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Key people

Alexander, Joseph (Joe)

A member of the parliamentary press gallery, Alexander wrote for Keith Murdoch's Melbourne Herald In 1931 he was excluded from the House of Representatives in a controversial ruling by the Speaker, Norman Makin. Alexander had reported on confidential cables between James Scullin in London and his Cabinet in Australia in 1930.

Anstey, Francis (Frank) George

Labor Party Member of the House of Representatives 1910–34 (Bourke), Minister for Health and for Repatriation (22 October 1929 – 3 March 1931) in the Scullin government, and assistant leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party 1922–27. A friend and mentor of John Curtin, Anstey had been a Victorian parliamentarian 1902–10 and a foundation member of the Victorian Labor Federation and the Victorian Socialist Party.

Bale, William Henry

Private secretary to Prime Minister James Scullin 1929–32. Bale had joined the Customs Department in 1917, then became private secretary to three Labor Opposition leaders, Frank Tudor, Matthew Charlton and James Scullin.

Barnes, John

Labor Senator for Victoria 1913–20 and 1923–35, Vice-President of the Executive Council (3 March 1931 – 6 January 1932) during the Scullin government. An Australian Workers Union official, Barnes had been a pioneer of the AWU as a member of the Shearers Union in Victoria.

Bavin, (Sir) Thomas

Among the young federationists in Edmund Barton's circle, Bavin was appointed Prime Minister's private secretary in 1901 and served both Barton and Alfred Deakin. In 1904 when JC Watson became Prime Minister, Bavin resumed his Sydney practice as a barrister, coaching students including WM Hughes. Bavin was Deakin's co-correspondent to the London Morning Post 1907–11. Bavin later entered state politics and was premier of New South Wales 1927–30.

Beasley, John (Jack) Albert

Member of the House of Representatives 1928–46 (West Sydney) for the Labor Party, except in 1931–36 when he was a member of the Lang Labor Party and 1940–41 when he was a member of the Anti-Communist Labor Party. He was assistant Minister for Industry (22 October 1929 – 3 March 1931) in the Scullin government, Minister for Supply and Development (7 October 1941 – 17 October 1942), Minister for Supply and Shipping (17 October 1942 – 2 February 1945), Vice-President of the Executive Council (2 February 1945 – 6 July 1945) in the Curtin government, Minister for Defence and Vice-President of the Executive Council (6–13 July 1945) in the Forde government, Minister for Defence (13 July 1945 – 15 August 1946) in the Chifley government. Beasley also served on the Advisory War Council 1940–45.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 84.

Beaverbrook, (Lord) William Maxwell Aitken

A Canadian, Beaverbrook became a member of Britain's House of Commons, and served as a Cabinet Minister. He became a newspaper magnate and was an influential campaigner for free trade within the British Empire during his career in Britain 1910–64.

Blakeley, Arthur

Labor Party Member of House of Representatives 1917–34 (Darling); Minister for Home Affairs in the Scullin government (22 October 1929 – 6 January 1932). He was Commonwealth Arbitration Inspector 1935–42 and an Arbitration Commissioner 1942–52. Blakeley was an anti-conscriptionist, and had been an organiser for the Australian Workers Union 1910–15, and president 1919–23.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 983.

Boote, Henry Ernest

Labor journalist and author, founding editor of the Gympie Truth (1896–1902), the Queensland Worker (1902–11), and the Australian Worker (1914–43). A fervent anti-conscriptionist, Boote was a friend of Prime Ministers Andrew Fisher, James Scullin and John Curtin.

Brennan, Francis (Frank)

Labor Party Member of House of Representatives 1911–31 and 1934–49 (Batman). Attorney General in the Scullin government (22 October 1929 – 6 January 1932), Brennan was a pacifist and anti-conscriptionist. He was a delegate to the League of Nations in 1930.

Brookes, (Sir) Herbert

Herbert Brookes served on the Commonwealth Board of Trade (1918–28) and the Tariff Board (1922–28). He was Commissioner-General to the United States (1929–30), and vice-chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) (1932–40). His wife, Ivy Brookes, was the eldest daughter of Pattie and Alfred Deakin. She was active in Deakin's Liberal Party and, from 1912 to 1940, was on the executive of the National Council of Women (Victoria).

Bruce, (Lord) Stanley Melbourne

Member of the House of Representatives (Flinders) for the Nationalist Party 1918–29 and for the United Australia Party 1931–33. Treasurer (1921–23) during the Hughes government, Prime Minister 1923–29, Minister for External Affairs 1923–29, Minister for Health 1927–28, and Minister for Trade and Customs 1928. Bruce was honorary Minister in London 1932–33 during the Lyons government and High Commissioner in London 1933–45 during the Lyons, Page, Menzies, Fadden and Curtin governments.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 23.

Calwell, Arthur Augustus

Labor Party Member of the House of Representatives 1940–72 (Melbourne). Minister for Information (21 September 1943 – 19 December 1949) in the Curtin, Forde and Chifley governments, Minister for Immigration (13 July 1945 – 19 December 1949) in the Chifley government. Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party 1960–67.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 82.

