Michael Bruxner
New South Wales Parliament for Tenterfield | |
---|---|
In office 14 September 1927 – 5 February 1962 | |
Preceded by | New district |
Succeeded by | Tim Bruxner |
Personal details | |
Born | First World War
| 25 March 1882
Awards | Mentioned in Despatches (2) (France)Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur |
Returning to Australia in 1919, Bruxner sold his business and joined the
At the 1927 election, with the abandonment of proportional representation, he won the new seat of Tenterfield unopposed. Bruxner was included in new Premier Thomas Bavin's cabinet as Minister for Local Government, which included the responsibility for transport. He served until Labor won the 1930 election. In April 1932 Bruxner was elected again as the new Country Party Leader, which he would hold continuously until 1958. When Sir Philip Game dismissed Jack Lang and called upon the Leader of the Opposition Bertram Stevens to form a caretaker government in 1932, Stevens formed a coalition with Bruxner's Country Party and Bruxner was named as the first Deputy Premier of New South Wales. Bruxner was also sworn in as Minister for Transport and briefly resumed his former Local Government portfolio. Bruxner also worked with his long-time friend and Minister for Education David Drummond, to establish the New England University College in 1938, which was later to become the University of New England.
Bruxner was central in ensuring
Early life and military career
Bruxner was born in Tabulum, near the
Returning to home to work as a grazier, Bruxner eventually moved to
Bruxner started his military career when he was commissioned as a
In July 1919, he returned Australia and was discharged a month later in August.[6] Bruxner then returned to Tenterfield, sold his stock and station agency and went back to his property as a grazier. They eventually raised a family, having a daughter, Helen Elizabeth Bruxner, and two sons, James Caird and John Michael Bruxner.[5]
Early political career
As a prominent member of his local community, Bruxner became involved in emerging movements to have a political force for regional areas and joined and was convinced by friends to stand as a Progressive Party candidate in the 1920 New South Wales state election. Bruxner was elected under proportional representation with 23% as the second member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly district of Northern Tablelands alongside his friend David Drummond.[5][10]
On 20 December 1920, the
Davidson then re-commissioned Dooley, who was then granted a dissolution for an election in March 1922.
At the
Minister of the Crown
At the
In 1931 Bruxner moved a motion to censure
As the political climate in New South Wales became more volatile after Lang's attempts to abolish the Legislative Council and conflict with the Federal Government over debts, Bruxner emphasised the need that the Country Party remain independent of the United Australia Party (which had succeeded the Nationalist Party) amidst calls for the opposition to unite.[3] On 26 April 1932, Country Party Leader Buttenshaw notified the party of his intention to resign. Bruxner was then elected as the new party Leader.[21]
Deputy Premier
Not long after, on 13 May Governor
Insistent that his party take an equal role in the coalition government, Bruxner formed a good working relationship and long-lasting friendship with Stevens that would ensure the government's stability. The Stevens government had significant success, reducing Lang's 2 million pound deficit by 75%.[24] However, one significant problem was that Stevens had trouble with an unruly backbench, and increasingly depended upon Bruxner and the Country Party.[24] As Deputy Premier, Bruxner saw himself as loyal to Stevens, but still managed to push through several initiatives that specifically benefited rural areas, including another royal commission on the question of new States in 1935.[3] The May 1935 election saw Stevens and Bruxner retaining government against a divided and fractious Labor opposition and Bruxner was returned unopposed again in his seat.[25]
Bruxner detested the UAP Deputy Leader and Minister for Public Works and Local Government, Eric Spooner, whom Bruxner saw as trying to undermine confidence in Steven's leadership and reducing Country Party influence in the government. When Stevens went on a visit to London in March 1936 for six months until October, Bruxner became Acting Premier, with Spooner as Acting Deputy. The animosity between the two became most pronounced at this time, often over the most petty issues.[26] In May 1937, Bruxner visited the United Kingdom as a member of the NSW parliamentary delegation to the coronation of King George VI.[5] At the March 1938 election, the Stevens-Bruxner government retained power against Lang and the still-divided Labor Party. Bruxner was re-elected with 61% of the vote.[27] Bruxner worked with his long-time friend, now Minister for Education David Drummond, to establish a regional tertiary education institution. After the 1938 election, they moved to establish the New England University College, a constituent college of the University of Sydney in the city of Armidale, and Bruxner was appointed to the first Advisory Council, on which he served until 1951.[28]
