The Queensland Liberal Association was an early political association in the colony of Queensland. The first attempt at forming the association was undertaken by Charles Lilley and his supporters for the 1860 Queensland colonial election.[1][2] Lilley was a strong believer in the party system and attempted to form the association to bring structure to the liberal cause.[3] The liberals in the first parliament were disorganised and the measure was not successful, though they did support the Premier, Robert Herbert.[4]
Queensland Liberal Association | |
|---|---|
| Historic leaders | Charles Lilley Samuel Griffith |
| Founded | 1859 1879 |
| Dissolved | 1890 |
| Merged into | Conservative Party |
A successful attempt was made in 1879, and colonial MPs Samuel Griffith, John Douglas (who had eschewed the 1859 attempt at forming an association[3]), James Dickson, James Garrick, and Peter McLean served as office-bearers of the new organisation.[5] Samuel Griffith served as the organisation's first president, a position he held concurrently as leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly.[6][7] Griffith had been elected president of the association on the 13th of June.[8]
In 1879 the group supported:[2]
- Triennial parliaments
- Payment for MPs
- Land reform
- Protective tariff
- Pro-European immigration
- "Reform of the Divisional Boards Act by substituting Land Tax for rating"
- Abolition of pensions
- "Any such other reforms as may be necessary"
The Queensland Liberal Association was merged with Thomas McIlwraith's Conservatives, forming the Continuous Ministry in the Queensland Parliament.[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "QUEENSLAND LIBERAL ASSOCIATION". The Moreton Bay Courier. Vol. XIV, no. 870. Queensland, Australia. 24 May 1860. p. 2. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b Allan A. Morrison (25 September 1953). Liberal Party Organisations Before 1900 (PDF) (Speech). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ a b "A thesis submitted to the Department of Humanities Central Queensland University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy" (PDF). CQUniversity. March 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "A Woman's Place… An historical archaeological investigation of identity and power on the nineteenth-century pastoral landscape of south east Queensland" (PDF). University of Queensland. 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
Meanwhile, Premier Herbert had the backing of a small but influential group of urban-based parliamentarians, members of the Queensland Liberal Association (Fitzgerald et al. 2009).
- ^ "QUEENSLAND". Australian Town and Country Journal. Vol. XIX, no. 493. New South Wales, Australia. 21 June 1879. p. 9. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Liberal Association and the Ministry". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXXIV, no. 3, 774. Queensland, Australia. 23 June 1879. p. 3. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "BRISBANE". Morning Bulletin. Vol. XXIII, no. 3494. Queensland, Australia. 24 June 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Bulletin of Maitland and District Historical Society Inc" (PDF). Maitland and District Historical Society Inc. February 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
By the 13th May, 1879 Griffith was Leader of the Opposition and on 13th June, was elected president of the Queensland Liberal Association.