Prime Ministers and Their Governments

51 Pages·2011·2.257 MB·English

by  Scott Brodie

Australian Timelines
Prime Ministers
And Their Governments
by Scott Brodie
ISBN 978 086427 255 3
Published in electronic format by
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Copyright © 2011 S and L Brodie
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AUSTRALIAN TIMELINES
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T
THE PRIME Minister is the most visible person in Australia.
No day passes without the national leader appearing in the
news for good or bad reasons. The Prime Minister is not
directly elected by the people. He or she is a member of the
Edmund Barton 2
House of Representatives who leads the political party or
Alfred Deakin 4
grouping with the largest number of members in the House.
Chris Watson 6
Just like every other member, the Prime Minister represents an
George Reid 7
electorate. Australians have no direct say in who holds the
Andrew Fisher 8 office of Prime Minister.
Joe Cook 10 Australia follows the Westminster system of government,
Billy Hughes 11 inherited from Britain. The Prime Minister is the Head of
S M Bruce 13 Government. The monarch, although Head of State, has few
Jim Scullin 15 powers. In reality, the Prime Minister runs the country as its
Joe Lyons 17 chief executive.
Robert Menzies 19 The government of Australia, as set down in the
Artie Fadden 22 Constitution, comprises the Queen (or King) of Australia —
represented by the Governor-General — and a group of
John Curtin 23
Ministers nominated by the parliament. This is known as the
Ben Chifley 25
Cabinet. The government can function only as long as it has
Harold Holt 28
money, known as Supply. Parliament must authorise Supply
John Gorton 30
each year, based on a budget drawn up by the government.
Bill McMahon 32
All other parliamentarians — known as private members —
Gough Whitlam 33
are not part of the government even if they are members of the
Malcolm Fraser 36
party that is in power. Those who are members of the
Bob Hawke 38
governing party, or who support the government, sit on the
Paul Keating 40 Speaker’s right. Those who support the Opposition sit on the
John Howard 42 left. Non-aligned members sit in the centre of the House on
Kevin Rudd 44 what are called the cross benches. Members of the Cabinet sit
Julia Gillard 45 on the front bench on the Speaker’s right.
The Caretakers 46 Historically, the Australian Prime Minister only became the
Timelines 47 powerful figure of today after World WarII. Before then,both
Index 48 New South Wales and Victoria had larger economies than the
national government. That changed when taxation became the
Commonwealth’s responsibility during the war.
The job of Prime Minister has become much tougher in the
past few decades. The growth in responsibilities and the
constant media pressure take their toll. The public will rarely
tolerate a Prime Minister for more than ten years.
From Frank Forde who served six days to Robert Menzies
who served sixteen years, the story of our Prime Ministers is
Edited by Lynn Brodie
the story of the nation — through good times and bad, boom
ISBN 978 086427 255 3 and bust, vision and cynicism, triumph and heartbreak, looking
Copyright © 2011 S and L Brodie
back and looking forward.
All rights reserved
Published by Trocadero Publishing
GPO Box 1546 Sydney NSW 2001 Australia
For links to websites of interest, please go to
www.trocadero.com.au
Produced in Australia www.trocadero.com.au/pms
Prime Ministers TEXT_Prime Ministers TEXT 08.04.2011 03:06 Page 2
U t Ü à É Ç 2
Edmund Barton
1 January 1901 to 23 September 1903
Edmund Barton — Protectionists
Born 18 January 1849 at Glebe, NSW
Died 7 January 1920 at Medlow Bath, NSW
Before he was PM A redistribution in 1880 wiped out his seat.
E Standing for the central western seat of
EDMUND BARTONwas born in the Wellington, he was elected unopposed.
Sydney suburb of Glebe on 18January 1849. On 3January 1883, by nowthe Member
His father was an accountant and less-than for East Sydney, he was elected the
successful speculator; his mother ran a youngest ever Speaker of the Assembly. He
private school. He attended Fort Street enjoyed the atmosphere of parliament —
Political parties
Model School and Sydney Grammar School, especially the food, wine and company. For
where he was School Captain. Parties, as we know this the Bulletinmagazine nicknamed him
them today, did not
At the University of Sydney he gained a Toby Tosspot.
exist in the 19th
reputation for laziness, although he graduated New South Wales Premier Sir Henry
century. Members of
in 1870 with a Master of Arts degree. He parliament aligned Parkes, in a speech at Tenterfield in 1889,
played a lot of cricket and debated at the themselves with a called for federation of the Australian
Mechanics’ School of Arts. cause such as Free colonies. The result was the National
Trade or Protectionism.
