1.
1927 in Australia
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See also,1926 in Australia, other events of 1927,1928 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history. 8 February – A cyclone makes landfall north of Cairns, causing flooding at Halifax Bay, Ingham, Innisfail, Tully, Cardwell, thirty-six people are killed, and twenty are missing. 9 April – A general election is held in Victoria,3 May – The Australasian Council of Trade Unions is formed at the All-Australian Trade Union Congress in Melbourne. 9 May – Parliament House in Canberra is officially opened by the Duke of York,20 May – Following a swing to the ALP in the Victorian election, Edmond Hogan forms a minority Labor government with Progressive support, and takes over as Premier of Victoria from John Allan. 29 June – Charles Kingsford Smith and his copilot Charles Ulm complete a flight in ten days. 27 October – Melbourne gangster Squizzy Taylor is killed in a shootout with Sydney gangsters in Carlton,3 November – The Sydney ferry Greycliffe is cut in half by the liner RMS Tahiti, killing 40 persons. Professor Thomas Parnell begins the pitch drop experiment at the University of Queensland and it will go on to become the worlds longest continuously-running scientific experiment. George Washington Lambert wins the Archibald Prize 27 August – Ronald McMurdo wins the national marathon title. The race was not considered an official Australian championship by the national athletics federation,1 November – Trivalve wins the Melbourne Cup
2.
Australia
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Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It is the worlds sixth-largest country by total area, the neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor to the north, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east, and New Zealand to the south-east. Australias capital is Canberra, and its largest urban area is Sydney, for about 50,000 years before the first British settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who spoke languages classifiable into roughly 250 groups. The population grew steadily in subsequent decades, and by the 1850s most of the continent had been explored, on 1 January 1901, the six colonies federated, forming the Commonwealth of Australia. Australia has since maintained a liberal democratic political system that functions as a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy comprising six states. The population of 24 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard, Australia has the worlds 13th-largest economy and ninth-highest per capita income. With the second-highest human development index globally, the country highly in quality of life, health, education, economic freedom. The name Australia is derived from the Latin Terra Australis a name used for putative lands in the southern hemisphere since ancient times, the Dutch adjectival form Australische was used in a Dutch book in Batavia in 1638, to refer to the newly discovered lands to the south. On 12 December 1817, Macquarie recommended to the Colonial Office that it be formally adopted, in 1824, the Admiralty agreed that the continent should be known officially as Australia. The first official published use of the term Australia came with the 1830 publication of The Australia Directory and these first inhabitants may have been ancestors of modern Indigenous Australians. The Torres Strait Islanders, ethnically Melanesian, were originally horticulturists, the northern coasts and waters of Australia were visited sporadically by fishermen from Maritime Southeast Asia. The first recorded European sighting of the Australian mainland, and the first recorded European landfall on the Australian continent, are attributed to the Dutch. The first ship and crew to chart the Australian coast and meet with Aboriginal people was the Duyfken captained by Dutch navigator, Willem Janszoon. He sighted the coast of Cape York Peninsula in early 1606, the Dutch charted the whole of the western and northern coastlines and named the island continent New Holland during the 17th century, but made no attempt at settlement. William Dampier, an English explorer and privateer, landed on the north-west coast of New Holland in 1688, in 1770, James Cook sailed along and mapped the east coast, which he named New South Wales and claimed for Great Britain. The first settlement led to the foundation of Sydney, and the exploration, a British settlement was established in Van Diemens Land, now known as Tasmania, in 1803, and it became a separate colony in 1825. The United Kingdom formally claimed the part of Western Australia in 1828. Separate colonies were carved from parts of New South Wales, South Australia in 1836, Victoria in 1851, the Northern Territory was founded in 1911 when it was excised from South Australia
3.
1929
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This year marked the end of a period known in American history as the Roaring Twenties after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 ushered in a worldwide Great Depression. In the Americas, an agreement was brokered to end the Cristero War a Catholic counter-revolution in Mexico, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, a British high court, ruled that Canadian women are persons in the Edwards v. Canada case. The 1st Academy Awards for film were held in Los Angeles, the Peruvian Air Force was created. In the Soviet Union, General Secretary Joseph Stalin expelled Leon Trotsky, the Grand Trunk Express began service in India. Rioting between Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem over access to the Western Wall took place in the Middle East, the centenary of Western Australia was celebrated. The Kellogg–Briand Pact, a treaty renouncing war as an instrument of national policy, in Europe, the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy signed the Lateran Treaty. The Idionymon law was passed in Greece to outlaw political dissent, Spain hosted the Ibero-American Exposition which featured pavilions from Latin American countries. The German airship LZ127 Graf Zeppelin flew around the world in 21 days, on August 1 of this year the 1929 Palestine riots broke out between Palestinians and Jews over control of the Western Wall. The rioting, initiated in part when British police tore down a screen the Jews had constructed in front of the Wall, in total,133 Jews and 116 Palestinians were killed. The Palestinians had been told that Jews were killing Palestinians, Jews would not return to Hebron until after the Six-Day War in 1967. The other major clash was the 1929 Safed massacre, in which 18–20 Jews were killed by Palestinians in Safed in similar fashion, elsewhere in the Middle East, Iraq took a big step toward gaining independence from the British. The Iraqi government had, since the end of World War I, in September, Great Britain announced it would support Iraqs inclusion in the League of Nations, signaling the beginning of the end of their direct control of the region. Early in 1929 the Afghan leader King Amanullah lost power through revolution, habibullāhs rule, however, only lasted nine months. Nadir Shah replaced him in October, starting a line of monarchs which would last 40 years, in India, a general strike in Bombay continued throughout the year despite efforts by the British. On December 29, the All India Congress in Lahore declared Indian independence from Britain, China and Russia engaged in a minor conflict after China seized full control of the Manchurian Chinese Eastern Railway. Russia counterattacked and took the cities of Hailar and Manchouli after issuing an ultimatum demanding joint control of the railway to be reinstated, the Chinese agreed to the terms on November 26. The Japanese would later see this defeat as a sign of Chinese weakness, the Far East began to experience economic problems late in the year as the effects of the Great Depression began to spread. Southeast Asia was especially hard hit as its exports were more sensitive to economic problems, in the Pacific, on December 28 – Black Saturday in Samoa – New Zealand colonial police killed 11 unarmed demonstrators, an event which led the Mau movement to demand independence for Samoa
4.
Australian federal election, 1929
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A House-only Federal Election was held in Australia on 12 October 1929. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election, with senators having fixed six-year terms, the terms of those senators elected in 1926 were not due to expire until 1932. Under the Constitution of Australia, no election for their replacement could occur more than a prior to their terms expiring. This was the first Commonwealth election for the House of Representatives alone, labor won with its then largest-ever majority in the federal parliament, but held only a minority of Senate seats as a result of the House-only election. It was the federal election in Australias history at which no sitting members retired. It also saw the defeat of the Prime Minister Stanley Bruce in his own seat of Flinders, independent, William McWilliams See Australian federal election,1928 for Senate composition. Conflict over industrial relations had dominated Stanley Bruces government in 1929, strikes and unrest in Newcastle and Hunter Region coalfields were the most widespread and severe, but disturbances within the waterfront, sugar, transport and timber industries were also ongoing. Throughout 1928 and 1929 economic conditions in Australia and internationally had been declining, whilst Australian debt had grown, instead, the Nationalist premiers met separately and demanded that Bruce remand control of industrial arbitration back to the individual states. In August these issues came to a head, the motion was defeated, but Billy Hughes and Edward Mann crossed the floor on the motion. Bruce subsequently excluded them from participating in party meetings, Bruce then introduced the Maritime Industries Bill, which would abolish the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration and make arbitration the exclusive domain of the states. In concert Earle Page brought down his seventh and most stringent budget, Hughes and Mann joined the opposition in denouncing the bill, and were joined by rebelling Nationalist George Maxwell and independent Percy Stewart. At the second reading of the bill in September, it was apparent the bill would narrowly pass, however, when the bill entered the committee stage Hughes moved an amendment that the bill should not be proclaimed until submitted to the people, either by referendum or general election. Attorney-General John Latham noted that the Commonwealth had no power to call a referendum, Bruce agreed, stating that the amendment would constitute a vote of confidence in his government. The amendment had the support of the opposition, as well as the three Nationalist defectors, independents Stewart and William McWilliams indicated their support. The new budgets amusement tax appeared to be the last straw, with the vote now likely 35-34 in favor of the amendment, the Government was faced with a dilemma. The Chairman of Committees, Nationalist James Bayley, could not cast a vote in committee. However, it was possible for the Speaker, Nationalist Sir Littleton Groom, Bruce implored Groom to vote against the amendment in committee so that Bayley could defeat the measure with his tie-breaking vote. However, Groom was steadfast that he would follow the British House of Commons precedent that the Speaker remain impartial and not vote in committee
5.
