Protestant Labor Party

The Protestant Labor Party was a minor Australian political party that operated mainly in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia in the 1920s and 1930s. It was formed by Walter Skelton who had stood for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly district of Newcastle at the 1922 election, campaigning as a Protestant Independent Labour candidate,[1] in which he was elected first of five members, receiving 25.19% of the vote.[2] In 1925 he was re-elected to the Assembly under the Protestant Labor label, as the second of five members, receiving 17.70% of the vote.[3] The party stood candidates in 12 of the 24 districts however Skelton was the only one elected, with the next highest candidate receiving 5.10% of the district vote.[4]

When single-member constituencies were re-introduced in 1927 Skelton stood for the seat of Wallsend but was defeated by the Labor candidate, receiving 42.19% of the vote.[5] Skelton stood again for the 1928 Hamilton by-election but was again defeated by the Labor candidate, receiving 48.78% of the vote after the distribution of preferences.[6]

At the 1927 South Australian election, Thomas Thompson was elected under the Protestant Labor Party banner to the two-member seat of Port Adelaide,[7] increasing his margin in a by-election following a challenge to his election.[8] In 1930 he stood for the Legislative Council but was unsuccessful, as were the two Protestant Labor candidates for his former seat of Port Adelaide.[9]

In 1938 the party elected George Morris to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland as the member for Kelvin Grove, but the party was soon moribund and he sat out his term as an independent.[10] The party was formed in an attempt to counter the perceived Roman Catholic dominance within the ALP. Aside from the sectarian issue, its policies were broadly in agreement with the ALP.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Protestant independent: Mr Skelton at Hamilton". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 27 February 1922. p. 5. Retrieved 24 July 2020 – via Trove.
  2. Green, Antony. "1922 Newcastle". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  3. Green, Antony. "1925 Newcastle". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  4. Green, Antony. "1925 party % votes by district". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  5. Green, Antony. "1927 Wallsend". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  6. Green, Antony. "1928 Hamilton by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  7. "Port poll declared: cheers for Mr. Thompson". The News. 30 March 1927. p. 12. Retrieved 24 July 2020 – via Trove.
  8. "T. T. Thompson wins". The Mail. 2 July 1927. p. 1. Retrieved 24 July 2020 – via Trove.
  9. "South Australia reverts to Labor rule". The Mail. 5 April 1930. p. 1. Retrieved 24 July 2020 – via Trove.
  10. Jaensch, Dean; Mathieson, David (1998). A plague on both your houses: minor parties in Australia. Allen and Unwin. p. 103. ISBN 9781864484212.


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