From June 1870 he worked for a firm of Australasian Convention of 1891. Barton
solicitors, then with a barrister. On In parliament they was an enthusiastic participant and a
voted independently
21December 1871 he became a barrister in member of the constitutional drafting
on each Bill. This
his own right. Work was slow in coming. committee. The proposal failed when it was
began to change with
During the 1870s he did circuit work in the the rise of the Labour put to the electorate.
colonial courts, becoming an acting crown political movement in While he was Attorney-General in the
prosecutor. He married Jeannie Ross on the 1890s. Dibbs government, in December 1892 he
28December 1877. attended a conference at Corowa that
Politics soon overtook law as Barton’s formed the Australian Federation League
passion. In 1879, after a first try two years (AFL). He promoted the cause at more than
earlier, he convincingly won the University 300 meetings, and by 1897 was the
of Sydney seat in the Legislative Assembly. acknowledged leader of the movement.
Ten delegates were elected from each
colony: New South Wales, Queensland,
South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and
Western Australia. New Zealand declined
to join. Barton topped the New South
Wales poll of delegates with 75per cent of
the vote.
The rotunda in Sydney’s
The Australasian Federal Convention’s
Centennial Park where
first meeting was in Adelaide during March
Barton and his government
were sworn in by Governor- and April of 1897. Barton was Leader of the
General Lord Hopetoun Convention, as well as Chairman of the
on 1 January 1901.
Constitutional Committee and of the
Unfortunately the structure
Drafting Sub-Committee. His greatest
was made of plaster of
Paris, so did not last long. achievement at this time was in developing
Prime Ministers TEXT_Prime Ministers TEXT 08.04.2011 03:07 Page 3
3
the structure of the Senate, based on the US Traders and Labour. As Protectionists and
model. The Senate was intended to protect Free Traders had an equal number of seats,
the interests of the states. Labour supported Barton. The new
After meetings in Sydney and Melbourne Parliament was opened in Melbourne by the
the draft Constitution was put to the people Duke of Cornwall and York on 9May 1901.
in June 1898. In New South Wales it was Unfortunately the first legislation to be
defeated by a coalition of business interests passed was the Immigration Restriction Act,
and the Daily Telegraphnewspaper, 8504 votes known as the ‘White Australia Policy’.
short of the required 80000. Barton, like most politicians of the time, was
Undeterred, Barton negotiated concessions avowedly racist. The new law ensured that
that brought New South Wales onside. no Asian could migrate to Australia, and
These included a national capital in New allowed Australia to be a European enclave
South Wales, at least 160kilometres from on the edge of Asia.
Sydney. This time the referendum passed Edmund Barton in the With the great work of federation behind
robes of a High Court
with 107420 yes votes on 29June 1899. him, Barton lost interest in the cut and
judge after he resigned
Once the people had approved the thrust of everyday politics. He attended the
the prime ministership
Constitution it had to be presented to the coronation of EdwardVII and the London
British Parliament. Barton, along with Colonial Conference in 1902. There, he fought
Alfred Deakin (Victoria), off a British campaign
SirJames Dickson (Queensland), for its manufactured
Phillip Fysh (Tasmania) and goods to enter
Charles Kingston (South Australia duty free.
Australia), sailed for London. He was also made a
The British Secretary of Knight Grand Cross of
State for the Colonies, Joseph the Order of StMichael
Chamberlain, wanted changes and StGeorge.
to the Constitution. Barton and Back in Australia
the others campaigned against Barton’s friend, Alfred
these by speaking to key Deakin, convinced
decision-makers. Together with him to resign on
some tactful negotiation, this 23September 1903.
sorted out the problems. The
Commonwealth of Australia The Australasian Federal
Convention meets in the
Constitution Actwas signed by Queen After he was PM
NSW Legislative Council
Victoria on 9July 1900. B
Chamber in 1897
The new Commonwealth was to come BARTON BECAMEa Justice of the new
into being on 1January 1901. As it would be High Court of Australia. He developed into
March before elections could be held, a an excellent judge, and by 1911 had acted as
caretaker government was needed. Instead Chief Justice.
Not a picture that would
of making Barton caretaker Prime Minister, endear Barton and his Barton died on 7 January 1920 at Medlow
Governor-General Lord Hopetoun appointed Cabinet ministers to the Bath, west of Sydney. His state funeral was
SirWilliam Lyne, Premier of New South public at home, as they held at StAndrew’s Cathedral, Sydney. He
make their leisurely
Wales. When nobody would serve with was survived by his wife Jeannie, four sons
way to Australia via
Lyne, Hopetoun was forced to call on Barton. and two daughters.
