Rudolph Keith Ready was an Australian politician and businessman. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and served as a Senator for Tasmania from 1910 to 1917, including as Government Whip from 1914 to 1917. He is primarily remembered for the controversial circumstances of his resignation.

John Earle was an Australian politician who served as Premier of Tasmania from 1914 to 1916 and also for one week in October 1909. He later served as a Senator for Tasmania from 1917 to 1923. Prior to entering politics, he worked as a miner and prospector. He began his career in the Australian Labor Party (ALP), helping to establish a local branch of the party, and was Tasmania's first ALP premier. However, he was expelled from the party during the 1916 split and joined the Nationalists, whom he represented in the Senate.