.7.1945 Australian Labor Party 15. Francis Michael Forde 6.7.1945 – 13.7.1945 Australian Labor Party 16.
    [Show full text]
  • The Prime Ministers' Partners
    The Prime Ministers' Partners "A view is held, and sometimes expressed…that wives of Prime Ministers are more highly regarded and widely loved than Prime Ministers themselves, both during and after their terms of office." - Gough Whitlam "Tim Mathieson is the first bloke of Australia. We know this because he has a jacket to prove it." – Malcolm Farr, 2012 No. Prime Minister’s spouse Previous Partner of Children1 name 1. Jane (Jeanie) BARTON Ross Edmund BARTON 4 sons, 2 daughters 2. Elizabeth (Pattie) DEAKIN Browne Alfred DEAKIN 3 daughters 3. Ada WATSON Low Chris WATSON None 4. Florence (Flora) REID Brumby George REID 2 sons, 1 daughter 5. Margaret FISHER Irvine Andrew FISHER 5 sons, 1 daughter 6. Mary COOK Turner Joseph COOK 6 sons, 3 daughters 7. Mary HUGHES Campbell Billy HUGHES 1 daughter 8. Ethel BRUCE Anderson Stanley BRUCE None 9. Sarah SCULLIN McNamara Jim SCULLIN None 10. Enid LYONS Burnell Joseph LYONS 6 sons, 6 daughters 11. Ethel PAGE Blunt Earle PAGE 4 sons, 1 daughter 12. Pattie MENZIES Leckie Robert MENZIES 2 sons, 1 daughter 13. Ilma FADDEN Thornber Arthur FADDEN 2 sons, 2 daughters 14. Elsie CURTIN Needham John CURTIN 1 son, 1 daughter 15. Veronica (Vera) FORDE O’Reilley Frank FORDE 3 daughters, 1 son 16. Elizabeth CHIFLEY McKenzie Ben CHIFLEY None 17. (Dame) Zara HOLT Dickens Harold HOLT 3 sons 18. Bettina GORTON Brown John GORTON 2 sons, 1 daughter 19. Sonia McMAHON Hopkins William McMAHON 2 daughters, 1 son 20. Margaret WHITLAM Dovey Gough WHITLAM 3 sons, 1 daughter 21. Tamara (Tamie) FRASER Beggs Malcolm FRASER 2 sons, 2 daughters 22.
    [Show full text]
  • The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918 Volume Xi Australia During the War
    THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA IN THE WAR OF 1914-1918 VOLUME XI AUSTRALIA DURING THE WAR AUSTRALIA DURING THE WAR BY ERNEST SCOTT Pmfcsor of Histow in the Vniwuty of Mdhe With 67 illustrations Sezientli Edition AUSTRALIA ANGUS AND ROBERTSON LTD. 09 CASTLEREACH STREET, SYDNEY 1941 Printed and Bcund in Australia by Halstead Press Pty Limited, 9-19 Nickson Street. Sydney. Registered at the General Post Office, Melbourne, for trana- mission through the post as a book. Obtainable in Great Britain at Australia House and from all booksellers (sole agent for wholesale distribution-The Official Secretary for the Commonwealth of Australia, Australia House, Strand, London, W C.2); in Canada from the Australian Trade Commissioner, 15 King Street West, Toronto: in the United States from the Australian Government Trade Commissioner, International Building, 630 Fifth Avenue, New York; and in New Zealand from the Australian Trade Commissioner, D.1 C. Building, Wellington. First Edtliott . , . 1936 Srroitd Edition . , 1937 Third Editioii . , . 1938 Foiirth Edition . 1939 Fifth Edition . 1939 Sixth Edition . 1940 Sewnth Edition . 1941 PREFACE THISbook is a member of a series recording the participation of the Commonwealth of Australia in the Great European War, but it differs from its companion volumes in scope and subject-matter. They are concerned with battles-in Egypt, Gallipoli, France, and Palestine; with the activities of the young Australian navy; with medical services; with the occupation of territory formerly under German government. Substantially the greater part of those works relates to what was done by Australian soldiers, sailors, medical officers, and administrators outside their own country, though on duties vitally affecting Australia and the Empire to which she belongs.
    [Show full text]
  • The Leader of the Opposition
    The Leader of the Opposition ‘…just as there can be no good or stable government without a sound majority, so there will be a dictatorial government unless there is the constant criticism of an intelligent, active, and critical opposition.’ –Sir Robert Menzies, 1948 The practice in Australia is for the leader of the party or coalition that can secure a majority in the House of Representatives to be appointed as Prime Minister. The leader of the largest party or Hon. Dr. H.V. Evatt coalition outside the government serves as Leader of the Opposition. Leader of the Opposition 1951 - 1960 The Leader of the Opposition is his or her party’s candidate for Prime National Library of Australia Minister at a general election. Each party has its own internal rules for the election of a party leader. Since 1967, the Leader of the Opposition has appointed a Shadow Ministry which offers policy alternatives and criticism on various portfolios. The Leader of the Opposition is, by convention, always a member of the House of Representatives and sits opposite the Prime Minister in the chamber. The Senate leader of the opposition party is referred to as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, even if they lead a majority of Senators. He or she usually has a senior Shadow Ministry role. Australia has an adversarial parliamentary system in which the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition face off against one another during debates in the House of Representatives. The Opposition’s role is to hold the government accountable to the people and to Parliament, as well as to provide alternative policies in a range of areas.