Venice after the 1902
Colonial Conference
While he was PM
O
ON 1JANUARY1901 Lord Hopetoun
swore in the new Cabinet at Centennial
Park in Sydney. Barton’s election campaign
promised a new Public Service, free trade
between states, uniform import duties, a
High Court, an Inter State Commission, old-
age pensions, a Conciliation and Arbitration
Court, a transcontinental railway, a uniform
railway gauge, universal suffrage, and a
‘White Australia’ policy.
The new parliament was dominated by
the Protectionists (led by Barton), Free
Prime Ministers TEXT_Prime Ministers TEXT 08.04.2011 03:07 Page 4
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Alfred Deakin
First term 24 September 1903 to 27 April 1904
Second term 5 July 1905 to 13 November 1908
Third term 2 June 1909 to 29 April 1910
Alfred Deakin — Protectionists, Fusion
Born 3 August 1857 at Fitzroy, Victoria
Died 7 October 1919 at Fitzroy, Victoria
Before he was PM Browne family and, in April 1882, married
A their 19-year-old daughter Pattie against her
ALFRED DEAKIN, born in 1856 at Fitzroy father’s wishes.
in Melbourne, attended the Church of Deakin became Commissioner of Public
England Grammar School. He then studied Our Australian Works, Minister for Water Supply and
law in the evenings at Melbourne University. correspondent Solicitor-General in 1883. He travelled to the
In 1877 he qualified as a barrister while USA to investigate irrigation schemes. As a
While in London in
developing an interest in the Free Trade result, the Chaffey brothers came to Victoria
1900 Deakin concluded
political movement. When his legal career to create the Mildura irrigation scheme.
an agreement with the
was failing he met David Syme, publisher of conservative London In the face of great opposition, Deakin
the Agenewspaper, and worked as a Morning Postnewspaper pushed through the Factories and Shops Act
to become its Australian
journalist for five years. 1885. The result was improved working
correspondent, writing
Syme converted Deakin to the conditions and limited working hours for
anonymously. Deakin
Protectionist movement. With backing from justified this by children and women, as well as introducing
the Age, he narrowly won the Legislative claiming he supplied workers’ compensation.
Assembly seat of West Bourke in February accurate information During the 1880s land boom Deakin was
about Australia to the
1879. He then stunned everyone by chairman or a board member of several
British public.
financially dubious companies. In the crash
After 1913 failing
of 1890 he lost everything. He abandoned
health forced him to
parliament for his legal work and eventually
give up the column.
Few readers had repaid all his debts.
guessed his identity in At the 1891 National Australasian
all those years. Convention he became friendly with
Edmund Barton from New South Wales. He
joined the Australasian Federation League
and, in 1896, was elected a delegate to the
Australasian Federal Convention, which met
at Adelaide in March the following year.
Deakin argued strenuously to have
taxation included as a responsibility of the
new federation, but was defeated. He led a
Deakin (left) with his
friend Octavius Beale successful campaign to have the draft
Constitution approved at a referendum.
announcing his resignation because he Deakin was Victoria’s delegate in London
doubted the fairness of the poll. After losing to support the passage of the Commonwealth
the subsequent poll, he won West Bourke of Australia Constitution Actin 1900. Secretary
again in February 1880. of State for the Colonies, Joseph Chamberlain,
Deakin was a spiritualist who attended wanted changes to the Constitution. Deakin
seances and conducted a spiritualist Sunday and the other delegates began a campaign of
school. Through this he met the wealthy public speeches to change his mind. They
Prime Ministers TEXT_Prime Ministers TEXT 08.04.2011 03:07 Page 5
5
were overwhelmingly successful. The Act The second time he was PM
was signed by Queen Victoria on 9July 1900. C
When Governor-General Lord Hopetoun CHRIS WATSONoffered Labour’s
Basic wage
commissioned SirWilliam Lyne to form a support to Deakin to form a new
caretaker government, Deakin, who believed In 1907 H V McKay’s government. On 5July the Free Traders
Sunshine Harvester
Barton should have been chosen, refused to were defeated in parliament and Deakin
Company applied for a
serve. When the Governor-General was certificate confirming was again Prime Minister.
forced to call Barton, Deakin became his it met the conditions Although accused of being Labour’s
Attorney-General. of the Excise Tariff puppet, Deakin remained in office for an
(Agricultural Machinery)
After the 29–30March 1901 election eventful three years. The most important
Act 1906. Henry Bourne
Deakin began creating the High Court of legislation passed were the Excise Tariff
Higgins, President of
Australia, which came into being in 1903. the Conciliation and (Agricultural Machinery) Act 1906and the Customs
Modelled on the US Supreme Court, Arbitration Court, Tariff Act 1906. Manufacturers were exempt
examined the finances
initially there were three judges, each from excise if their employees had ‘fair and
and lifestyles of eleven
appointed for life. reasonable conditions of pay’.
