Members of the Australian Senate, 1901–1903
This is a list of the members of the Australian Senate in the First Australian Parliament, which was elected on 29 March 1901.[1][2] There were 36 senators in this initial parliament. Terms were deemed to start on 1 January 1901. In accordance with section 13 of the Constitution,[3] the Senate resolved that in each State the three senators who received the most votes would sit for a six-year term, finishing on 31 December 1906 while the other half would sit for a three-year term, finishing on 31 December 1903.[4] The process for filing of casual vacancies was complex, with an initial appointment followed by an election.[lower-alpha 1] The status of political parties varied, being national,[lower-alpha 2] State based,[lower-alpha 3] and informal.[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 9]
Notes
- Appointments to a casual vacancy only held office until the earlier of the next election for the House of Representatives or the Senate.[5]
- The Free Trade Party, then known as the Australian Free Trade and Liberal Association, was the only national political party at the 1901 election.
- There was no national Labour Party organisation at the time of the 1901 election. Members categorised as "Labour" were endorsed by their various state Labour parties.
- There was no national Protectionist party organisation at the time of the 1901 election. Members categorised as "Protectionist" were those who accepted the leadership of Edmund Barton.
- Joined the Labour Caucus immediately after the election.[2]
- Victorian Free Trade Senator Frederick Sargood died on 2 January 1903. Robert Reid was appointed as his replacement on 21 January.
- Western Australian Free Trade Senator Norman Ewing resigned on 17 April 1903. Henry Saunders was appointed as his replacement on 20 May.
- New South Wales Protectionist Senator Richard O'Connor resigned on 27 September 1903, to take up a position as a Justice of the new High Court of Australia. Dr Charles Mackellar was appointed as his replacement on 8 October.
- Changes to the Senate in chronological order were McGregor & O'Keefe joined the Labour caucus,[lower-alpha 5] Sargood died,[lower-alpha 6] Ewing resigned,[lower-alpha 7] and O'Connor resigned.[lower-alpha 8]
References
- "The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate 1901". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
- Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive, Senate 1903 National summary NSW, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas and appointments. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
- Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (Imp) Part II the Senate.
- "Rotation of Senators" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: Senate. 4 July 1901. pp. 2012–2017.
- Evans, H. "Filling Casual Vacancies before 1977" (PDF). Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
- Journals of the Senate. Parliament of Australia. 1903.
- "Members of the Senate since 1901". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.