    [Show full text]
  • William Morris HUGHES, PC, CH, KC Prime Minister 27 October 1915 to 9 February 1923
    7 William Morris HUGHES, PC, CH, KC Prime Minister 27 October 1915 to 9 February 1923 Billy Hughes became the 7th prime minister after Andrew Fisher, leader of the Labor government, resigned from office due to ill health. Member of the Labour Electoral League 1891, Australian Socialist League 1892, Australian Labor Party 1901-16, Nationalist Party 1917-29, Australia Party 1930-31, United Australia Party 1931- 45, Liberal Party of Australia 1945-52. Member of the House of Representatives for West Sydney 1901-17, Bendigo 1917-22, North Sydney 1922-49, and Bradfield 1949-52. Minister for External Affairs 1904; Attorney-General 1908-09, 1910-1913, 1914-21; Health and Repatriation 1934-37; External Affairs and Vice-President of Executive Council 1937-39; Attorney-General 1939- 41; Minister for the Navy 1940-41, Minister for Industry 1939-41. Previously, Member of New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Lang 1894-1901. Hughes resigned as prime minister and was replaced by Stanley Bruce when the Country Party under Earle Page refused to serve in a coalition ministry with him. Main achievements (1915-1944) A founder of the Labor Electoral League 1891, Australian Socialist League 1892, Nationalist Party 1917, Australia Party 1930, and United Australia Party 1931. Established Advisory Council for Science and Industry (forerunner to CSIRO) and Commonwealth Shipping Line 1916. Commonwealth Police Force 1917. Member of Imperial War Cabinet and Australia’s representative at Versailles Peace Conference. Ensured Australia’s interests represented during and immediately after First World War. Australia’s delegate to League of Nations 1932. Personal life Born 25 September 1862 in London.
    [Show full text]
  • Australias Constitution After Whitlam 1St Edition Ebook
    AUSTRALIAS CONSTITUTION AFTER WHITLAM 1ST EDITION PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Brendan Lim | 9781107119468 | | | | | Australias Constitution after Whitlam 1st edition PDF Book Constitution would begin on March 4, For Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, and the parliamentary tradition that he invoked, national elections sufficiently legitimated even the most constitutionally transformative of his goals. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The Senate Opposition argued that a double dissolution was not justified on the grounds that:. Sawer, Geoffrey Views Read Edit View history. See Australian referendum Retirement of Judges. He had ridden into office on a election victory over Prime Minister John Howard that ended 12 years of coalition rule by the conservative Liberal Party of Australia and its junior partners, the Nationals, with one of the most dramatic vote swings in recent Australian electoral history. When Margaret Whitlam made a seemingly innocent comment to her husband, the then Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, about what she was hearing on return from a good will visit to Japan, little did she realise what she had unleashed! In , a proposed preamble principally authored by the then Prime Minister John Howard was defeated in a referendum concurrent to that on a proposal to become a republic. Once this clear line of responsibility is interfered with as with the intervention of the Senate which is not an equitably representative body in the sense that the House is the powerful concept of representative and responsible government is weakened. The Trouble Begins. Ranga added it Jul 26, Constitution Day is observed on September 17, to commemorate the date the document was signed.
    [Show full text]
  • Portraits of Australian Prime Ministers
    18. The Rt Hon Sir John McEwen GCMG CH 21. The Hon Edward Gough Whitlam AC QC 24. The Hon Paul John Keating 27. The Hon Julia Eileen Gillard AC FAQ Born: 1900 Died: 1980 Born: 1916 Died: 2014 Born: 1944 Born: 1961 Where are the portraits of the most recent Prime Ministers? Term of Office: 19 December 1967 to Term of Office: 5 December 1972 to Term of Office: 20 December 1991 to Term of Office: 24 June 2010 to 27 June 10 January 1968 11 November 1975 11 March 1996 2013 Portrait commissions are generally completed within three to five years of a Prime Minister leaving office. The length of time to Member for Echuca 1934 to 1937, Indi 1937 Member for Werriwa 1952 to 1978, Member for Blaxland 1969 to 1996, Member for Lalor 1998 to 2013, Victoria complete a portrait varies considerably between commissions and to 1949 and Murray 1949 to 1971, Victoria New South Wales New South Wales depends on the availability of the artist and the sitter as well as the Political Party: Australian Labor Party artist’s working style. Political Party: Country Party Artist Political Party: Australian Labor Party Political Party: Australian Labor Party Artist FROM THE HISTORIC MEMORIALS COLLECTION Clifton Ernest Pugh Vincent Fantauzzo Gillard became Australia’s first female Prime John McEwen was caretaker Prime Minister (1924-1990) Under Whitlam Australia’s involvement in After eight years as Treasurer in the (born 1977) Minister in a leadership ballot, and went on Who selects the artist? after the disappearance of Harold Holt.