Monarch
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A monarch is the sovereign head of state in a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority and power in the state, alternatively, an individual may become monarch by conquest, acclamation or a combination of means. A monarch usually reigns for life or until abdication, if a young child is crowned the monarch, a regent is often appointed to govern until the monarch reaches the requisite adult age to rule. A monarch can reign in multiple monarchies simultaneously, for example, the monarchy of Canada and the monarchy of the United Kingdom are separate states, but they share the same monarch through personal union. Monarchs, as such, bear a variety of titles — king or queen, prince or princess, emperor or empress, archduke, duke or grand duke, Prince is sometimes used as a generic term to refer to any monarch regardless of title, especially in older texts. A king can also be a husband and a queen can be a kings wife. If both people in a reign, neither person is generally considered to be a consort. Monarchy is political or sociocultural in nature, and is associated with hereditary rule. Most monarchs, both historically and in the present day, have been born and brought up within a royal family, different systems of succession have been used, such as proximity of blood, primogeniture, agnatic seniority, Salic law, etc. In an elective monarchy, the monarch is elected but otherwise serves as any other monarch, historical examples of elective monarchy include the Holy Roman Emperors and the free election of kings of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In recent centuries, many states have abolished the monarchy and become republics, advocacy of government by a republic is called republicanism, while advocacy of monarchy is called monarchism. A principal advantage of hereditary monarchy is the continuity of national leadership. In cases where the monarch serves mostly as a ceremonial figure real leadership does not depend on the monarch, a form of government may in fact be hereditary without being considered monarchy, such as a family dictatorship. Monarchies take a variety of forms, such as the two co-princes of Andorra, positions held simultaneously by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Urgel and the elected President of France. Similarly, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia is considered a monarch despite only holding the position for five years at a time, hereditary succession within one patrilineal family has been most common, with preference for children over siblings, sons over daughters. Other European realms practice one form or another of primogeniture, whereunder a lord was succeeded by his eldest son or, if he had none, by his brother, the system of tanistry was semi-elective and gave weight also to ability and merit. The Salic law, practiced in France and in the Italian territories of the House of Savoy, in most fiefs, in the event of the demise of all legitimate male members of the patrilineage, a female of the family could succeed. Spain today continues this model of succession law, in the form of cognatic primogeniture, in more complex medieval cases, the sometimes conflicting principles of proximity and primogeniture battled, and outcomes were often idiosyncratic
6.
George V
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George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. He was the son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. From the time of his birth, he was third in the line of succession behind his father and his own brother, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence. From 1877 to 1891, George served in the Royal Navy, on the death of his grandmother in 1901, Georges father became King-Emperor of the British Empire, and George was created Prince of Wales. He succeeded his father in 1910 and he was the only Emperor of India to be present at his own Delhi Durbar. His reign saw the rise of socialism, communism, fascism, Irish republicanism, the Parliament Act 1911 established the supremacy of the elected British House of Commons over the unelected House of Lords. In 1917, George became the first monarch of the House of Windsor, in 1924 he appointed the first Labour ministry and in 1931 the Statute of Westminster recognised the dominions of the Empire as separate, independent states within the Commonwealth of Nations. He had health problems throughout much of his reign and at his death was succeeded by his eldest son. George was born on 3 June 1865, in Marlborough House and he was the second son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Albert Edward and Alexandra. His father was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and he was baptised at Windsor Castle on 7 July 1865 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles Longley. As a younger son of the Prince of Wales, there was expectation that George would become king. He was third in line to the throne, after his father and elder brother, George was only 17 months younger than Albert Victor, and the two princes were educated together. John Neale Dalton was appointed as their tutor in 1871, neither Albert Victor nor George excelled intellectually. For three years from 1879, the brothers served on HMS Bacchante, accompanied by Dalton. They toured the colonies of the British Empire in the Caribbean, South Africa and Australia, and visited Norfolk, Virginia, as well as South America, the Mediterranean, Egypt, Dalton wrote an account of their journey entitled The Cruise of HMS Bacchante. Between Melbourne and Sydney, Dalton recorded a sighting of the Flying Dutchman, after Lausanne, the brothers were separated, Albert Victor attended Trinity College, Cambridge, while George continued in the Royal Navy. He travelled the world, visiting many areas of the British Empire, during his naval career he commanded Torpedo Boat 79 in home waters then HMS Thrush on the North America station, before his last active service in command of HMS Melampus in 1891–92. From then on, his rank was largely honorary
7.
Governor-general
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Governor-General or governor general, in modern usage, is the title of an office-holder appointed to represent the monarch of a sovereign state in the governing of an independent realm. Governors-General have also previously been appointed in respect of major colonial states or other territories held by either a monarchy or republic, in modern usage, the term governor-general originated in those British colonies which became self-governing within the British Empire. In these cases, the Crowns representative in the federated Dominion was given the title of governor general. Another non-federal state, Newfoundland, was a Dominion for 16 years with the Kings representative retaining the title of governor throughout this time, since 2016, the title governor-general has been given to all representatives of the sovereign in independent Commonwealth realms. In these countries the governor-general acts as the representative, performing the ceremonial and constitutional functions of a head of state. The only other nation which uses the designation is Iran. In Iran, the authority is headed by a governor general. As such they held the prerogative powers of the monarch. The monarch or imperial government could overrule any governor-general, though this could often be cumbersome, the governors-general are entitled to wear a unique uniform, which are not generally worn today. If of the rank of general, equivalent or above. The report resulting from the 1926 Imperial Conference stated, in other words, the political reality of a self-governing Dominion within the British Empire with a governor-general answerable to the sovereign became clear. British interference in the Dominion was not acceptable and independent country status was clearly displayed, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand were clearly not controlled by the United Kingdom. The governor-general, however, is appointed by the monarch. Executive authority is vested in the monarch, though much of it can be exercisable only by the governor-general on behalf of the sovereign of the independent realm. Except in rare cases, the only acts in accordance with constitutional convention and upon the advice of the national prime minister. The governor-general is still the representative of the sovereign and performs the same duties as they carried out historically. In some realms, the monarch could in principle overrule a governor-general, in Australia the present Queen is generally assumed to be head of state, since the governor-general and the state governors are defined as her representatives. However, since the governor-general performs almost all national regal functions, to a lesser extent, uncertainty has been expressed in Canada as to which officeholder—the monarch, the governor general, or both—can be considered the head of state
8.
John Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven
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Baird was born in Chelsea, London, the son of Sir Alexander Baird, 1st Baronet, and the Hon. Annette Maria, daughter of Lawrence Palk, 1st Baron Haldon. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, and he was commissioned in the Lanarkshire Yeomanry. In 1894 he served as an aide-de-camp to the Governor of New South Wales and he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1904 and retired from the Diplomatic Service in 1908. He was a Deputy Lieutenant for Kincardineshire from 5 January 1900 and he also fought in the First World War where he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order. In January 1919 he became Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions, already in April 1919 he was made Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, which he remained until the coalition government fell in October 1922. Bonar Law became Prime Minister the same month, and appointed Baird Minister of Transport and he was sworn of the Privy Council a few days later. In the November 1922 general election, he was returned for Ayr Burghs, in December, after the Conservatives returned to power, he accepted the position of Governor-General of Australia. In accordance with the practice, the Australian Prime Minister, Stanley Bruce, had been offered a number of choices, including a Duke, a Marquess and an Earl. Bruce opted for Baird partly because of his experience and partly because he was a more modest figure than the aristocratic alternatives. In June 1925 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Stonehaven, of Ury in the County of Kincardine, lord Stonehaven arrived in Australia in October 1925. He quickly established good relations with Bruce, with whom he had much in common, from now on the Governor-Generals sole role was to be a personal representative of the Crown. There were other changes during Stonehavens term and this meant an end to travelling between government houses in Sydney and Melbourne and made the post of Governor-General less expensive. At the same time, the advent of aviation, of which Stonehaven was a keen exponent, although the Parliament was only a year old, Stonehaven agreed at once, the days when Governors-General exercised a discretion in this area had passed. Bruces party was defeated at the October election, and Bruce also lost his own seat, the Labor leader, James Scullin, took office in January 1930. Stonehavens relations with Scullin were correct but not friendly, since his political sympathies lay elsewhere and it was probably fortunate for him that his term expired in 1930, before the crises of the Scullin government began. Stonehaven was not consulted by Scullin about the choice of his successor, during his term as Governor-General, he was also Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales. On his return to Britain he was appointed Chairman of the Conservative Party in 1931, in 1938 he was further honoured when he was made Viscount Stonehaven, of Ury in the County of Kincardine. Lord Stonehaven married Lady Sydney Keith-Falconer, daughter of the 9th Earl of Kintore and they had two sons and three daughters
9.
Prime minister
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A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss members of the cabinet. In most systems, the minister is the presiding member. In parliamentary systems fashioned after the Westminster system, the minister is the presiding and actual head of government. In such systems, the head of state or the head of states official representative usually holds a ceremonial position. The prime minister is often, but not always, a member of the Legislature or the Lower House thereof and is expected with other ministers to ensure the passage of bills through the legislature. In some monarchies the monarch may also exercise powers that are constitutionally vested in the crown. The first actual usage of the prime minister or Premier Ministre was used by Cardinal Richelieu when in 1625 he was named to head the royal council as prime minister of France. Louis XIV and his descendants generally attempted to avoid giving this title to their chief ministers, the term prime minister in the sense that we know it originated in the 18th century in the United Kingdom when members of parliament disparagingly used the title in reference to Sir Robert Walpole. Over time, however, the title became honorific and remains so in the 21st century, the monarchs of England and the United Kingdom had ministers in whom they placed special trust and who were regarded as the head of the government. Examples were Thomas Cromwell under Henry VIII, William Cecil, Lord Burghley under Elizabeth I, Clarendon under Charles II and these ministers held a variety of formal posts, but were commonly known as the minister, the chief minister, the first minister and finally the prime minister. The power of ministers depended entirely on the personal favour of the monarch. Although managing the parliament was among the skills of holding high office. Although there was a cabinet, it was appointed entirely by the monarch, when the monarch grew tired of a first minister, he or she could be dismissed, or worse, Cromwell was executed and Clarendon driven into exile when they lost favour. Kings sometimes divided power equally between two or more ministers to prevent one minister from becoming too powerful, late in Annes reign, for example, the Tory ministers Harley and St John shared power. The monarch could no longer any law or impose any tax without its permission. It is at point that a modern style of prime minister begins to emerge. A tipping point in the evolution of the prime ministership came with the death of Anne in 1714, George spoke no English, spent much of his time at his home in Hanover, and had neither knowledge of, nor interest in, the details of English government
10.
