Members of the Australian Senate, 1901–1903
Senate composition at March 1901
Protectionist (11)
Labour (8)
Free Trade (17)
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.[a] The status of political parties varied, being national,[b] State based,[c] and informal.[d][i]
George Pearce, who died in 1952, was the last surviving member of the 1901-1903 Senate. Robert Best was the last surviving Protectionist member, and John Clemons was the last surviving Free Trade member.
Senators
editNotes
edit- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ a b c Also received Protectonist endorsement; joined the Labour Caucus immediately after the election.[2]
- ^ a b c Victorian Free Trade Senator Frederick Sargood died on 2 January 1903. Robert Reid was appointed as his replacement on 21 January.
- ^ a b c Western Australian Free Trade Senator Norman Ewing resigned on 17 April 1903. Henry Saunders was appointed as his replacement on 20 May.
- ^ a b c 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. 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,[e] Sargood died,[f] Ewing resigned,[g] and O'Connor resigned.[h]
- ^ Queensland Free Trade Senator John Ferguson was removed from the Senate on 6 October 1903 due to prolonged absence without permission. His vacancy was not filled due to its proximity from the upcoming federal election
References
edit- ^ "The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate 1901". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
- ^ a b 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.