Sunshine labourers. He
In 1903 Deakin and Governor-General judged that 42shillings At the 1907 London Imperial Conference,
Lord Tennyson convinced Edmund Barton (42/-, or $4.20) per Deakin told British industrialists their
to resign and become a justice of the High week was needed to Australian investments were safe because
support a wife and three
Court. Deakin replaced him as Prime Labour was so disorganised. As a result,
children. This became
Minister on 24September 1903. Chris Watson told Deakin he would no
the ‘basic wage’.
longer receive Labour’s absolute support.
Sunshine labourers
The first time he was PM worked a six-day week, The national capital saga was finally
A which meant 7/- (70c) resolved in 1908. It would take 50years for
AT THEelection of 16December 1903, per day. Because Canberra — largely a sheep grazing region —
Deakin promised a weather bureau, a McKay was paying 6/- to become a substantial city, although
(60c), the certificate
census bureau, a transcontinental railway parliament would meet there from 1927.
was refused.
and support for ironmakers. He campaigned Chris Watson stood down in 1907. His
As Deakin had feared,
up and down the eastern coast. Labour took replacement, Andrew Fisher, wanted Labour
the High Court declared
a number of seats from the Protectionists, back in power. On 13November 1908 he
the Act invalid. Even
but still supported Deakin in parliament. so, Higgins continued withdrew support for Deakin.
Deakin introduced the new Conciliation using his ‘basic wage’ Back in opposition, Deakin realised the
and Arbitration Billin 1904. Labour, supported principle when setting country needed two strong parties: Labour,
pay rates.
by rebel Protectionists and Free Traders, and a combination of Protectionists and
amended it to include state rail workers. Free Traders. When Joseph Cook became
Deakin took this as a vote of no confidence leader of the Free Traders, he and Deakin
and resigned on 27April. formed the Fusion.
Labour formed a minority government
under Chris Watson. Eventually Deakin The third time he was PM
agreed to a coalition with the Free Traders, O
but refused to take part in it. Free Trade Deakin addresses the ON 2JUNE1909 Deakin became Prime
leader George Reid became Prime Minister Pilgrims’ Club in London Minister for the third time after the Fusion
during the campaign to
in August 1904. defeated Labour in the House of
block the changes that
Representatives. This was the first
Chamberlain wanted
government with a majority in the House.
Deakin pushed through the creation of
an Australian navy. Britain’s Lord Kitchener
advised on establishing an army, with
compulsory training for all young men.
At the 13April 1910 election the Fusion
was soundly defeated by Labour. Deakin
was Opposition leader, but Cook did all the
work. Deakin resigned at the 1913 election.
After he was PM
F
FOR THEnext six years his memory
gradually faded. On 7October 1919 Deakin
died at his Fitzroy home. He left behind his
wife Pattie and three daughters.
Prime Ministers TEXT_Prime Ministers TEXT 08.04.2011 03:07 Page 6
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Chris Watson
27 April 1904 to 17 August 1904
John Christian Watson — Commonwealth Labour Party
Born 9 April 1867 at Valparaiso, Chile
Died 18 November 1941 at Sydney
Before he was PM succumbed to party pressure and approached
C Governor-General Lord Northcote. He was
CHRIS WATSONwas born at Valparaiso, commissioned to form the world’s first
Chile, on 9April 1867. At age ten, after a national Labour government. Being a minority,
short schooling in New Zealand, he went to Watson knew it would be short-lived.
work on the railways. By 13 he was a printer’s
helper on the North Otago Timesnewspaper. While he was PM
At 19yearsof age he sailed for Sydney. L
As a member of the Typographical Union LABOUR INTRODUCEDits own version
he soon became engrossed in Labour politics. of the Conciliation and Arbitration Billfour
At 23 he was President of the Sydney Trades months after it took office. Protection for
and Labour Council. He was instrumental state railway workers and a preference for
in developing the ‘solidarity’ principle, which unionists over non-unionists were included.
required all Labour parliamentarians to vote A Protectionist– Free Trade alliance
according to Party policy. In 1894 he was amended the Bill and the government was
elected to the colony’s Legislative Assembly defeated. Watson resigned the prime
on a platform of an eight-hour working day, ministership on 17August 1904.