Casey, (Lord) Richard Gardiner

Governor-General of Australia (22 September 1965 – 30 April 1969), during the governments of RG Menzies, Harold Holt, John McEwen and John Gorton. As Australian government liaison officer in London 1924–31, Casey was a trusted adviser to SM Bruce, resigning in the cutbacks introduced by James Scullin in 1931. He was a United Australia Party Member of the House of Representatives 1931–40 (Corio) and a Liberal Party Member of the House of Representatives 1949–60 (LaTrobe). Casey was assistant Treasurer (9 November 1934 – 3 October 1935), Minister in charge of development of Scientific and Industrial Research (29 November 1937 – 7 November 1938) in the Lyons government, and Treasurer (3 October 1935 – 26 April 1939) in the Lyons and Page governments. In 1941 John Curtin appointed Casey first Australian Minister to the United States, in 1942–43 he was a member of the British war cabinet, and from 1944–46 Governor of Bengal. In the Menzies government, Casey was Minister for Supply and Development (26 April 1939 – 26 January 1940 and 19 December 1949 – 17 March 1950), Minister for Works and Housing (19 December 1949 – 11 May 1951), Minister for National Development (17 March 1950 – 11 May 1951), Minister in charge of the CSIRO (22 March 1950 – 4 February 1960), Minister for External Territories (26 April 1951 – 11 May 1951), and Minister for External Affairs (26 April 1951 – 4 February 1960). In 1960 he was given a peerage, and became Baron Casey of Berwick, Victoria and the City of Westminster.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 24.

Charlton, Matthew

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1910–28 (Hunter) and Leader of the Opposition 1922–28. Charlton was a delegate to the League of Nations in 1924. He had been a New South Wales parliamentarian 1903–10.

Chifley, Joseph Benedict (Ben)

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1928–31 and 1940–51 (Macquarie) and Prime Minister and Treasurer (13 July 1945 – 19 December 1949). Chifley was Minister for Defence 1931–32 in the Scullin government, Treasurer 1941–45 in the Curtin and Forde governments, and Minister for Postwar Reconstruction 1942–45.

Cook, (Sir) Joseph

Member of the House of Representatives (Parramatta) for the Free Trade Party 1901–06, the Anti-Socialist Party 1906–10, the Deakin Liberal Party 1910–17 and the Nationalist Party 1917–21. Cook was Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (1913–14), Minister for Defence in the Deakin government (1909–10), Minister for the Navy (1917–20) and Treasurer (1920–21) in the Hughes government, and High Commissioner in London 1921–27.

Copland, (Sir) Douglas Berry

Pioneer Australian economist and foundation professor of commerce at the University of Melbourne 1924–44, Copland was adviser to the Commonwealth Development and Migration Commission in the 1920s. He chaired the committee of economists and state and federal treasury officials whose 1931 report to the Loan Council became the 'Premiers' plan' for economic management in the Depression, and was supported by JM Keynes. Copland was a delegate to the League of Nations in 1933 and adviser to the economic conference in London that year, and Commonwealth prices commissioner 1939–45. He was an economic adviser to Prime Minister John Curtin 1941–45. Copland was appointed Australian Minister to China in 1946, and High Commissioner to Canada 1953–56. In between, Copland was founding vice-chancellor of the Australian National University 1948–53.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 167.

Curtin, John Joseph

Labor Party Member of the House of Representatives 1928–31 and 1934–45 (Fremantle), Prime Minister (1941–45), Minister for Defence Coordination (1941–42), and Minister for Defence (1942–45).

Daly, John Joseph

Labor Senator for South Australia 1928–35, Vice-President of the Executive Council (22 October 1929 – 3 March 1931), Minister for Defence (4 February – 3 March 1931), assistant Minister (26 June 1931 – 6 January 1932) in the Scullin government.

Davidson, (Sir) Alfred

General Manager of the Bank of New South Wales (1929–45) who gave extensive evidence to the Monetary and Banking Systems at Present in Operation in Australia Royal Commission in 1935, advocating an independent central bank.

Deakin, Alfred

Member of the House of Representatives (Ballaarat) for the Protectionist Party 1901–10 and the Liberal Party 1910–13. Deakin was the first Attorney-General, in the Barton government (1901–03), Prime Minister three times (1903–04, 1905–08, 1909–10), and Minister for External Affairs in his own governments in 1903–04 and 1905–08. As a Victorian parliamentarian and leading federationist, Deakin had been a delegate to the 1890 Federation Conference and to both federation Conventions (1891 and 1897–98) and a member of the Constitution Bill deputation in London in 1900.

Deane, Percival (Percy) Edgar

Percy Deane was private secretary to Prime Minister WM Hughes in 1916–21, and secretary to the Australian delegation at the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919. One of the most influential Commonwealth government officials in the 1920s, he was permanent head of three departments: Prime Minister's Department (1921–29) and Department of External Affairs (1921–28) during the Bruce government, and Department of Home Affairs (1929–32) during the Scullin and Lyons governments.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 78.