In July 1939, Stevens and Colonial Treasurer Alexander Mair attempted to address Spooner's unwillingness to accede to cabinet decisions regarding ministerial expenditure by creating a committee of four, consisting of Mair, Stevens, Spooner and Bruxner, to approve all expenditure. Furious at this gesture, Spooner resigned on 21 July 1939 as Minister and Deputy Leader, citing a 'disagreement in government policy on relief works' as the reason.[29] Despite Spooner's departure, the stability of the government was to be short. On 1 August 1939, Spooner carried a motion of no confidence in Stevens in the house, which unexpectedly passed by two votes, owing to the absence of several ministers. On 3 August Stevens tendered his resignation to the Governor, Lord Wakehurst, but was granted several days to remain until his successor was chosen.[30]
Upon Stevens' resignation, Spooner was touted as a possible successor. However, Bruxner had always detested Spooner and let it be known that he and his Country Party colleagues would not serve under him. At a UAP party meeting on 5 August, Spooner chose not to nominate and Stevens' favoured candidate, Alexander Mair, defeated
However, despite the efforts of Mair and Bruxner, the controversy surrounding Stevens' departure and a resurgent Labor Party, now led by the moderate William McKell, ensured that the popularity of the government never recovered. At the campaign for the 10 May 1941 election, the government performed poorly, finding it difficult to distinguish themselves from the past and proposing policies but only promising action after the war. McKell's Labor Party did the opposite, leaving war matters to the federal government and promising current reforms. At the election, the Labor Party polled more than half the vote while Bruxner's Country Party lost nine seats and Mair's UAP lost twenty seats. Bruxner retained his seat with 56%.[32] Bruxner would never again hold ministerial office and the conservative political forces would not take government again until Robert Askin and Charles Cutler won the 1965 election.
In opposition
The rest of Bruxner's parliamentary career was to be on the opposition benches, due largely to the disintegration of the larger opposition party, the UAP, after the 1943 Federal election. A large number of former UAP members then formed the Democratic Party in New South Wales, led by Mair, who continued as Opposition Leader. Mair resigned as Democratic Party Leader on 10 February 1944, to be replaced by former Assembly Speaker Reginald Weaver.[33] At the 1944 election, Bruxner's stable leadership ensured that the Country Party retained all ten of its seats in the Legislative Assembly. Bruxner retained his seat with 67.73%.[34]
Bruxner witnessed the fragmented opposition parties forming into the
Treatt and Bruxner led the Coalition at the 17 June 1950 election, which resulted in a hung parliament. The Country Party gained two seats for a total of 17 for a Coalition total of 46 seats. With the Labor Party also holding 46 seats, the balance of power lay with the two re-elected Independent Labor members, James Geraghty and John Seiffert, who had been expelled from the Labor Party for disloyalty during the previous parliament. Seiffert was readmitted and, with the support of Geraghty, McGirr and Labor were able to stay in power.[37] Bruxner retained his seat with 60%.[38] He sold his "Roseneath" property in 1950 and in 1951 bought the homestead section of Old Auburn Vale station, dividing his time between there and his Sydney residence in Bellevue Hill.[3]
The near loss of the election by Labor further weakened McGirr's position and he was replaced as premier by Joseph Cahill in April 1952. Cahill had won popular support as a vigorous and impressive minister who had resolved problems with New South Wales' electricity supply and in his first 10 months as premier had reinvigorated the party. He brought order to the government's chaotic public works program. In addition, he attacked the increasingly unpopular federal Coalition government of Robert Menzies.[39] All this, combined with Bruxner and Treatt constantly clashing over policy and candidate issues, contributed to the Liberal-Country Coalition again being defeated at the 14 February 1953 election. This amounted to a total loss of ten seats, three being Country Party seats, and a swing against them of 7.2%. Bruxner retained his seat with 60.15%.[40]
Murray Robson replaced Treatt as Leader of the Opposition in August 1954.[41] Like other senior members of the Liberals, after having no conservative government since Alexander Mair in 1941, Robson had no experience in government, he had little interest in policy except for Cold War anti-communism, ignored majority views of his party and fellow parliamentary colleagues and Robson's attempts to forge a closer alliance with Bruxner and the Country Party, failed dismally and alienated him from many in his party. Robson was replaced by Pat Morton as leader in September 1955.[42] Bruxner, now aged 70 and having fallen ill several times, led the Country Party one last time at the March 1956 election, which resulted in another labour victory and Country Party regained the seat of Armidale, but overall the government's majority fell from twenty to six.[43] Bruxner retained Tenterfield unopposed.[44]
On 6 May 1958, Bruxner formally resigned as Leader of the Country Party, having served continuously in that role since 1932. He continued to serve in his capacity as Member for Tenterfield, retaining his seat one final time at the March 1959 election, with 68% of the vote.[45] After a final term he retired from the assembly before the election in 1962.
