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Charles McDonald (Australian politician)

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Australian politician (1860–1925)

The HonourableCharles McDonald
Charles McDonald in 1908
Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives
In office
1 July 1910 – 8 July 1913
Preceded byCarty Salmon
Succeeded byElliot Johnson
In office
8 October 1914 – 13 June 1917
Preceded byElliot Johnson
Succeeded byElliot Johnson
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Kennedy
In office
30 March 1901 – 13 November 1925
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded byGrosvenor Francis
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Flinders
In office
20 May 1893 – 24 June 1901
Preceded byLouis Goldring
Succeeded byPeter Airey
Personal details
Born(1860-08-25)25 August 1860
North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died13 November 1925(1925-11-13) (aged 65)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Resting placeBoroondara General Cemetery
Political partyLabor
Spouse Mary Ann Tregear ​(m. 1892)​
OccupationWatchmaker

Charles McDonald (25 August 1860 – 13 November 1925) was an Australian politician who served in the House of Representatives from 1901 until his death, representing the Labor Party. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1910 to 1913 and from 1914 to 1917. Before entering federal politics, McDonald had served in the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1893 to 1901.

Early life and career

Charles McDonald was born in North Melbourne, Victoria. He lived a transient life as a child with his family living in four colonies. He was living in Mudgee, New South Wales, when he left school, becoming an apprentice printer. However, he later switched trades becoming a watchmaker.

Queensland Labor movement

McDonald was a watchmaker in Charters Towers in 1890 when he became the President of the Australian Labor Federation based in Brisbane. He played a leading role in the formation of the Australian Labor Party in Queensland.

McDonald was elected in 1893 as member for Flinders in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. McDonald became known for his mastery of the Standing Orders. He was a member of the Queensland Executive between 1898 and 1903.

Federal parliamentarian

In 1901, he successfully stood for the Division of Kennedy, a vast seat in the outback of western Queensland, in the first election for the Australian House of Representatives after Federation. McDonald was known as "Fighting Charlie" or "Fighting Mac" for his vigorous campaigning style. In one campaign, he reportedly rode over 3,000 miles (4,800 km) on bicycle on the rough outback roads.

McDonald became Chairman of Committees between 1906 and 1910. He became the first Labor Speaker in 1910 as Andrew Fisher formed the first Labor majority Government. He served in that position until Labor was narrowly defeated in the 1913 Federal election. McDonald was a confirmed republican who abandoned the traditional Speaker's wig and gown in favour of an ordinary business suit. All Labor Speakers have followed this tradition. He also removed the mace from the table.

The Liberal Government, which had only a slim majority, made an offer to McDonald to continue in the position, but he declined due to the interests of the Labor Party.

The Liberal Prime Minister Joseph Cook became frustrated by the Labor controlled Senate blocking his legislation and called for a double dissolution election. Labor won the election and McDonald became speaker again in 1914. He served as Speaker under the Labor, National Labor, and Nationalist governments until the 1917 election. During the parliamentary term, Labor split over the introduction of conscription in Australia. After the election, McDonald served on the opposition backbench.

His health was failing in the mid-1920s despite a trip to the United Kingdom in 1923. He died of cerebro-vascular disease on the day before the 1925 election, leading to his opponent Grosvenor Francis being declared elected unopposed.

McDonald had a state funeral and was buried in Boroondara General Cemetery. He was survived by his wife and daughter.

References

  1. ^ Moroney, Tim (1986). "McDonald, Charles (1860–1925)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  2. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  3. ^ Serle, Percival (1949). "McDonald, Charles". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  4. The Independence of the Speaker (Research Note 38 1997-98) Archived 26 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine at www.aph.gov.au
  5. "Kennedy Seat". Brisbane Courier. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 14 November 1925. p. 7. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded byLouis Goldring Member for Flinders
1893–1901 		Succeeded byPeter Airey
Parliament of Australia
New division Member for Kennedy
1901–1925 		Succeeded byGrosvenor Francis
Preceded byCarty Salmon Speaker of the House
1910–1913 		Succeeded byElliot Johnson
Preceded byElliot Johnson Speaker of the House
1914–1917 		Succeeded byElliot Johnson
Speakers of the Australian House of Representatives
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