Stanley Bruce
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Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne, CH, MC, PC, FRS was the eighth Prime Minister of Australia. He later pursued a long and influential career as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, at the League of Nations and as Chairman of the Food. Born into a wealthy Melbourne family, Bruce studied at the University of Cambridge and he served on the front lines of the Gallipoli Campaign in World War I and returned to Australia wounded in 1917, becoming a spokesperson for government recruitment efforts. He gained the attention of the Nationalist Party and Prime Minister Billy Hughes and he was elected to parliament in 1918, becoming treasurer in 1921 and then prime minister in 1923. In office Bruce pursued an energetic and diverse agenda and he comprehensively overhauled federal government administration and oversaw its transfer to the new capital city of Canberra. He implemented many reforms to the Australian federal system that strengthened the role of the Commonwealth and he established the Commonwealth Peace Officers and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the forerunners of the Australian Federal Police and the CSIRO. In the resounding loss at the subsequent election the Prime Minister lost his seat, although he returned to parliament in 1931, Bruces service in the Lyons Government was brief. Instead he pursued a career, accepting appointment as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in 1933. He was elevated to the peerage in 1947 and became the first Australian to sit in the House of Lords, Stanley Melbourne Bruce was born on 15 April 1883 in St Kilda, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, and was the youngest of five children. His father, John Munro Bruce, was of Ulster Scottish descent and had emigrated from Ireland to Australia in 1858 at the age of 18. His mother, Mary Ann Henderson, was Irish and had married her cousin John after emigrating to Australia in 1872 at the age of 24, as his wealth grew, John became increasingly influential in colonial Victorias social and political life. An avid golfer, he was one of the founders of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club and he was prominent in the liberal protectionist political movement within the state, and an early supporter of future prime minister Alfred Deakin. Johns success ensured that Bruce, his sister Mary and brothers Ernest, William, shortly after Bruces birth the family relocated to the stately Wombalano manor in Toorak. However, John was an aloof and remote figure in the lives of his children, despite their familys Presbyterian faith, Bruce was sent to Melbourne Church of England Grammar School and subsequently Bruce would come to identify principally as Anglican. Bruce was a student but extremely active in the sporting life of the school and captain of its football team. The economic depression of the 1880s and 1890s hit the Bruce family fortunes hard, John Bruce lost much of his fortune in the Victorian bank collapse of 1894 and incurred large debts to buy out his partners in the importing business in 1897. The family suffered a great deal more tragedy over the coming decades, stanleys brother William committed suicide in 1899, shortly after seeking treatment for mental illness. Just two years later John Bruce took his own life during a trip to Paris, he had suffered from depression as a result of the great pressures on his business
11.
James Scullin
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James Henry Jim Scullin was an Australian Labor Party politician and the ninth Prime Minister of Australia. Scullin led Labor to government at the 1929 election, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 transpired just two days after his swearing in, which would herald the beginning of the Great Depression in Australia. The son of working-class Irish-immigrants, Scullin spent much of his life as a laborer and grocer in Ballarat. An autodidact and passionate debater, Scullin would join the Australian Labor Party in 1903 and he was a political organizer and newspaper editor for the party, and was elected to the House of Representatives first in 1910 and then again in 1922 until 1949. Scullin quickly established himself as a voice in parliament, rapidly rising to become deputy leader of the party in 1927. The still opposition-dominated Senate, and the boards of the Commonwealth Bank and Loan Council. Pensioners and other core Labor constituencies were severely affected by the cuts, leading to a widespread revolt, after several months of infighting the government collapsed, and was resoundingly defeated by the newly formed United Australia Party at the subsequent 1931 election. Scullin would remain party leader for four years but the party split would not be healed until after Scullins return to the backbenches in 1935. Although disappointed with his own term of office, he lived long enough to see many of his governments ideas implemented by subsequent governments before his death in 1953. James Henry Scullin was born in Trawalla, Victoria on 18 September 1876 and his parents, John and Ann Scullin, were both Irish Catholics from County Londonderry. His father was a labourer, who emigrated to Australia in his 20s. His mother joined her husband in Australia later, James was the fourth of eight children, and grew up in a tight-knit and devoutly Catholic home. James attended the Trawalla State School from 1881 to 1887 and earned a reputation as an active and quick-witted boy. These characteristics would remain with him for life, the family moved to Mount Rowan, Ballarat in 1887, and the young James attended school at Mount Rowan State School until 12. Thereafter he held various manual odd-jobs in the Ballarat district until about 1900, in his mid-20s he attended night school, was a voracious reader and became somewhat of an autodidact. He joined a number of societies and was active in the Australian Natives Association, Scullin was a devout Roman Catholic, a non-drinker and a non-smoker all his life. He became a member of his local Political Labor Council in 1903 and was active in local politics thereafter. He was a campaigner and political organizer for the Australian Workers Union and he spoke often around Ballarat on political issues and helped with Labor campaigns at state and federal level
12.
Election
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An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century, Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the executive and judiciary, and for regional and local government. This process is used in many other private and business organizations. Electoral reform describes the process of introducing fair electoral systems where they are not in place, psephology is the study of results and other statistics relating to elections. To elect means to choose or make a decision, and so other forms of ballot such as referendums are referred to as elections. Elections were used as early in history as ancient Greece and ancient Rome, and throughout the Medieval period to select rulers such as the Holy Roman Emperor, in Vedic period of India, the raja of a gana was apparently elected by the gana. The raja belonged to the noble Kshatriya varna, and was typically a son of the previous raja, however, the gana members had the final say in his elections. The Pala king Gopala in early medieval Bengal was elected by a group of feudal chieftains, such elections were quite common in contemporary societies of the region. In Chola Empire, around 920 CE, in Uthiramerur, palm leaves were used for selecting the village committee members, the leaves, with candidate names written on them, were put inside a mud pot. To select the members, a young boy was asked to take out as many leaves as the number of positions available. This was known as the Kudavolai system, ancient Arabs also used election to choose their caliph, Uthman and Ali, in the early medieval Rashidun Caliphate. Questions of suffrage, especially suffrage for minority groups, have dominated the history of elections, males, the dominate cultural group in North America and Europe, often dominated the electorate and continue to do so in many countries. Early elections in such as the United Kingdom and the United States were dominated by landed or ruling class males. However, by 1920 all Western European and North American democracies had universal male suffrage. Despite legally mandated universal suffrage for males, political barriers were sometimes erected to prevent fair access to elections. The question of who may vote is an issue in elections. In Australia Aboriginal people were not given the right to vote until 1962, suffrage is typically only for citizens of the country, though further limits may be imposed. However, in the European Union, one can vote in municipal elections if one lives in the municipality and is an EU citizen, the nationality of the country of residence is not required
13.
Queensland state election, 1929
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Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland on 11 May 1929 to elect the 72 members of the states Legislative Assembly. In this election, Irene Longman became the first woman to stand and be elected into the Queensland Parliament. The Labor government was seeking its sixth term in office since the 1915 election. His main opponent was the Country and Progressive National Party, led by Arthur Edward Moore, the election resulted in the defeat of the McCormack government, and the first non-Labor ministry since 1915. The election saw the defeat of the Labor government by the CPNP,1517,466 electors were enrolled to vote at the election, but 4 seats were uncontested—2 Labor seats representing 9,041 enrolled voters and two CPNP seats representing 16,536 enrolled voters. The CPNP, found itself in power as the Great Depression took hold and it lost power after just one term
14.
Monarchy of Australia
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The monarchy of Australia is a form of government in which a hereditary king or queen serves as the nations sovereign. The present monarch is Elizabeth II, styled Queen of Australia and she is represented in Australia by the governor-general, in accordance with the Australian constitution and letters patent from the Queen. In each of the states, the monarch is represented by a governor, the Australian monarch, besides reigning in Australia, separately serves as monarch for each of 15 other Commonwealth nations known as realms. This developed from the colonial relationship between these countries and the United Kingdom, but they are now independent of each other and are legally distinct. Likewise, on all matters relating to any Australian state, the monarch is advised by the ministers of the Crown of that state, the British government is thus considered a foreign power in regard to Australias domestic and foreign affairs. The sovereigns Australian title is currently Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth. Typically, the monarch is styled King or Queen of Australia and is addressed as such when in Australia or performing duties on behalf of Australia abroad, prior to 1953, the title had simply been the same as that in the United Kingdom. Australia, however, wished to have the United Kingdom mentioned as well, thus, the resolution was a title that included the United Kingdom but, for the first time, also separately mentioned Australia and the other Commonwealth realms. The passage of a new Royal Style and Titles Act by the Parliament of Australia put these recommendations into law, Queen Elizabeth II signed her assent at Government House, Canberra, on 19 October 1973. Australia does not pay any money to the Queen, either for personal income or to support the royal residences outside Australia, only when the Queen is in Australia does the Australian government support her in the performance of her duties. This rule applies equally to members of the Royal Family. Succession is according to British laws that have incorporated into Australian law. By adhering to the Statute of Westminster in 1942, Australia agreed to change its rules of only in agreement with the UK. Parallel proclamations are made by the governors in each state, regardless of any proclamations, the late sovereigns heir immediately and automatically succeeds, without any need for confirmation or further ceremony. After an individual ascends the throne, he or she continues to reign until death. The legal personality of a component of the Australian state is expressed by reference to the sovereign. In criminal prosecutions, the state as a party is named as The Queen—for instance. However, the prosecutors themselves are referred to as representing the Crown, more commonly and conveniently, however, the entity is referred to directly—for example, as The Commonwealth or The State of New South Wales or simply New South Wales
15.