Dixon, (Sir) Owen

High Court Judge (4 February 1929 – 17 April 1952) and Chief Justice (1952–1964). During World War II Dixon was Chairman of the Central Wool Committee (1940–42), the Shipping Control Board (1941–42), the Commonwealth Marine War Risks Insurance Board (1941–42), the Salvage Board (1942) and the Allied Consultative Shipping Council (1942), and he was Australian Minister in Washington (31 May 1942 – 26 September 1944). He also represented Australia on the Pacific War Council. After the war he was Australian representative on the council of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. In 1950 Dixon was nominated as the United Nations representative to mediate in the dispute between India and Pakistan over the states of Jammu and Kashmir.

Dwyer, Catherine (Kate) Winifred

A leading Labor activist, Dwyer was founding president of the women's organising committee of the Political Labor League in 1904 and a member of the New South Wales Labor Party executive. As a delegate at federal Labor Party conferences during three decades, Dwyer condemned the principle of compulsory military training, was a strong opponent of WM Hughes in the 1916–17 conscription referendum campaigns, and advocated child endowment, widow's pensions and educational reform. At the 1921 Labor Party Conference she voted against adoption of the 'socialist objective'. Dwyer formed the Women Workers'- Union and was a member of the Senate of the University of Sydney 1916–24. She was the sister of Labor activist Annie Golding.

Evatt, Herbert (Doc) Vere

Evatt was a Justice of the High Court 1929–40, the youngest High Court judge. He was then Labor Party member of House of Representatives 1940–58 (Barton) and 1958–60 (Hunter) and Attorney-General and Minister for External Affairs (1941–49) in the Curtin, Forde and Chifley governments. Evatt was Australian delegate to the conference founding the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945, and president of the General Assembly 1948–49. He was first president of Australia's Atomic Energy Commission in 1946. Leader of the federal parliamentary Labor Party, 1951–60, Evatt then returned to the bench as Chief Justice of New South Wales 1960–62.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 7.

Fenton, James Edward

Member of the House of Representatives (Maribyrnong) for the Labor Party 1910–1931 and for the United Australia Party 1931–1934. Minister for Trade and Customs (22 October 1929 – 4 February 1931) in the Scullin government, Postmaster-General (6 January – 13 October 1932) in the Lyons government.

Fisher, Andrew

Labor Party Member of the House of Representatives 1901–15 (Wide Bay), Andrew Fisher was Minister for Trade and Customs in the Watson government in 1904, Prime Minister three times (1908–09, 1910–13, 1914–15), and Treasurer in each of his own three governments. Fisher was High Commissioner in London 1916–21.

Forde, Francis (Frank) Michael

Labor Party Member of the House of Representatives 1922–46 (Capricornia). Assistant Minister for Customs (22 October 1929 – 4 February 1931), Trade and Customs (4 February 1931 – 6 January 1932), Prime Minister (6 July 1945 – 13 July 1945) and Minister for the Army (7 October 1941 – 1 November 1946) in the Curtin and Chifley governments as well as his own, Minister for Defence (15 August 1946 – 1 November 1946) in the Chifley government.

Garden, John (Jock) Smith

Member of the House of Representatives (Cook) for Lang Labor 1934–36 and the Labor Party 1936–37. Secretary of the New South Wales Labor Council (1918–1934) and a founder of the Communist Party of Australia in 1920. After his resignation from the Communist Party he helped found the Australian Council of Trade Unions in 1927.

Garran, (Sir) Robert Randolph

Appointed first head of the Attorney-General’s department and parliamentary draftsman on 1 January 1901, Garran remained in this post until 5 February 1932. He served the governments of ten prime ministers, Barton, Deakin, Watson, Reid, Fisher, Cook, Hughes, Bruce, Scullin and Lyons. As a young Sydney federationist in Barton’s circle, Garran had been secretary to the 1897–98 Constitutional drafting committee.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 396.

George V, King

Grandson of Queen Victoria, son of King Edward VII, as Duke of York opened first Commonwealth parliament in 1901, with Queen Mary British monarch 1910–36.

Gibson, (Sir) Robert

Businessman and financier, president of the Victorian Chamber of Manufacturers (1922–25) and chairman of the Commonwealth Bank Board (1926–34).

Gibson, William Gerrand

Member of the House of Representatives 1918–29 and 1931–34 (Corangamite) and Senator for Victoria 1935–47. Postmaster-General in the Bruce–Page government (9 February 1923 – 22 October 1929). As the Victorian Farmers’ Union candidate, Gibson defeated Scullin in the Corangamite seat in 1918, and was a founding member of the Country Party in 1921.

Goodwin, (Colonel) John Thomas Hill

Commonwealth Surveyor-General (1916–24) and officer in-charge of the Federal Capital Territory (1916–24), member of the Federal Capital Advisory Committee (1921–25), elected member of the Australian Capital Territory Advisory Council (1931–43).

Green, Albert Ernest

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1922–40 (Kalgoorlie), Minister for Defence (22 October 1929 – 4 February 1931) and Postmaster-General and Minister for Works and Railways (4 February 1931 – 6 January 1932) in the Scullin government. Green had been a West Australian parliamentarian 1911–13 and 1914–21.