William Walkley,
slum clearance and white Australia.
founder of Ampol
Watson was elected to the new After he was PM
Commonwealth parliament in 1901, becoming O
party leader. Knowing Labour could not ON 5JULY1905 Watson supported
obtain a parliamentary majority, Watson Deakin’s Protectionists, bringing down
supported the Protectionists in return for Reid’s government. Watson persuaded
their passing legislation that Labour favoured. Deakin to pass legislation that gave the
In April 1904 Labour amended Alfred basic wage to many workers.
Deakin’s Conciliation and Arbitration Billto On 24October 1907 he handed over to
include state railway employees. This Chris Watson with the Andrew Fisher, remaining in parliament
members of the Labour
stemmed from the until 1910. He was expelled from the
government in 1904
Victorian government’s party in 1916 for supporting
vicious breaking of a conscription.
railway workers strike In 1923 Watson was instrumental
that year. When Deakin in forming the National Roads and
refused, Watson Motorists’ Association (NRMA), of
withdrew Labour’s which he became Chairman. He
support. Deakin resigned backed William Walkley, who, in
on 27April. 1936, created the Ampol petrol
Chaos reigned among company to challenge foreign
Protectionists and Free domination of Australia’s oil industry.
Traders. Although Watson was chairman of Ampol until
unenthusiastic, Watson his death on 18November 1941.
Prime Ministers TEXT_Prime Ministers TEXT 08.04.2011 03:07 Page 7
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George Reid
18 August 1904 to 5 July 1905
George Houston Reid — Free Traders
Born 25 February 1845 at Johnstone, Paisley, Scotland
Died 12 September 1918 at London
Before he was PM In 1900 he advised Governor-General
G Lord Hopetoun to make SirWilliam Lyne
GEORGE REID, born in Scotland on caretaker prime minister. Reid wanted to be
Socialism
25February 1845, was the son of a Prime Minister and knew it would be easier
Presbyterian minister. In 1852, at the height Socialism is state, to defeat Lyne than Edmund Barton. He was
public or common
of the gold rush, the Reids arrived in elected to the Commonwealth Parliament in
ownership and
Melbourne. He was educated at the March 1901, becoming Opposition Leader.
management of means
Melbourne Academy before they moved to of production and During the Labour minority government
Sydney in 1858. Taking a job with the New allocation of resources. of April 1904, Protectionists leader Alfred
South Wales Treasury, he studied law in Deakin refused to form a coalition with
the evenings. By age 33 he was Secretary of Reid. When Deakin withdrew from the
the Crown Law Office and a barrister. leadership a Free Traders– Protectionist
George Reid and
Reid developed a strong interest in Free a young friend enjoy a alliance, the Anti-Socialists, defeated Labour
Trade politics. In 1880 he won the seat of day at the races in the House on 12August 1904. Six days
East Sydney in the Legislative Assembly. later Reid became the fourth Prime Minister
His aggressive style earned him few friends of Australia.
and many enemies.
As Minister of Public Instruction, Reid While he was PM
introduced technical colleges, high schools R
in regional centres, and evening classes at REID HELDoffice less than a year. There
the University of Sydney. This was a major was constant wrangling between the
turning point in public education. partners, and Alfred Deakin constantly
Reid claimed he opposed federation. He criticised Reid. He countered regular motions
declined a ministry in 1887 because Henry of no confidence with a barrage of
Parkes supported it. In 1894 he became the propaganda about the evils of socialism.
Free Trade Premier of New South Wales for When Labour agreed to support a Deakin-
five years. He was knighted in 1897. led Protectionist government on 5July 1905,
During the federation referendum Reid was defeated in parliament. He then
campaign of 1898 Reid listed all the became Opposition Leader again.
deficiencies in the proposed Constitution,
then announced he would vote for it After he was PM
anyway, earning the nickname ‘Yes-No M
Reid’. The referendum failed to achieve the British MP MUCH OF his work was handled by his
required 80000 votes. From 1915 until 1918 deputy, Joseph Cook, while Reid concentrated
Reid negotiated changes to the draft George Reid held the on his Sydney legal practice. By 1908 Deakin
British House of
document, including locating the national agreed to a coalition if Reid resigned.
Commons seat of
capital in New South Wales and changes to Reid was appointed High Commissioner
St George’s Hanover
the excise and customs provisions to suit Square for the to London.He was a skilled diplomat and
the Free Traders. The Constitution was Conservative Party. popular after-dinner speaker, remaining in
then overwhelmingly approved. Britain until his death on 12September 1918.