Governor-General of Australia
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The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia of the Australian monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor-General is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister of Australia, when travelling abroad, the Governor-General is seen as the representative of Australia, and of the Queen of Australia, so is treated as a head of state. The Governor-General is supported by a staff headed by the Official Secretary to the Governor-General, a Governor-General is not appointed for a specific term, but is generally expected to serve for five years subject to a possible short extension. Since 28 March 2014, the Governor-General has been General Sir Peter Cosgrove, from Federation in 1901 until 1965,11 out of the 15 Governors-General were British aristocrats, they included four barons, three viscounts, three earls, and one prince. Since then, all but one of the Governors-General have been Australian-born, as of 2017, only one Governor-General, Dame Quentin Bryce, was a woman. The selection of a Governor-General is a responsibility for the Prime Minister of Australia, the candidate is approached privately to confirm whether they are willing to accept the appointment. The prime minister advises the monarch to appoint his nominee. This has been the procedure since November 1930, when James Scullins proposed appointment of Sir Isaac Isaacs was fiercely opposed by the British government, Scullin was equally insistent that the monarch must act on the relevant prime ministers direct advice. Both of these appointments had been agreed to despite British government objections, despite these precedents, George V remained reluctant to accept Scullins recommendation of Isaacs and asked him to consider Field Marshal Sir William Birdwood. However, Scullin stood firm, and, on 29 November, the King agreed to Isaacss appointment and this right to not only advise the monarch directly, but also to expect that advice to be accepted, was soon taken up by all the other Dominion prime ministers. This, among other things, led to the Statute of Westminster 1931, having agreed to the appointment, the monarch then permits it to be publicly announced in advance, usually several months before the end of the current Governor-Generals term. During these months, the person is referred to as the Governor-General-designate, the actual appointment is made by the monarch. Governors-General have during their tenure the style His/Her Excellency the Honourable, since May 2013, the style used by a former Governor-General is the Honourable, it was at the same time retrospectively granted for life to all previous holders of the office. From the creation of the Order of Australia in 1975, the Governor-General was, ex officio, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order, and therefore became entitled to the post-nominal AC. In 1986 the Letters Patent were amended again, and Governors-General appointed from that time were again, ex officio, until 1989, all Governors-General were members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and thus held the additional style the Right Honourable for life. The same individuals were also usually either peers, knights, or both, in 1989, Bill Hayden, a republican, declined appointment to the British Privy Council and any imperial honours. Dame Quentin Bryce was the first Governor-General to have had no title or pre-nominal style. Until 2015, the honour continued after the retirement from office of the Governor-General, formerly, the Governor-General automatically became a knight or dame upon being sworn in
16.
Prime Minister of Australia
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The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the head of government of Australia. The individual who holds the office is the most senior Minister of the Crown, the leader of the Cabinet, the office is not mentioned in the Constitution of Australia and exists only through longstanding political convention and tradition. Despite this, in practice it is the most powerful position in Australia. The individual who holds the office is commissioned by the Governor-General of Australia, almost always and according to convention, the Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party or largest party in a coalition of parties in the House of Representatives. However, there is no requirement that the prime minister sit in the House of Representatives. The only case where a member of the Senate was appointed minister was John Gorton. Malcolm Turnbull has held the office of Prime Minister since 15 September 2015, the Prime Minister and Treasurer are traditionally members of the House, but the Constitution does not have such a requirement. Before being sworn in as a Minister of the Crown, a person must first be sworn in as a member of the Federal Executive Council if they are not already a member. Membership of the Federal Executive Council entitles the member to the style of The Honourable for life, the senior members of the Executive Council constitute the Cabinet of Australia. The Prime Minister is, like ministers, normally sworn in by the Governor-General. When defeated in an election, or on resigning, the Prime Minister is said to hand in the commission, in the event of a Prime Minister dying in office, or becoming incapacitated, the Governor-General can terminate the commission. Despite the importance of the office of minister, the Constitution does not mention the office by name. The conventions of the Westminster system were thought to be entrenched in Australia by the authors of the Constitution that it was deemed unnecessary to detail them. The formal title of the portfolio has always been simply Prime Minister, except for the period of the Fourth Deakin Ministry, Page was the leader of the smaller party in the governing coalition, the Country Party. He held the office for three weeks until the UAP elected a new leader, Robert Menzies, in August 1941 Menzies resigned as prime minister. In July 1945 John Curtin died suddenly and his deputy, Frank Forde, was sworn in the next day as prime minister, although the Labor Party had not had an opportunity to meet and elect a new leader. Forde served for eight days until Ben Chifley was elected leader, Chifley was then sworn in, replacing Forde, who became Australias shortest-serving prime minister. Harold Holt disappeared while swimming on 17 December 1967 and was declared presumed dead on 19 December, the governor-general, Lord Casey, commissioned the Leader of the Country Party, John McEwen, to form a government until the Liberal Party elected a new leader
17.
Chief Justice of Australia
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The Chief Justice of Australia is the informal title for the presiding justice of the High Court of Australia and the highest-ranking judicial officer in the Commonwealth of Australia. The incumbent is Susan Kiefel, the first woman to hold the office, the Court was constituted by, and its first members were appointed under, the Judiciary Act 1903, with the first appointments to the High Court commencing on 5 October 1903. The Chief Justice is first among equals among the Justices of the High Court, all Justices, including the Chief Justice, are appointed by the Governor-General of Australia, on the advice of the federal government. They can be removed only by the Governor-General, on a request from both houses of the parliament, although this has never been done. Since 1977, appointment has been until the retirement age of seventy. The Chief Justice often acts as the Governor-Generals deputy, especially at such as the opening of Parliament after an election. Chief Justice Samuel Griffith was several times consulted by Governors-General of Australia on the exercise of the reserve powers, the Chief Justice also administers the Oath of Allegiance to the Monarch and an Oath of Office to the Governor-General-designate when he or she takes up his or her appointment. Chief Justice Sir John Latham was absent from the office when he served from 1940 to 1941 as Australias first ambassador to Japan, Sir George Rich was Acting Chief Justice in Lathams absence
18.
Adrian Knox
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Sir Adrian Knox KCMG, KC, Australian judge, was the second Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, sitting on the bench of the High Court from 1919 to 1930. Knox was born in Sydney on 29 November 1863, the son of English migrant parents who owned the Colonial Sugar Refining Company. Knox was educated first in Sydney, and then in the United Kingdom, attending Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge, shortly after, he was admitted to the Inner Temple, one of the Inns of Court in which English barristers are called to the bar. Knox returned to Australia in 1886 and joined his brother George in practising law, when George died in 1888, Adrian took over the practice, and soon became one of the most successful lawyers at the Sydney bar. Between 1888–90, he reported equity cases for the New South Wales Law Reports, in 1894, Knox was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, in the seat of Woollahra. After being reelected in 1895, Knox retired from the parliament in 1898, at this time, he was also a director of the Australian Mutual Provident Society and a founding member of the Walter and Eliza Hall Trust. Knox was made a Kings Counsel in 1906, and shortly after was offered a position on the bench of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, also in 1906, Knox became Chairman of the Australian Jockey Club, indulging his passion for horse-racing. In 1910, Knoxs horse Vavasor won the Sydney Cup, during World War I, Knox left his practice and traveled to Egypt, where he served as a Commissioner for the Red Cross. He served on the NSW Bar Council from its foundation in 1902 until 1910 and he was appointed to the Privy Council in 1920. Knox sat on a number of committees in this capacity. During his time as Chief Justice, Knox presided over such significant cases as the Engineers case of 1920. Knox was one of six justices of the High Court to have served in the Parliament of New South Wales, along with Edmund Barton, Richard OConnor, Albert Piddington, Edward McTiernan, Knox died in Woollahra on 27 April 1932 and is interred in Waverley Cemetery. He was survived by his wife and three children, in 1918, Knox was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, and in 1921 he was elevated to Knight Commander of that order. Knox was an inductee of the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. Parliament of New South Wales – Sir Adrian Knox Australian Racing Hall of Fame – Sir Adrian Knox ADB - Sir Adrian Knox
19.
Premier of New South Wales
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The Premier of New South Wales is the head of government in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Government of New South Wales follows the Westminster system, with a Parliament of New South Wales acting as the legislature, prior to Federation in 1901 the term Prime Minister of New South Wales was used, Premier was used from 1901. The current Premier is Gladys Berejiklian, the Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party, Berejiklian replaced Mike Baird on 23 January 2017, after Baird resigned as Premier. As of January 2017, nine former Premiers are alive, the oldest being Barrie Unsworth, the most recent premier to die was Tom Lewis on 25 April 2016. List of Premiers of New South Wales by time in office Deputy Premier of New South Wales
20.