Groom, (Sir) Littleton Ernest

Member of the House of Representatives (Darling Downs) 1901–29 and 1931–36, Groom was Minister for Home Affairs and then Attorney-General (12 October 1906 – 13 November 1908) replacing Isaac Isaacs in the second Deakin government, Minister for External Affairs in the third Deakin government (2 June 1909 – 29 April 1910), and Minister for Trade and Customs in the Cook government (24 June 1913 – 17 September 1914). In the Hughes government he served as honorary Minister (17 February 1917 – 16 November 1917), Vice-President of the Executive Council (16 November 1917–27 March 1918), Minister for Works and Railways (27 March 1918 – 21 December 1921), and Attorney-General (21 December 1921 – 9 February 1923). In the Bruce–Page government he was Attorney-General (9 February 1923 – 18 December 1925), Minister for Trade and Customs and Minister for Health (29 May – 13 June 1924). From 1926–29 he was Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Gullett, (Sir) Henry Somer

Nationalist/United Australia Party Member of the House of Representatives 1925–40 (Henty), Minister for Trade and Customs (24 November 1928 – 22 October 1929). In the Bruce–Page government, in the Lyons government Minister for Trade and Customs (6 January 1932 – 14 January 1933), and minister without portfolio directing negotiations for Trade Treaties (12 October – 11 March 1937). Gullett accompanied SM Bruce to the Imperial Economic Conference in Ottawa in 1932. In the first Menzies government Gullett was Minister for External Affairs (26 April 1939 – 14 March 1940) and Minister for Information (12 September 1939 – 14 March 1940), and Vice-President of Executive Council (14 March 1940 – 13 August 1940), Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research (14 March 1940 – 13 August 1940), and Minister Assisting the Minister for Information (14 March – 13 August 1940). Gullett had been an Australian war correspondent 1915–18. He was one of the three Cabinet ministers killed in an air crash at Canberra on 13 August 1940.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 530.

Hawker, Charles Allen Seymour

Nationalist/United Australia Party Member of the House of Representatives 1929–38 (Wakefield), Minister for Repatriation (6 January – 12 April 1932), Minister for Markets (6 January – 13 April 1932), Minister for Commerce (13 April – 23 September 1932) in the Lyons government.

Heagney, Muriel Agnes

A founding member of the Labor Party in Victoria, delegate to the Labor women’s central organising committee in 1909 and attended the first Victorian Labor Women’s Conference. Heagney was trade union investigator to the Hughes government’s basic wage royal commission in 1919–20, and prepared the cost-of-living schedules for the Clothing Trades Union’s submission to the uniform basic wage case before the Conciliation and Arbitration Court. In 1937 a founder of New South Wales Council of Action for Equal Pay. In 1955 secretary of the Labor women’s central organising committee and ex officio member of the Victorian Labor Party central executive.

Henderson, Walter

Head of the External Affairs Branch of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet 1926–30. With Richard Casey in London, the mainstay of SM Bruce’s plan for developing Australian expertise and influence in foreign policy with a separate Department of External Affairs. Henderson resigned in 1930 when the cutbacks under the Scullin government meant his transfer from the branch.

Holloway, Edward (Jack) James

Made history when he unseated Prime Minister SM Bruce in 1929, and became Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1929–31 (Flinders) and 1931–51 (Melbourne Ports). He served as Minister for Labour and National Service (21 September 1943–19 December 1949) in the Curtin, Forde and Chifley governments. Minister for Social Services and Minister for Health (7 October 1941 – 21 September 1943), Minister Assisting the Minister for Munitions (21 February 1942 – 21 September 1943) in the Curtin government.

Holt, Harold Edward

Member of the House of Representatives for the United Australia Party 1935–44 and the Liberal Party 1944–49 (Fawkner), Liberal Party Member of the House of Representatives 1949–67 (Higgins) and Prime Minister 1966–67. He was minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Supply and Development (26 April 1939 – 14 March 1940), minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Trade and Customs (23 February 1940 – 14 March 1940), Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research (28 October 1940 – 29 August 1941) in the first Menzies government, Minister for Labour and National Service (28 October 1940 – 7 October 1941 and 19 December 1949 – 10 December 1958) in both the Menzies and Fadden governments, Minister for Immigration (19 December 1949 – 24 October 1956) and Treasurer (10 December 1958 – 26 January 1966) in the second Menzies government.