Retirement and legacy
Upon his retirement, his youngest son,
Upon retiring from politics, Bruxner was appointed as a
Notes
- ^ "LtCol Michael Frederick BRUXNER KBE". Australian Honours search facility. 1 January 1962. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
In recognition of service to public and political services
- ^ a b "Cemeteries Index" (PDF). Richmond River Historical Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 5 April 2007.
- ^ "St Paul's College – Sir Michael Bruxner". Government and the law. St Paul's College. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Sir Michael Frederick Bruxner (1882–1970)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Michael Frederick Bruxner, National Library of Australia – WWI Service Record.
- ^ Celebrities of the A.I.F. no. 71: Lieut.-Col. M.F. Bruxner, DSO, Reveille 9 (11) (July 1936), 8–9.
- ^ "No. 30081". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 May 1917. p. 4919.
- ^ "LtCol Michael Frederick BRUXNER DSO". Australian Honours search facility. 1 January 1919. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
AIF – 6 Light Horse Regiment – Egypt
- ^ Green, Antony. "1920 Northern Tableland". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ ISSN 1833-7538.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1922 Northern Tableland". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Totaro, Paola. History's lesson to the bush: if at first you don't secede, try, try again. Sydney Morning Herald. 28 July 2003.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1925 Northern Tableland". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Mr. Bruxner Retires from the Leadership". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 December 1925. p. 11. Retrieved 23 June 2011 – via Trove.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1927 Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Bruxner Highway". Ozroads.com.au. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1930 Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "No. 33686". The London Gazette. 3 February 1931. p. 745.
- ^ James Franklin, Corrupting the Youth: A History of Philosophy in Australia (Macleay Press, Sydney, 2003), ch. 1.
- ^ "Country Party – New Leader Elected". The Sydney Morning Herald 27 April 1932 p11. Retrieved 23 June 2011 – via Trove.
- ISBN 1-86287-526-X.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1932 Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ a b Davey, Paul (2006). The Nationals: the Progressive, Country, and National Party in New South Wales 1919–2006. p. 77.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1935 Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Davey, Paul (2006). The Nationals: the Progressive, Country, and National Party in New South Wales 1919–2006. p. 109.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1938 Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Davey, Paul (2006). The Nationals: the Progressive, Country, and National Party in New South Wales 1919–2006. p. 110.
- ^ "Mr. Spooner Resigns From Cabinet". Sydney Morning Herald 21 July 1939 p11. Retrieved 3 January 2011 – via Trove.
- ^ "Mr. Stevens Resigns". The Mercury 3 August 1939 p1. Retrieved 3 January 2011 – via Trove.
- ^ "Mr. A. Mair New Premier". Sydney Morning Herald 7 August 1939 p11. Retrieved 3 January 2011 – via Trove.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1941 Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Mr Mair resigns". Sydney Morning Herald 10 February 1944 p4. Retrieved 11 January 2009 – via Trove.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1944 Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1947 Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Davey, Paul (2006). The Nationals: the Progressive, Country, and National Party in New South Wales 1919–2006. p. 163.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1950 NSW elections". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1950 Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ McMullin, Ross (1991). The Light on the Hill: The Australian Labor Party 1891–1991. pp. 266–7.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1953 Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Liberals Elect Robson As Leader". The Sydney Morning Herald 18 August 1954 p1. Retrieved 15 January 2011 – via Trove.
- ^ Hancock, Ian (2007). The Liberals: The NSW Division 1945–2000. Sydney. 97.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ The Liberals: The NSW Division 1945–2000, pg 98.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1956 Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1959 Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Hagan, Jim (2006). People and Politics in Regional New South Wales: 1856 to the 1950s. p. 151.
- ^ "In Father's Footsteps...doing the job where you can't please everyone". Sydney Morning Herald 8 February 1976 pg 64.
- ^ "Mr J M Bruxner As Judge". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 June 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 7 July 2011 – via Trove.
- ^ "No. 42553". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1961. p. 36.
References
- Aitkin, Don (1969). The Colonel: A political biography of Sir Michael Bruxner. Australian National University Press. ISBN 9780708100288.
- Davey, Paul (2006). The Nationals: the Progressive, Country, and National Party in New South Wales 1919–2006. Federation Press. ISBN 1-86287-526-X.
- McMullin, Ross (1991). The Light on the Hill: The Australian Labor Party 1891–1991. Oxford University Press. pp. 266–7. ISBN 0-19-554966-X.
- Hancock, Ian (2007). The Liberals: The NSW Division 1945–2000. Sydney: Federation Press. pp. 97–98. ISBN 978-1-86287-659-0.
- Hagan, Jim (2006). People and Politics in Regional New South Wales: 1856 to the 1950s. Federation Press. p. 151. ISBN 1-86287-570-7.
External links