Thomas Bavin
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Sir Thomas Rainsford Bavin, KCMG was the 24th Premier of New South Wales. Born in Kaiapoi, New Zealand to a Methodist minister and his wife, Bavin was educated at Auckland Grammar School until 1889 when his family moved to Sydney and Bavin enrolled at Newington College. His siblings were, Edna, Jessie, Gertrude, Major Cyril Bavin OBE, Horace Bavin, Florence Bavin, Lancelot Bavin, and Dora Bavin. At the University of Sydney he came into conflict with his parents by renouncing Methodism, in 1913, he inquired into food supplies and prices and went to sea on the trawlers to investigate pricing of fish in detail. He recommended an anti-monopoly bureau that could investigate prices and recommend prosecutions, Bavin was elected as an alderman to Willoughby Municipal Council in 1910. When World War I broke out he became an intelligence officer. Bavins attempts to enter parliament were thwarted, thrice losing Commonwealth Liberal Party pre-selection. After the Nationalist loss at the 1925 election, Bavin was elected party leader, in reaction to Australian Labor Party calls to abolish the Legislative Council, Bavin pushed through legislation requiring a referendum to do so. Bavin was plagued by ill-health throughout his Premiership, meaning that he was absent him from Cabinet during crucial times, faced with a growing number of strikes, Bavin turned to non-unionised labour, which led to violent confrontations between striking workers and police. Following the Nationalists loss in the 1930 election, Bavin continued to lead the party until 1932, appointed KCMG in 1933, Bavin retired from politics in 1935 to serve as a Justice of the New South Wales Supreme Court. Bavin also returned to writing, authoring a number of books, including Thomas Rainsford Bavin, Extracts from his Speeches from 1923 until 1932, Bavin died of cancer in the Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill, survived by his wife, son and three daughters. His well-attended funeral was held at St. Andrews Cathedral, Sydney on 2 September 1941 and he was later cremated at Northern Suburbs Crematorium. Bavin was appointed KCMG in 1933
21.
Premier of Queensland
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The Premier of Queensland is the head of government in the Australian state of Queensland. By convention the Premier is the leader of the party with a majority in the unicameral Legislative Assembly of Queensland. The Premier is appointed by the Governor of Queensland, the incumbent Premier of Queensland since the 2015 election is Annastacia Palaszczuk of the Australian Labor Party. Under section 42 of the Constitution of Queensland the Premier and other members of Cabinet are appointed by the Governor and are responsible to Parliament. The text of the Constitution assigns to the Premier certain powers, such as the power to assign roles to Assistant Ministers, although ministerial appointments are the prerogative of the Governor of Queensland, in normal circumstances the Governor will make these appointments under the advice of the Premier. A re-elected government will be resworn, with adjustments to the ministry as determined by the Premier, the Premier has an office in the Executive Annexe of Parliament House, Brisbane, which is normally used while Parliament is sitting. At other times the Premiers ministerial office is in 1 William Street, before the 1890s, there was no developed party system in Queensland. Political affiliation labels before that time indicate a general tendency only, before the end of the first decade of the twentieth century, political parties were more akin to parliamentary factions, and were fluid, informal and disorganised by modern standards. As of February 2015, six former premiers are alive, the oldest being Russell Cooper, the most recent premier to die was Wayne Goss, on 10 November 2014. List of Premiers of Queensland by time in office Government of Queensland Politics of Queensland
22.
William McCormack
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William McCormack, was Premier of Queensland, Australia, from 1925 to 1929. William McCormack was born in St Lawrence, Queensland, McCormack entered politics as member for Cairns in the Queensland Legislative Assembly at the election of 1912, a seat he held until his retirement from politics in 1930. He was a friend of Ted Theodore, an earlier premier, McCormack died in Brisbane on 21 November 1947 and was buried at the Toowong Cemetery. His funeral cortage proceeded from his Annerley residence to the cemetery
23.
Arthur Edward Moore
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Arthur Edward Moore, CMG was an Australian politician. He was the Country and Progressive National Party Premier of Queensland and he was the only Queensland Premier not to come from the ranks of the Labor Party between 1915 and 1957. Moore was born in Napier, New Zealand in 1876 and his family moved to Australia in 1887 when his father became a bank manager in Melbourne. The younger Moore arrived in Queensland in 1898, where he was a farmer on the Darling Downs. Moore entered the Legislative Assembly of Queensland in 1915 representing the Farmers Union in the seat of Aubigny and this election saw the defeat of the government of Digby Denham and the election of the Labor government of Thomas J. Ryan. Bitter strife within and between various parties was a contributing factor to Labors election victories in 1920, and 1923. The Party changed its name in December 1925 to the Country, Moores government soon had to deal with the effects of the Great Depression that was wreaking havoc on the economy throughout Australia. Moore responded by following a policy of deflation, limiting government expenditure and attempting to scale back wages, in order to assist the states finances he implemented an income tax, much to the chagrin of many supporters. His proposals for assistance to wool growers in 1931 met with opposition from banks. He also came under fire in 1931 when divisions in the CPNPs parliamentary party emerged over the restoration of the Legislative Council, Moore came under repeated attack from the conservative Brisbane Courier. During his term, Moore also redrew the boundaries, becoming one of the many Queensland premiers accused of gerrymandering. The size of the Legislative Assembly was reduced from 72 to 62 seats, in 1932 Moore instituted a Royal Commission to investigate former Labor Premier E. G. Theodore over his alleged corruption in what was known as the Mungana affair, Moore was accused by many in the Labor movement of orchestrating the Commissions activities in such a way as to deal maximum political damage to the Scullin federal government. The elections of that year confirmed his partys loss of standing with the onset of the Great Depression, the CPNP was defeated by Labor under William Forgan Smith. Moore kept the CPNP together as leader until the defeat of 1935. In the aftermath, the CPNP split, and most of its rural members refounded the Country Party, holding Moore responsible for the 1935 debacle, Country Party MPs insisted on Moores resignation as leader. Moore stood down in favour of Ted Maher and he remained on the opposition front bench until his retirement in 1941. He was accorded a State funeral at Brisbanes St Johns Anglican Cathedral, arthur Edward Moore, Odd Man In
24.
Premier of South Australia
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The Premier of South Australia is the head of government in the state of South Australia, Australia. The Government of South Australia follows the Westminster system, with a Parliament of South Australia acting as the legislature, the current Premier is Jay Weatherill, the Leader of the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party. Weatherill replaced Mike Rann on 21 October 2011, after Rann resigned as Premier, before the 1890s when there was no formal party system in South Australia, MPs tended to have historical liberal or conservative beliefs. The liberals dominated government from the 1893 election to 1905 election with the support of the South Australian United Labor Party, Labor took government with the support of eight dissident liberals in 1905 when Labor won the most seats for the first time. The rise of Labor saw non-Labor politics start to merge into various party incarnations, Labor formed South Australias first majority government after winning the 1910 state election, triggering the merger. The 1910 election came two weeks after federal Labor formed Australias first elected majority government at the 1910 federal election, no Country or rural conservative parties emerged as serious long-term forces in South Australian state politics, often folding into the main non-Labor party. There are six living former premiers, the oldest being Steele Hall, the most recent premier to die was John Bannon on 13 December 2015. In the following timeline, the legend includes the Liberal and Democratic Union, the Liberal Union, the Liberal Party of Australia is represented as Liberal only. The grey area represents the duration of Playmander electoral malapportionment, beginning in 1936, in effect until the 1970 election
25.
Richard Layton Butler
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Sir Richard Layton Butler KCMG was the 31st Premier of South Australia, serving two disjunct terms in office, from 1927 to 1930, and again from 1933 to 1938. Butler would lose his seat at the 1918 election but regained Wooroora at the 1921 election and he followed most of the Liberal Union into the Liberal Federation in 1922 when it joined forces with several pro-conscription Australian Labor Party members. Butler made infrequent speeches in parliament and was in the habit of offending people through his choice of words. He was, however, known for his convivial style outside parliament, in 1925 he became Liberal Federation party whip, becoming party leader shortly afterward following the retirement of former premier Henry Barwell from politics. In becoming Premier, Butler and his became the first father-son combination to serve as Premier of South Australia. By the 1930 election, South Australia faced severe drought as well as the Depression, leaving Butler to warn of hard times ahead, Labor leader Lionel Hill, on the other hand, promised a golden future. Not surprisingly, the Liberal Federation was reduced to 13 seats and this amalgamation resulted in the Liberal and Country League in 1932, with himself as leader. Butler led the LCL to a victory at the 1933 election following the self-destruction of the South Australian ALP over its handling of the Depression. After the Hill government gave its support to the Premiers Plan, Hill resigned nine months before the election and was succeeded by Robert Richards, who faced the nearly impossible task of holding on to power against the LCL. At the election, the LCL won a victory, taking 29 seats while three competing Labor factions only won 13 seats between them. In addition to becoming Premier, Butler served as his own Treasurer and he was also known in Canberra as a fierce opponent of federal control, strongly opposing the proposed Commonwealth wheat pool and the rationalisation of butter production. This had the effect of increasing the already significant rural overweighting that was written into the state constitution, the resulting malapportionment later known as the Playmander. Not all was rosy for Butler, though, not only was Butler forced to give a ministerial post to Country Party power broker Percy Blesing, but former state Country Party leader Archie Cameron was handed the federal seat of Barker. Butler struggled to control members of the LCL - some of these members publicly disagreed with Butler over key issues. Butler held on to his position and led the LCL to the 1938 election, at that poll, the LCL lost several seats, but formed a minority government with the support of independents. Mounting internal LCL displeasure led Butler to consider switching to federal politics, an opportunity arose for such a move in 1938, following the death in an aeroplane crash of Charles Hawker, the United Australia Party MP for the federal seat of Wakefield. Butler gained pre-selection for the 1938 Wakefield by-election and resigned his position as Premier and his seat in parliament on 5 November 1938, at the time of his resignation, Butler was the longest-serving Premier in South Australian history. Butler went into the by-election as a favorite, on paper Wakefield was a safely conservative seat with a UAP/LCL majority of 13.1 percent
26.