    [Show full text]
  • Chris Watson: Australia’S Second Treasurer
    Chris Watson: Australia’s second Treasurer John Hawkins1 The following article is the second in a series of biographies of Australia’s federal treasurers. John Christian Watson was Australia’s second (and youngest) treasurer, and the first national Labour prime minister and treasurer in the world. His government did not last long enough for him to bring down a budget. But his cautious pragmatic approach proved influential for subsequent Labour governments. National Archives of Australia: A1200, L11176A. 1 The author is from Domestic Economy Division, the Australian Treasury. This article has benefited from comments and suggestions provided by Carol Murphy. The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Australian Treasury. 119 Chris Watson: Australia’s second treasurer Introduction John Christian Watson (usually known as Chris) was Australia’s second treasurer. He was simultaneously prime minister and his minority Labour2 ministry could be said to be in office, rather than in power. With his government lasting less than four months, he had little scope for far-reaching reforms. He did not even have the chance to bring down a budget. But he was the world’s first Labour treasurer (and prime minister).3 He was also Australia’s youngest treasurer, only 37 years old, and the only one not born in Australia or the British Isles.4 Watson’s career before Federation On 9 April 1867, in the Chilean port of Valparaiso, a son was born to seafarers Johan and Martha Tanck, whom they named Johan Cristian after his father. What became of Watson’s father is unknown, but his mother soon after remarried, to George Watson, a Scottish miner, and her son became known as John Christian Watson.5 He grew up in New Zealand.
    [Show full text]
  • Andrew Fisher: Prime Minister of Australia
    Andrew Fisher: Prime Minister of Australia By David Day Sydney, Fourth Estate (Harper Collins), 2008 ISBN 978 073227610 2 * James Jupp As David Day correctly argues in this major political biography, Andrew Fisher has been strangely neglected by Australian historians and political scientists. He was, after all, the first majority leader of a social democratic labour government in the world. Moreover he was returned with the support of half the electorate, which no subsequent ALP leader has managed. Nor did he waste time on faction fighting, desert the party like so many of his contemporaries, or fail to implement the programme on which he was elected. Yet his life was blighted by two major tragedies — one political, the outbreak of the First World War while he was in office, and one personal, his decline into dementia and consequent early death in 1928, aged sixty six. A very similar fate befell his political opponent and contemporary, Alfred Deakin, who has been much better remembered. This neglect of one of Australia’s most popular and effective prime ministers is admittedly due to the untimely deaths of his two intending biographers, Clem Lloyd and Denis Murphy. But even so Fisher had virtually disappeared from political textbooks and histories well before. His contemporaries, King O’Malley and Billy Hughes, have enjoyed a far better treatment. Only his fellow coal miner, Joseph Cook, has disappeared into the mists of time. He deserted the labour movement before Federation and was only prime minister for a year. It may be that Fisher did not conform to the stereotypes of more radical labour historians.
    [Show full text]
  • Biography Andrew Fisher (1862-1928) Member for Wide Bay
    John Ferguson (1830-1906) Andrew Fisher (1862-1928) Senator for Queensland 1901-1903 Member for Wide Bay (Queensland) 1901-1915 orn at Kenmore, in Perthshire, Scotland, In 1901 Ferguson was elected as a Freetrader orn in Crosshouse, Ayrshire, Scotland, Government, and in 1907, the leader of the BJohn Ferguson migrated to New South to represent Queensland in the Senate at the BAndrew Fisher was a union representative Labor Party. Fisher was Prime Minister and Wales in 1855. A carpenter by trade, Ferguson first federal election. He was absent overseas in the local coalmines while still in his teens. Treasurer 1908-09, 1910-13 and 1914-15. spent time on the New South Wales and during the lead-up to the election and did not In 1855 he migrated to Queensland and he Prime Minister when World War I broke out, Victorian goldfields before moving to return to Australia until after the poll. worked in mines at Burrum and Gympie, it was Fisher’s responsibility to despatch Rockhampton where he became wealthy Ferguson attended only 95 of the 232 sitting where he became a leader of the union and Australian troops overseas and to provide through his shares in the Mount Morgan days from 9 May 1901 to 13 October 1903. labour movement. He was elected to the the foundations for financing Australia’s war mine. He was a member of the Rockhampton On the latter date his seat was declared Queensland Legislative Assembly for the effort. Ill health and diminishing party support Municipal Council 1878-90, and was Mayor vacant owing to his absence without leave Labor Party in 1893, lost his seat in 1896, led to his resignation in October 1915.
    [Show full text]