Hughes, William Morris

Member of the House of Representatives 1901–17 (West Sydney), 1917–22 (Bendigo), 1922–49 (North Sydney) and 1949–52 (Bradfield). Hughes was a member of the Labor Party 1901–17, the Nationalist Party 1917–29, an ‘Independent Nationalist’ 1929–31, United Australia Party 1931–44, Liberal Party 1944–52. Prime Minister (1915–23), Hughes still holds the record as Australia’s longest serving parliamentarian. He was a Minister in the governments of Watson (1904), Fisher (1908–09, 1910–13 and 1914–15), Lyons (1932–39), Page (Attorney-General, Minister for Industry and Minister for External Affairs (7 April 1939 – 26 April 1939), Menzies (Attorney-General 26 April 1939 – 29 August 1941, Minister for Industry 26 April 1939 – 28 October 1940, Minister for the Navy 28 October 1940 – 29 August 1941), and Fadden (continuing as Attorney-General and Minister for the Navy 29 August 1941 – 7 October 1941). During the term of his own government he also served as Attorney-General (27 October 1915 – 21 December 1921), Minister for Trade and Customs (29 September 1916 – 14 November 1916), Minister for External Affairs (21 December 1921 – 9 February 1923). As a New South Wales parliamentarian 1894–1901 Hughes was a founding member of the Labor Party in New South Wales. He became a founding member of the Nationalist Party in 1917, the United Australia Party in 1931, and the Liberal Party in 1945.

Isaacs, (Sir) Isaac Alfred

The first Australian-born Governor-General, serving from 22 January 1931 until his retirement on 23 January 1936, Isaacs had been a Protectionist Member of the House of Representatives 1901–06 (Indi), and Attorney-General (5 July 1905 – 12 October 1906) in the second Deakin government. He was a judge of the High Court for 25 years, serving as Chief Justice 1930–31. Isaacs had also been a Victorian parliamentarian from 1892–1901 and a delegate to the 1897–98 federation convention.

James, Rowland

Member of the House of Representatives (Hunter) for the Labor Party 1928–31, for Lang Labor 1931–36, and for the Labor Party 1936–58. Leader of Australian delegation at the first session of the Coal Mines Committee, of the International Labor Organisation in 1945, Liaison Officer between the Commonwealth government and the coal mining industry 1940–49.

Kingsmill, (Sir) Walter

Nationalist Senator for Western Australia 1923–35, President of the Senate 1929–1932 during the Scullin government. Kingsmill had been a Western Australian parliamentarian 1897–1922.

Lang, John (Jack) Thomas

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1946–49 (Reid). Lang had been a New South Wales parliamentarian 1913–46 and was state Premier 1925–27. He formed a ‘Lang Labor’ splinter group that split the federal parliamentary party in the 1930s.

Latham, (Sir) John Greig

Nationalist/United Australia Party Member of the House of Representatives 1922–34 (Kooyong), Latham was Attorney-General (18 December 1925 – 22 October 1929) in the Bruce–Page government, and from 6 January 1932 – 12 October 1934 in the Lyons government. He was Leader of the Nationalist Party Opposition 1929–31 during the Scullin government. From 1935 until 1952, Latham was Chief Justice of the High Court, with an interval in 1940–41 when he was Australian Minister to Japan. Latham had been a member of the Australian delegation to the Versailles peace conference in 1919.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 148.

Lazzarini, Hubert Peter

Labor Party Member of the House of Representatives 1919–31 and 1934–52 (Werriwa). A member of the Lang Labor Party 1934–36. Minister Assisting the Treasurer (7 October 1941 – 21 September 1943), Minister for Works (2 February 1945 – 6 July 1945) in the Curtin government, Minister for Home Security (7 October 1941 – 1 February 1946) in the Curtin, Forde and Chifley governments, Minister for Works (6 July 1945 – 13 July 1945) in the Forde government, Minister for Works and Housing (13 July 1945 – 1 November 1946) in the Chifley government.

Lyons, Joseph Aloysius

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1929–31 and United Australia Party member 1931–39 (Wilmot), Postmaster-General and Minister for Works and Railways 1929–31 in the Scullin government, Prime Minister 1932–39, Treasurer 1932–35, Minister for Health, and Repatriation 1935–36. Lyons had been a Tasmanian parliamentarian 1909–28 and was state Premier 1923–28.

Lyons, (Dame) Enid Muriel

United Australia Party/Liberal Party Member of the House of Representatives 1943–51 (Darwin), Vice-President of the Executive Council (19 December 1949 – 7 March 1951) in the Menzies government and the first woman Minister in the federal government. Dame Enid Lyons was Prime ministerial wife 1932–39.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 928.

Macdonald, Ramsay

Labour member of the House of Commons from 1906, and Prime Minister of Britain’s first Labour government in 1924. Macdonald was also Prime Minister in 1929–35, during the Bruce, Scullin, and Lyons governments. He had visited Australia in 1906, and met both James Scullin and John Curtin at Labor gatherings in Victoria.

Mahon, Hugh

Labor Member of the House Representatives 1901–13 (Coolgardie), and 1913–17 and 1919–20 (Kalgoorlie). Mahon was Postmaster-General in the government of JC Watson (27 April – 18 August 1904), and Minister for Home Affairs in Andrew Fisher’s first government (13 November 1908 – 2 June 1909). He was Fisher’s Minister for External Affairs in his third term (17 September 1914 – 27 October 1915) and in WM Hughes Labor government (27 October 1915 – 14 November 1916). In 1920 Hugh Mahon became the only member ever expelled from the federal parliament, after he had attacked British policy in Ireland at a public meeting.