Premier of Tasmania
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The Premier of Tasmania is the head of the executive government in the Australian state of Tasmania. By convention, the party or political grouping which has majority support in the House of Assembly will nominate its leader to be Premier, the nominated politician is then invited by the Governor of Tasmania to act as their principal adviser. Before the 1890s, there was no party system in Tasmania. Party labels before that time indicate a general tendency only, the current convention of appointing the Premier from the House of Assembly was not generally applied prior to 1920, with Premiers often appointed from the Legislative Council. The incumbent Premier of Tasmania since the 2014 election is Will Hodgman of the Liberal Party of Australia, as of 24 January 2011, eight former premiers are alive, the oldest being Tony Rundle. The most recent premier to die was Sir Angus Bethune, on 27 August 2004, the most recently serving premier to die was Jim Bacon, on 20 June 2004. List of Premiers of Tasmania by time in office Leader of the Opposition Governors of Tasmania PREMIERS OF TASMANIA Parliament of Tasmania
27.
John McPhee (politician)
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Sir John Cameron McPhee, KCMG was an Australian politician and member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. He was Premier of Tasmania from 15 June 1928 to 15 March 1934, McPhee was born in Yan Yean, Victoria in 1878, the son of Scottish shopkeeper Donald McPhee and his Victorian-born wife Elizabeth McLaughlin. He was educated in schools until the age of 14. He then undertook an apprenticeship, and worked at a newspaper in Bairnsdale. McPhee moved to Hobart, Tasmania in 1908, where he ran a college for a number of years. He also started a stationery and business equipment company, was co-proprietor of the Huon Times newspaper, and he was successful at the 1919 election, and won a seat in the Division of Denison for the Nationalist Party of Australia. McPhee was appointed to cabinet as Chief Secretary and Minister for Railways from 22 August 1922, but resigned both posts a year later for business reasons. In October 1923, the Premier Walter Lee was forced to resign by dissidents from the Nationalist and Country parties, McPhee supported the Lyons government in a subsequent no-confidence vote and, as Opposition Leader from 29 July 1925, was noted for his co-operative and cordial relationship with Lyons. Reversing the Nationalist Partys heavy defeat at the 1925 election, McPhee led the Nationalists to victory in the 1928 election and he was sworn in as Premier on 15 June, also taking the portfolios of Treasurer, Minister for Forestry and the Hydro-Electric Department. The Nationalists won a victory in the 1931 election, winning 19 out of the 30 seats with a nine-seat margin over Labor. Prior to the 1934 election, McPhee had been suffering recurring heart problems and he was knighted KCMG in June. McPhee attempted a comeback in 1937, unsuccessfully running for the seat of Denison at the 1937 federal election. He was more successful in the 1941 state election, winning a seat in Franklin and he retired on 23 November 1946 to concentrate on his business and humanitarian interests, and died in his sleep from cardiovascular disease in 1952, aged 74
28.
Premier of Victoria
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The Premier of Victoria is the leader of the government in the Australian state of Victoria. The Premier is appointed by the Governor of Victoria, and is the leader of the party able to secure a majority in the Legislative Assembly. Responsible government came to the colony of Victoria in 1855, between 1856 and 1892, the head of the government was commonly called the Premier or the Prime Minister, but neither title had any legal basis. The head of government always held another portfolio, usually Chief Secretary or Treasurer, the first head of government to hold the title of Premier without holding another portfolio was William Shiels in 1892. The incumbent Premier of Victoria since the 2014 election is Daniel Andrews of the Australian Labor Party, as of September 2016, six former premiers are alive, the oldest being John Cain. The most recent premier to die was Joan Kirner, on 1 June 2015, department of Premier and Cabinet, Victoria Deputy Premier of Victoria List of Premiers of Victoria by time in office ABC News - Premiers of Victoria
29.
William Murray McPherson
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Sir William Murray McPherson, KBE was an Australian philanthropist and politician. He was the 31st Premier of Victoria, a very wealthy man by the early years of the 20th century, he was President of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce 1907–09. In 1892 he married Emily Jackson, with whom he had three children, in 1927 he donated £25,000 to found the Emily McPherson School of Domestic Economy, named for his wife. He also funded the Jessie McPherson section of the now-demolished Queen Victoria Hospital, McPherson was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the seat of Hawthorn in 1913. He was Treasurer in the Nationalist governments of John Bowser and Harry Lawson from 1917 to 1923 and it was McPhersons refusal to provide funds for pensions for members of the Victoria Police that sparked the 1923 Victorian Police strike. In 1927 McPherson succeeded Alexander Peacock as leader of the Nationalist Party and his Cabinet included two bright young Nationalist politicians who were destined for higher things, Robert Menzies and Wilfrid Kent Hughes. But in July 1929 both these men joined a Cabinet revolt over McPhersons uncharacteristic agreement to offer a subsidy to rural meat-freezing works. This provoked McPherson into proposing cuts to spending, which in turn led the country members who held the balance of power to withdraw their support from McPhersons government. As a result, he called an election at which the Nationalists won 17 seats, McPherson refused to resign, but was defeated in a vote of no confidence when the new Parliament met in December. Hogan then formed a new government, McPherson resigned as Nationalist leader, and from politics, in August 1930. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, a History of the Parliament of Victoria, 1856–1990, Oxford University Press, Melbourne,1992
30.
Edmond Hogan
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Edmond John Ned Hogan, Australian politician, 30th Premier of Victoria, was born in Wallace, Victoria, where his Irish-born parents were small farmers. After attending a Roman Catholic primary school he became a worker and then a timber worker. Hogan became active in union and Labor Party politics in Kalgoorlie. In 1912 he contracted typhoid and returned to Victoria to recuperate, in 1913 Hogan was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Warrenheip, a seat near Ballarat, which was renamed Warrenheip and Grenville in 1927. He held this seat for 30 years, although it was not a natural Labor seat, it was heavily Irish-Catholic, which helped Hogan, in 1914 he was elected to the Labor Partys state executive and in 1922 he became State President. In 1924 he was Minister for Agriculture and Railways in the minority government of George Prendergast. Hogan was a speaker and soon became a leading figure in a parliamentary party which was thin on talent. Victoria was Labors weakest state and in the 1920s there seemed little chance it would win a state election. When Prendergast stepped down in 1926, Hogan was the choice to succeed him. His main drawback was his association with the Melbourne horse-racing, boxing and gambling identity John Wren. The Wren connection alienated many voters from Labor through the 1920s and 1930s. Nevertheless, at the 1927 state election Hogan was able to capitalise on resentment against rural over-representation in the state Parliament and consequent domination by the Country Party, Labor won 28 seats to the Nationalists 15 and the Country Partys ten. Hogan was able to form a government with the support of the four Country Progressive Party, in 1929 the Country Party withdrew its support from McPhersons government and there was another election, fought just as the Great Depression was breaking over Australia. Hogan led Labor to its best result yet, winning 30 seats to the Nationalists 17, a collection of Country Progressives, Liberals and independents held the balance, and they agreed to support a second Hogan government. Tom Tunnecliffe was Chief Secretary, John Cain was Minister for Railways, by 1931 most Victorian farmers were bankrupt and about 25 percent of the workforce was unemployed. Hogans government, in common with all governments, had no solution to this disaster. Even if the Labor government was minded to attempt radical solutions, it was dependent on Country Progressive support in the Assembly and this increased the burdens on the poor and unemployed, while providing no stimulus to the economy. There was little possibility of unemployment relief, although there were some government works to soak up unemployment, such as the Shrine of Remembrance
31.
Premier of Western Australia
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The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive branch of government in the Australian state of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions. The incumbent Premier of Western Australia is Mark McGowan who won the 2017 state election and was sworn in on 17 March 2017 by Governor Kerry Sanderson as the 30th Premier of Western Australia. The premier must be a member of one of the two Houses of the Parliament of Western Australia, and by convention the premier is a member of the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. He or she is appointed by the governor on the advice of the lower house, consequently, the premier is almost always the leader of the political party or coalition of parties with the majority of seats in the lower house. The office of premier of Western Australia was first formed in 1890, the Constitution of Western Australia does not explicitly provide for a premier, and the office was not formally listed as one of the executive offices until the appointment of Ross McLarty in 1947. Nonetheless, John Forrest immediately adopted the title on taking office as first premier of Western Australia in 1890, John Forrest was the only premier of Western Australia as a self-governing colony. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, Western Australia became an Australian state, Party politics began in Western Australia with the rise of the Labor party in 1901. By 1904, the party system was entrenched in Western Australian politics, since then the premiers have been associated with political parties. Western Australias constitution contains nothing to preclude the premier being a member of the upper house, historically and by convention, however, the premier is a member of the Assembly. During the economic boom of the 1980s, the Western Australian government became involved with a number of large businesses. A succession of deals were made between the government and businesses, and these ultimately caused great losses for the state, a subsequent royal commission found evidence of widespread corruption. Three former premiers were found to have acted improperly and two of them, Ray OConnor and Brian Burke, were jailed and this scandal became popularly known as WA Inc. As of 4 April 2017, seven former premiers are alive, the oldest being Peter Dowding, the most recent premier to die was Ray OConnor, on 25 February 2013, aged 86. He served as premier for a month before resigning after no seat could be found. b Prior to the 1904 election, no organised political parties existed, walter Kingsmill served as Acting Premier during this time
32.
