William Morris (Billy) Hughes was Australias 7th PM and the 4th to represent a Sydney electorate. Hughes was one of the great characters in the history of Australian politics. After a career in NSW politics, he served in the Federal parliament from federation in 1901 until his death in office in 1952, a record length of service that will probably never be broken. His term as PM from 1916-1923 was the longest until RG Menzies served for a record 16 years later on. Hughes is best remembered for steering Australia through world war 1, although he was unable to win enough support for his controversial proposal for compulsory military service at two referenda held during the war. He represented Australias interests strongly at the post war Paris Peace Conference. Born in Wales in 1862, Hughes migrated to Australia in 1884, first to Queensland, then as an itinerant worker in the outback, before settling in Balmain with his new bride in 1890, opening a small shop. He joined the new Labor Party and was elected to NSW parliament in 1891. He won the federal seat of Western Sydney in 1901, holding it for Labor until 1916. Hughes became PM early in the war and travelled to England in 1916. He made speeches there urging Britain to cooperate more with the dominions and put economic pressure on Germany. On his return to Australia he expressed the need for conscription to replace the tremendous losses at the battle of the Somme. His support for conscription was against Labor Party policy and the party expelled him. Some of his colleagues followed him out and helped him form a new government, later forming the Nationalist Party. Later, opposition to him from the Country Party forced him to form the United Australia Party, a forerunner of the Liberal Party. Opposition to Hughes from conservative elements in his party and from the Country Party caused his downfall when the two parties formed a coaltion government in 1923. The Country Party had refused to serve under Hughes. He continued in parliament for another 28 years first as a Nationalist Party member, an Australia Party member, a United Australia Party member and then a foundation member of the Liberal Party. He represented electorates in what are now traditional Liberal Party Sydney seats such as Bradfield on the lower north shore. Reflecting on his multiple party memberships, a colleague asked Hughes late in his career whether hed ever considered joining the Country Party. Remembering that partys role in ending his prime ministership, Hughes replied youve got to draw the line somewhere, brother!. In 1928, he took revenge on his unfaithful colleagues by breaking away from the Nationalist government under PM Bruce, forming his own Australia Party, bringing down the government. After the election, his party supported the Scullin Labor government at first before burying the hatchet with his former conservative colleagues and forming the United Australia Party to take government under Joe Lyons.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 22:48:40 +0000
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