Makin, Norman John Oswald

Labor member of House of Representatives 1919–46 (Hindmarsh), 1954–55 (Sturt), and 1955–63 (Bonython). Speaker of House of Representatives 1929–32. Makin was Secretary to the federal parliamentary Labor Party 1934–41, and a member of the Advisory War Council 1940–45. In the Curtin, Forde and Chifley governments, he was Minister for the Navy and Minister for Munitions (7 October 1941 – 15 August 1946), Minister for Aircraft Production (2 February 1945 – 15 August 1946). Makin was Australia’s first Ambassador to the United States (4 September 1946 – 27 April 1951), and was awarded the Order of Australia in 1980.

Mann, Tom

British trade unionist and socialist who worked in Australia 1902–10, Mann was an organiser for the Victorian Political Labor Council in 1903–04. Founder and Secretary of the Victorian Socialist Party in 1908, Mann worked with Frank Anstey and John Curtin. In 1920 Mann became a foundation member of the Communist Party of Great Britain.

Mannix, (Archbishop) Daniel

Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne 1912–1963, Mannix strongly opposed conscription during the First World War, and was a friend of James Scullin. After the Labor Party split in 1954–55, Archbishop Mannix supported the Anti-Communist Labor Party, later known as the Democratic Labor Party.

McGrath, David Charles

Member of the House of Representatives (Ballaarat) 1913–19 and 1920–31 for the Labor Party, and 1931–34 for the United Australia Party. A close friend of Scullin, McGrath had been a Victorian parliamentarian 1904–13.

McLaren, (Sir) John Gilbert

McLaren was Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Department and the Department of External Affairs 1929–32, then official secretary to the Commonwealth in London 1933–36. In 1934 he was acting High Commissioner for Australia in London. McLaren had joined the Commonwealth Public Service in 1901 and had been assistant Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Department 1919–21, and Secretary of the Department of Home and Territories 1921–28, when he was appointed a member of the Public Service Board.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 174.

McNeill, John

Labor Party Member of House of Representatives 1922–25 and 1929–31 (Wannon), Minister for Health and Repatriation 1931–32, and federal president of the Australian Workers’ Union 1938–43. McNeill was married to James Scullin’s sister Catherine.

McTiernan, (Sir) Edward Aloysius

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1929–30 (Parkes), High Court judge (1930–76). McTiernan had been a New South Wales parliamentarian (1920–27).

Menzies, (Sir) Robert Gordon

United Australia Party/Liberal Party Member of the House of Representatives (Kooyong) 1934–66 and Prime Minister 1939–41 and 1949–66. During his terms as Prime Minister he also served as Treasurer (26 April 1939 – 14 March 1940), Minister for Defence Co-ordination (13 November 1939 – 29 August 1941), Minister for Trade and Customs (23 February 1940 – 14 March 1940), Minister for Information (14 March 1940 – 13 December 1940), Minister for Munitions (11 June 1940 – 28 October 1940), Vice-President of the Executive Council (7 March 1951 – 11 May 1951), Minister for External Affairs (4 February 1960 – 22 December 1961), Minister in charge of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (22 December 1961 – 16 February 1962). In the Lyons government Menzies had been Attorney-General (1934–39) and Minister for Industry (1934–39). In the Fadden government he was Minister for Defence Co-ordination (29 August 1941 – 7 October 1941). He had been a Victorian parliamentarian 1928–34.

Moloney, Parker John

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1910–13 and 1914–17 (Indi) and 1919–31 (Hume, NSW), Minister for Markets and Transport (22 October 1929 – 21 April 1930), Minister for Markets (21 April 1930 – 6 January 1932) and Minister for Transport (21 April 1930 – 6 January 1932) in the Scullin government. Scullin and Moloney were friends of long-standing: both Victorians, both Catholics. Moloney and his wife accompanied James and Sarah Scullin to the Imperial Conference in 1930, then went on to the US and negotiated the first Australian Trade Treaty with Canada.

Moran, (Cardinal) Patrick Francis

Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney (1884) and Cardinal (1885–1911), Irish-born Moran was a strong supporter of Federation – he stood (unsuccessfully) as a candidate for election to the Australasian Federal Convention (1897–98), and of labour, taking the trades unions side in the maritime strike. In 1905 Moran challenged GH Reid’s campaign which identified the Labor Party as socialist and therefore anti-Catholic, arguing that ‘the great enemy in Australia’ was not socialism but ‘imperial jingoism’.

Murdoch, (Sir) Keith Arthur

Newspaper proprietor and founder of the Australian Journalists Association (1910), the cable service Australian Associated Press (1935), and Australian Newsprint Mills (1938). David Syme had given Murdoch a job on the Age newspaper in 1904, and in 1908 Alfred Deakin, then Prime Minister, provided him with letters of introduction in London. As Commonwealth parliamentary reporter for the Age 1910–12, he became a friend of Andrew Fisher and WM Hughes. Political correspondent for the Sydney Sun from 1912, he was transferred to London in 1915 and secretly reported to Fisher from Gallipoli on the mismanagement of the Anzac campaign. He was the only Australian journalist at the peace conference at Versailles in 1919, and returned to Melbourne as chief editor of the Herald in 1920. With financial support from Clive Baillieu and others, by 1935 he had acquired newspapers in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, and eleven commercial radio stations. In 1940 RG Menzies appointed him wartime director-general of information, a short-lived post. He retired in 1949 and died in 1952, leaving his media holdings to his son Keith Rupert Murdoch.