Philip Collier
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Philip Collier was an Australian politician who served as Premier of Western Australia from 1924 to 1930 and from 1933 to 1936. He was leader of the Labor Party from 1917 to 1936, Collier was born in Victoria and came to Western Australia to work in the mines. He became involved in the movement on the Eastern Goldfields. In 1911, Collier became a minister in the government of John Scaddan and he replaced Scaddan as Labor leader in 1917, in the aftermath of the split over conscription, and became premier when Labor recorded a narrow victory at the 1924 state election. His government was on terms with trade unions, and its improvements to industrial arbitration laws have been credited with reducing the number of industrial disputes relative to other states. It also had various workers rights enshrined in legislation, including a basic wage, Collier himself was a political moderate, and borrowed policies from his predecessors in certain areas, notably rural development. Later writers have praised his statesmanship and his handling of his opponents. Philip Collier was born at Woodstock near Melbourne, Victoria on 21 April 1873, the son of a farmer of the same name, he was educated locally but left school at the age of 16. He spent some time gold mining at Steiglitz, Victoria and then in New South Wales, on 27 June 1900, he married Ellen Heagney, with whom he would have two sons and two daughters. Collier began to take an interest in the movement, joining the Labor Party. He was campaign director for at least three Labor candidates in State and Federal election, including Frank Anstey, in 1904 Collier moved to Western Australia. On 27 October 1905, Collier was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the seat of Boulder and he would retain the seat until his death nearly 43 years later. He was appointed Minister for Mines and Minister for Railways in the Scaddan Ministry on 7 October 1911 and he retained these portfolios until the defeat of the Scaddan government on 17 July 1916. Collier retained the leadership of the Labor party throughout the Liberal and nationalist governments of Frank Wilson, Henry Lefroy, Hal Colebatch, during this time Collier joined with John Curtin and J. J. Simons in leading an anti-conscription campaign. His public comments got him in trouble with censors a number of times, on 17 April 1924, the Labor party had a landslide election victory, and Collier became Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Forests. The Labor party was defeated by Mitchell in the election of 23 April 1930 and he won another term as Premier in the election of 24 April 1933. Simultaneously with the election, a referendum had been held in which the people of Western Australia had overwhelmingly voted in favour of secession from the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the Labor party opposed secession, Collier nonetheless agreed to act on the result of the referendum by petitioning the British government for secession
33.
Governor of New South Wales
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The Governor of New South Wales is the viceregal representative of the Australian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, in the state of New South Wales. In an analogous way to the Governor-General of Australia at the national level, the Governor is appointed by the queen on the advice of the Premier of New South Wales, for an unfixed period of time—known as serving At Her Majestys pleasure—though five years is the norm. The current Governor is retired General David Hurley, who succeeded Dame Marie Bashir on 2 October 2014, the office has its origin in the 18th-century colonial governors of New South Wales upon its settlement in 1788, and is the oldest continuous institution in Australia. The office of Governor is required by the New South Wales Constitution Act,1902, besides the administration of the oaths of office, there is no set formula for the swearing-in of a governor-designate. The sovereign will also hold an audience with the appointee and will at that time induct the governor-designate as a Companion of the Order of Australia. The incumbent will generally serve for at least five years, though this is only a convention. The premier may therefore recommend to the Queen that the remain in her service for a longer period of time. A governor may also resign and three have died in office, furthermore, if the Lieutenant Governor becomes incapacitated while serving in the office of Governor, the next most senior judge of the Supreme Court is sworn in as the Administrator. Between 1788 and 1957, all governors were born outside of New South Wales and were members of the Peerage. Taylor once noted that out and governing New South Wales became the British aristocracys abiding consolation. Coincidentally the first Australian-born Governor, Sir John Northcott on 1 August 1946, was also the first Australian-born Governor of any state, the first Governors were all military officers and the majority of governors since have come from a military background, numbering 19. Samuels was the first governor in New South Wales history without either a political, public service or military background, the first woman to hold this position is also the first Lebanese-Australian governor, Dame Marie Bashir. In this capacity, the governor will issue royal proclamations and sign orders in council, the Governor alone is constitutionally mandated to summon parliament. The governor grants Royal Assent in the Queens name, legally, if the governor withholds the Queens assent, the sovereign may within two years disallow the bill, thereby annulling the law in question. No modern viceroy has denied Royal Assent to a bill, with most constitutional functions delegated to Cabinet, the governor acts in a primarily ceremonial fashion. He or she will host members of Australias royal family, as well as foreign royalty, also as part of international relations, the governor receives letters of credence and of recall from foreign consul-generals appointed to Sydney. The governor is also tasked with fostering unity and pride, the governor also traditionally serves as Honorary and Regimental Colonel in the Royal New South Wales Regiment and as Honorary Air Commodore of No.22 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. Since 1946, the governor has also always made the Chief Scout of New South Wales
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Dudley de Chair
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Admiral Sir Dudley Rawson Stratford de Chair KCB, KCMG, KBE, MVO was a senior Royal Navy officer and later Governor of New South Wales. De Chair joined the Royal Navy in 1878 and took part in the bombardment of Alexandria during the Anglo-Egyptian War in 1882 and he was promoted to commander on 22 July 1897, and to captain on 26 June 1902. He became Assistant Controller of the Navy in 1910 and Secretary to First Lord of the Admiralty in 1912, De Chair was appointed Governor of New South Wales on 8 November 1923. His uncle, Sir Harry Rawson, had held the same twenty years earlier. Arriving in Sydney in 1924, De Chair became Governor in stable political times, while Langs attempts ultimately failed, De Chair failed to gain the support of an indifferent Dominions Office. With Langs departure in 1927, the Nationalist Government of Thomas Bavin invited him in 1929 to stay on as Governor for a further term, De Chair agreed only to a years extension and retired on 8 April 1930. Returning to London after a trip, de Chair worked on his memoirs until his death in 1958. De Chair married Enid Struben in 1903, together they had three children, Henry Graham de Chair, Elaine de Chair and Somerset de Chair. Following the King Edward VIIs visit to the Russian Empire, de Chair was appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order on 10 June 1908 for his role in the visit as commander HMS Cochrane. In the 1914 Kings Birthday Honours, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath, on 6 March 1911, de Chair was appointed a Naval aide-de-camp to King George V. He relinquished the appointment on 31 July 1912, having promoted to flag rank on that day. Sir Dudley Rawson Stratford de Chair at Australian Dictionary of Biography
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Governor of Queensland
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The Governor of Queensland is the representative in the state of Queensland of the Queen of Australia. In an analogous way to the Governor-General of Australia at the national level, in particular the Governor has the power to appoint and dismiss the Premier of Queensland and all other Ministers in the Cabinet, and issue writs for the election of the state Parliament. The current Governor, Paul de Jersey, was sworn in on 29 July 2014, as from June 2014, The Queen, upon the recommendation of then-Premier Campbell Newman, accorded all current, future and living former Governors the title The Honourable in perpetuity. The Governor of Queensland has resided at Government House, Brisbane since 1910, the mansion, set in 14 hectares of gardens and bushland in the Brisbane suburb of Bardon, is also known as Fernberg. Unlike Fernberg, the original Government House was purpose-built and was used from 1862 to 1910, the office of Governor is established by the Constitution of Queensland. Nevertheless, the Governor retains the powers of the Crown, and has the right to appoint and dismiss Ministers, issue pardons. Sir Joh elected to resign on 1 December 1987, the Governor is head of the Executive Council, a Queensland equivalent to the Federal Executive Council. The Council is composed of ministers from the government of the day, the Chief Justice of Queensland and other judges in the Queensland judicial system are appointed by the Governor acting on the advice of the Executive Council. The first Australian- born Governor of Queensland was Lieutenant-General Sir John Lavarack and his successor, Sir Henry Abel Smith was British. All subsequent governors have been Australian-born, except for Leneen Forde, four former governors of Queensland are alive, the oldest being Leneen Forde. The most recent death of a governor was that of Sir Walter Campbell. Administrators and Lieutenant-Governors are deputy roles generally appointed to carry out the duties of the Governor when the Governor is unavailable, the following are the Administrators and Lieutenant-Governors of Queensland, Official Website of the Governor of Queensland
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Governor of South Australia
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The Governor of South Australia is the representative in the Australian state of South Australia of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. The Governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the level as does the Governor-General of Australia at the national level. The Governors official residence is Government House, in Adelaide, the states capital, nevertheless, the Governor retains the reserve powers of the Crown, and has the right to dismiss the Premier. The Westminster system is a form of constitutional monarchy, the first Australian-born Governor of South Australia was Major-General Sir James Harrison, and most subsequent governors have been Australian-born. The first South Australian-born governor was Sir Mark Oliphant, the current governor is Hieu Van Le. The term of the governor, Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce. As from June 2014, the Queen, upon the recommendation of the Premier, accorded all current, future and these people administered the government in the absence of the official governor. Three former governors are alive, the oldest being Sir Eric Neal, the latest-serving former governor to die was Dame Roma Mitchell, on 5 March 2000. The most recent death of a governor was that of Sir Keith Seaman. The Official Website of the Governor of South Australia Previous governors on official website
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Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie
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Serving for 9 years and 7 days, he is the longest-serving governor-general in Australias history. He first worked in a tea merchants office in Glasgow and then traveled to India to work on a tea plantation in Assam, Hore-Ruthven, however, soon succumbed to malaria and he returned to England in 1892. On 19 October 1889, Hore-Ruthven was commissioned a lieutenant in the Lanarkshire Yeomanry Cavalry. After his return to England in 1892, he joined the regular army. During the Sudan Campaign, he was mentioned in despatches, on 17 May, he received a regular commission as a second lieutenant in the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, dropping back two ranks. In late November, he was part of a Camel Corps during the leading to the defeat of the Khalifa. In 1905, Hore-Ruthven became an aide-de-camp to Lord Dudley, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, transferring to the 1st Dragoon Guards in 1908, he was promoted to supernumerary captain in that regiment on 11 April, regaining his former rank after nine years. In 1908, Dudley was appointed Governor-General of Australia, and Hore-Ruthven went with him as military secretary, in the same year he married Zara Pollok, with whom he had two sons, one of whom died in infancy. He left Australia in 1910 and returned to service in India. On 2 April 1915, Hore-Ruthven transferred to the Welsh Guards and was promoted to major from the same date and he was appointed a GSO1 on 18 January 1916, with the temporary rank of lieutenant-colonel, and was awarded the DSO on 1 January 1916. The citation reads as follows, He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel on 15 October 1917. On 1 January 1918, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and he was awarded a Bar to his DSO on 2 April 1919, and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 3 June. During the First World War, he served in France and at Gallipoli and he finished the war as a brigadier general and commanded British forces in Germany between 1919 and 1920. On 14 December 1920, he was appointed the CO of his regiment, with the rank of colonel. After this he held various Army staff positions, and received command of a brigade on 1 October 1924 in the rank of colonel-commandant. When he was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, Hore-Ruthven arrived in Adelaide in May 1928. He took to his duties with enthusiasm, visiting many areas of the State in a de Havilland DH.60 Moth owned by his ADC, together with Lady Hore-Ruthven, he was a keen supporter of the Boy Scout and Girl Guide movements. She was also president of the South Australian Red Cross, in a 1930 Anzac Day speech, Hore-Ruthven criticised the union movement for exacerbating, through strike action, the hardship suffered by returned servicemen
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Governor of Tasmania
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The Governor of Tasmania is the representative in the Australian state of Tasmania of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. The Governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the level as the Governor-General of Australia does at the national level. Nevertheless, the Governor retains the powers of the Crown. See Governors of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Governor, the official residence of the Governor is Government House located at the Queens Domain. The first Australian-born Governor of Tasmania was Sir Stanley Burbury, the first Tasmanian-born governor was Sir Guy Green. Since Burbury, all Tasmanian governors have been Australian-born, except for Peter Underwood, on 10 November, Premier Will Hodgman announced that University of Tasmania legal academic Kate Warner would be appointed as the states first female governor. Warner was sworn in on 10 December, between 1804 and 1813, Van Diemens Land was divided along the 42nd parallel, and the two sections governed as separate Lieutenant-Governorships under the Governor of New South Wales. Collins was the officially appointed Lieutenant-Governor—upon his death in 1810. The northern settlement at Port Dalrymple was administered by four Commandants until the settlements were merged to form the colony under the governorship of Thomas Davey in 1813. The colony was called Van Diemens Land until 1856, four former governors are alive, the oldest being Sir Phillip Bennett. The latest-serving former governor to die was Sir Stanley Burbury, on 24 April 1995, the most recently serving governor to die was Peter Underwood, who died in office on 7 July 2014. Governors and Lieutenant Governors of Tasmania Parliamentary Library - Governors of Tasmania
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James O'Grady
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Sir James OGrady, KCMG was a trade unionist and Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was the first colonial governor appointed by the Labour Party from within its own ranks, OGrady was born in Bristol to Irish parents. His father was a labourer, and after leaving school at ten, OGrady did various jobs, before training as a cabinet-maker. A member of the Independent Labour Party and supported by the Labour Representation Committee and he had benefited from an electoral pact negotiated between Herbert Gladstone and Ramsay MacDonald, and faced only a Unionist opponent, who he defeated by a wide margin. He held that seat until he stepped down from Parliament at the 1924 general election, in the House of Commons, he spoke frequently, particularly on foreign affairs, and was noted as a strong supporter of the First World War, speaking at recruitment rallies. He was also Labours only Roman Catholic MP, through his role in the Amalgamated Union of Cabinet Makers, he had been President of the Trades Union Congress in 1898, and he continued his union activities whilst an MP. After a variety of posts in unions related to the furniture trades, in 1924, Ramsay MacDonalds First Labour Government offered OGrady the post of British Ambassador to the Soviet Union, and he accepted. Instead he became Governor of Tasmania from 1924 to 1930, the first Labour politician to be appointed as a colonial governor by a Labour government, his appointment was resisted by the Australian Labor Party, which wanted the job to go to an Australian. He was knighted with a KCMG and moved to Tasmania, taking office on 23 December and his governorship was marked by conflicts with the Legislative Council, and his governors reports were outspoken, but he appears to have parted on good terms. His next appointment was in 1931, as Governor of the Falkland Islands and he died later that year, aged 68. In 1910, OGrady and three other MPs, along with Professor Stanley Poole, formally nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize the Polish physician L. L. Zamenhof, inventor of Esperanto
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Governor of Victoria
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The Governor of Victoria is the representative in the Australian state of Victoria of its monarch, Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia and is one of the Governors of the Australian states. The governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the level as does the Governor-General of Australia at the federal level. The governors office and official residence is Government House next to the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Governor of Victoria is appointed by the Queen of Australia on the advice of the Premier of Victoria. The current Governor of Victoria is former judge Linda Dessau, Victorias first female governor, nevertheless, the governor retains the reserve powers of the Crown, and has the right to dismiss the premier. The governor of Victoria is appointed by the queen of Australia, on the advice of the premier of Victoria, to act as her representative as head of state in Victoria. The governor acts at the pleasure, meaning that the term of the governor can be terminated at any time by the queen acting upon the advice of the premier. Upon appointment, he or she becomes a viceroy, the governors main responsibilities fall into three categories – constitutional, ceremonial and community engagement. In 1984, the Personal Standard of the Governor of Victoria was changed to the State Flag of Victoria, with the blue background replaced by gold, above the Southern Cross is the Royal Crown. Previously, the used by Victorian governors after 1870 had been the Union Jack with the Badge of the State of Victoria emblazoned in the centre. Between 1903 and 1953, the Tudor Crown was used on the State Flag and Governors Standard, the Governor’s Standard is flown at Government House and on vehicles conveying the governor. The Standard is lowered over Government House when the governor is absent from Victoria, there is also a lieutenant-governor and an administrator. The Chief Justice of Victoria is ex officio the Administrator, unless he or she is the lieutenant-governor, in which case, the lieutenant-governor takes on the responsibilities of the governor when that post is vacant or when the governor is out of the state or unable to act. The administrator takes on those duties if both the governor and lieutenant-governor are not able to act for the above reasons, see Governors of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of governor. Until the appointment of Victorian-born Sir Henry Winneke in 1974, the Governors of Victoria were British, prior to the separation of the colony of Victoria from New South Wales in 1851, the area was called the Port Phillip District of New South Wales. The Governor of New South Wales appointed superintendents of the District, in 1839 Charles La Trobe was appointed superintendent. La Trobe became Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria on separation on 1 July 1851, between 1850 and 1861, the Governor of New South Wales was titled Governor-General of New South Wales, in an attempt to form a federal structure. Until Victoria obtained responsible government in 1855, the Governor-General of New South Wales appointed lieutenant-governors to Victoria, on Victoria obtaining responsible government in May 1855, the title of the then incumbent lieutenant-governor, Captain Sir Charles Hotham, became governor. As of July 2015, four former governors are alive, the oldest being John Landy, the most recent governor to die was Davis McCaughey, on 25 March 2005
41.
Arthur Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers
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Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Herbert Tennyson Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers KCMG, DSO, MC, DL, son of Herbert Haldane Somers-Cocks by Blanche Margaret Standish Clogstoun. He was an Army officer in the First World War, a British administrator, in 1906 he joined the 1st Regiment of Life Guards of the British Army, later taking leave to farm in Canada before rejoining his regiment in 1914 at the start of World War I. He commanded the 6th Battalion of the new Tank Corps in 1918 and he was twice wounded, mentioned in dispatches, awarded the Military Cross, the Distinguished Service Order, and appointed to the Légion dhonneur. A Freemason, he was initiated in the House Brigade Lodge 18 years before he arrived in Victoria and he was appointed as Chief Scout of the British Empire in March 1941, on the death of Baden-Powell. He served until his death in 1944 and he was succeeded by Lord Rowallan. In 1929, at his own expense, he brought together boys from different backgrounds in Australia to what was named Lord Somers Camp which continues to this day. Somers revisited Australia and his camp in 1933, and again in 1937 when, as president of the Marylebone Cricket Club, Lord Somers was also an able cricketer, and played 17 first-class games. In 1904, whilst a schoolboy at Charterhouse, he made 115 against Westminster and he rarely had enough time to play cricket, but in the 1920s he made a further 16 first-class appearances for Worcestershire, his highest score being 52 against Essex in May 1925. Lord Somers became both a vice-president of Worcestershire CCC and, in 1936, President of MCC and he should not be confused with the Arthur Somers-Cocks who played ten games for Barbados around the turn of the twentieth century. During his term as Governor of Victoria, he was also Grand Master of Victorias Grand Lodge, Arthur Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers at CricketArchive Arthur Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers at ESPNcricinfo