Niemeyer, (Sir) Otto Ernst

British civil servant and banker, he was Controller of Finance at the Treasury (1922–27), advisor then executive director of the Bank of England (1938–52). He also served as a member of the Council of Foreign Bondholders (1935–65) and the Financial Committee of League of Nations (1922–37). Niemeyer offered economic advice that contributed to the formation of the Premiers’ Plan in the 1930s.

Norman, (Baron) Montagu Collet

Governor of the Bank of England 1920–44; involved in re-negotiating payments on Australia’s overseas loans (1932–33) and later in financing Australia’s war effort.

O’Malley, King

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1901–03 (Tasmania) and 1903–17 (Darwin), Minister for Home Affairs in the second Fisher government (29 April 1910 – 24 June 1913), and from 27 October 1915 – 14 November 1916 in the Hughes Labor government. Born in North America, O’Malley had settled in Tasmania, and was active as a federalist and parliamentarian there.

Ogden, James Ernest

Senator for Tasmania 1923–32, Ogden was a pioneer of the Tasmanian Labor Party. He was expelled in February 1925 and remained in the House as an Independent, then joined the Nationalist Party in 1928, serving as honorary Minister (29 November 1928 – 22 October 1929) in the Bruce–Page government. Ogden had been a Tasmanian parliamentarian 1909–22.

Page, (Sir) Earle Christmas Grafton

Country Party Member of the House of Representatives 1919–61 (Cowper). Prime Minister 7–26 April 1939, Page was Treasurer and deputy Prime Minister in the Bruce–Page government (9 February 1923 – 22 October 1929), Minister for Commerce in the Lyons government (9 November 1934 – 26 April 1939) and also Minister for Health (29 November 1937 – 7 November 1938). Page was also Minister for Commerce (28 October 1940 – 7 October 1941) in the first Menzies and Fadden governments, and Minister for Health (19 December 1949 – 11 January 1956) in the Menzies government.

Pankhurst (Walsh), Adela

Anti-conscription activist and member of the Women’s Political Association in Victoria with Cecelia John and Vida Goldstein from 1914. Pankhurst was organiser for the Victorian Socialist Party from 1917 and with her husband Tom Walsh, a foundation member of the Communist Party of Australia in 1920. The Walshes left the Party in 1925 and Adela Pankhurst formed an Australian branch of the British Guild of Empire. In 1937 with PR Stephenson she formed the anti-imperialist Australia First movement and advocated a trade pact with Japan as a means of averting war. The Walshes visited Japan in 1939 and Adela Pankhurst was arrested and interned in 1941–42 for her advocacy of peace with Japan. She had been a suffragette in Britain, her mother was veteran British suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.

Pearce, (Sir) George Foster

Senator for Western Australia 1901–38, Pearce was a member of the Labor Party 1901–17, the Nationalist Party 1917–31, and the United Australia Party 1931– 38. He was Minister of Defence in the three governments of Andrew Fisher (13 November 1908 – 2 June 1909; 29 April 1910 – 24 June 1913 and 17 September 1914 – 27 October 1915). In the Hughes government he was Minister for Defence (27 October 1915 – 21 December 1921) and Minister for Home and Territories (21 December 1921 – 9 February 1923). With Hughes, Pearce left the Labor Party over the conscription issue in 1917 and formed the Nationalist Party. In the Bruce–Page government Pearce was Minister for Home and Territories (9 February 1923 – 18 June 1926), and Vice-President of the Executive Council (18 June 1926 – 22 October 1929). From 1929 to 1931 Pearce led Opposition members in the Senate, he was then Minister for Defence (6 January 1932 – 12 October 1934), Minister for External Affairs and Minister for Territories (12 October 1934 – 29 November 1937), in the Lyons government. In 1939 Pearce was a member of the Commonwealth Grants Commission.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 151.

Reid, Alan

A member of the parliamentary press gallery in the 1930s, Reid wrote for the Sydney Sun in the 1930s and 1940s, then for Frank Packer’s Daily Telegraph.

Robinson, William Sydney

A mining industrialist and businessman, Robinson developed the Australian aluminium industry and the mining and export of uranium. In the 1914–18 war he established companies for the local smelting of lead and zinc. He developed investment in goldmining, forming the Western Mining Corporation in 1933. He also fostered local manufacture of aircraft from 1936 and the supply and processing of base metals during the 1939–45 war.

Ryrie, (Sir) Granville de Laune

Liberal/Nationalist Party Member of the House of Representatives 1911–22 (North Sydney) and 1922–27 (Warringah). Assistant Minister for Defence and honorary Minister (4 February 1920 – 21 December 1921) in the Hughes government, High Commissioner in London 1927–32, member of Australian delegation to League of Nations 1927, 1928 and 1929. Ryrie had been a New South Wales parliamentarian 1906–10.

Scullin, Sarah Maria

Prime ministerial wife 1929–32.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 923.

Shann, Edward Owen Giblin

A member of the Copland Committee who drafted the Premiers’ Plan in 1931. In 1932 Shann was a member of the committee on unemployment, and represented the Commonwealth government at the Ottawa Conference. Shann was Foundation Professor of History and Economics at the University of Western Australia 1913–34.

Shepherd, Malcolm Lindsay

First head of the Department of the Prime Minister 1911–21; official secretary to the High Commissioner in London 1921–27; and head of the Department of Defence 1927–37. Shepherd had been recruited to the new Commonwealth Postmaster-General’s Department in 1901 from the New South Wales department he had joined as a typist in 1890. In 1904 he became private secretary to Alfred Deakin, then to prime ministers JC Watson, George Reid, and Andrew Fisher. He became a friend of WM Hughes, and while at the High Commission was Australian representative on the Pacific Cable Board and the Imperial War Graves Commission.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 25.

Stewart, Percy Gerald

Country Party member of House of Representatives 1919–31 (Wimmera), Minister for Works and Railways (9 February 1923 – 5 August 1924) in the Bruce–Page government, and president of the River Murray Commission 1923–24. Stewart had been a Victorian parliamentarian 1917–19 and was a foundation member of the Country Party. He turned the first sod on the Parliament House site in Canberra on 28 August 1923.

Stirling, Alfred Thorpe

Private Secretary to Attorney-General, RG Menzies (1934–36), Assistant External Affairs Officer in London (1936), External Affairs Officer in London (30 April 1937 – 12 July 1945). Stirling was High Commissioner in Ottawa (13 July 1945 – 12 January 1947), Minister in Washington (13 January 1947 – 10 April 1948), High Commissioner in Pretoria and Cape Town (23 August 1948 – 17 May 1950), Ambassador at The Hague (1950–6 March 1955), and Ambassador in Paris (20 May 1955 – 16 February 1959), in Manila (6 July 1959 – 14 August 1962), in Rome (25 September 1962 – 7 November 1967), and in Athens (7 May 1964 – 20 June 1965).

Stonehaven (Lord), John Baird

Governor-General of Australia 8 October 1925 – 22 January 1931 during the Bruce–Page government, formerly Conservative British parliamentarian (1910–25).

Symon, (Sir) Josiah Henry

Free Trade/Anti-Socialist Party Senator for South Australia 1901–13, and Attorney-General in the Reid government (18 August 1904 – 5 July 1905). Symon had been a South Australian parliamentarian and federalist, and delegate to the 1897–98 federal convention. In 1930, as president of the Adelaide Branch of the Royal Empire Society, he was a leading opponent of JH Scullin’s appointment of Sir Isaac Isaacs as Governor-General.

Theodore, Edward Granville

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1927–31 (Dalley), Treasurer (22 October 1929 – 9 July 1930) and (29 January 1931 – 6 January 1932) in the Scullin government. Theodore had been a Member of Queensland House of Assembly (1909–1925) and Premier (1919–25), and State President of the Amalgamated Workers Union (AWU) (1913–16). In 1932 he took over the AWU paper the World. With Frank Packer he published the first edition of the Australian Women’s Weekly in 1933, then with two Sydney newspapers they formed Consolidated Press. In 1942–44 Theodore was Director-General of Allied Works.

Tudor, Francis (Frank) Gwynne

Labor Party Member of the House of Representatives 1901–22 (Yarra), and Minister for Trade and Customs in the three governments of Andrew Fisher (13 November 1908 – 2 June 1909, 29 April 1910 – 24 June 1913, and 17 September 1914 – 27 October 1915) and from 27 October 1915 – 14 September 1916 in the Labor government of WM Hughes. Tudor resigned from Hughes’ Cabinet over the conscription issue and replaced Hughes as leader of the federal parliamentary Labor Party after Hughes’ expulsion from the Labor Party in November 1916. He was leader until his death on 10 January 1922.

Ulm, Charles Thomas Philippe

Pioneering aviator who, with Charles Kingsford Smith, circumnavigated Australia in 10 days and 5 hours (halving the record), and co-piloted the first trans-Pacific flight from California to Brisbane in 1928. The pair also formed Australian National Airways Ltd. Ulm made various flight records in his modified Avro Ten, VH-UXX, the ‘Faith in Australia’ including the first official mail flights from Australia to New Zealand and New Guinea and set the England–Australia record in October 1933. In December 1934, Ulm’s plane disappeared on a flight from Oakland, California to Hawaii.

Ward, Edward (Eddie) John

Member of the House of Representatives (East Sydney) for the Labor Party in 1931, for the Lang Labor Party in 1932–36, and for the Labor Party 1936–63. Minister for Labour and National Service (7 October 1941 – 21 September 1943) in the Curtin government, Minister for Transport and Minister for External Territories (21 September 1943 – 19 December 1949) in the Curtin, Forde and Chifley governments.

Yates, George Edwin

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1914–19 and 1922–31 (Adelaide).

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