Thomas Hollway
Tom Hollway | |
---|---|
36th Premier of Victoria | |
In office 20 November 1947 – 27 June 1950 | |
Governor | Sir Winston Dugan (1947–1949) Sir Dallas Brooks (1949–1950) |
Deputy | John McDonald (1947–1948) Wilfrid Hughes (1948–1950) |
Preceded by | John Cain Sr. |
Succeeded by | John McDonald |
In office 28 October 1952 – 31 October 1952 | |
Governor | Sir Dallas Brooks |
Deputy | Alexander Dennett |
Preceded by | John McDonald |
Succeeded by | John McDonald |
9th Deputy Premier of Victoria | |
In office 18 September 1943 – 2 October 1945 | |
Premier | Albert Dunstan |
Preceded by | Bert Cremean |
Succeeded by | Thomas Maltby |
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Ballarat | |
In office 14 May 1932 – 31 October 1952 | |
Preceded by | William McAdam |
Succeeded by | John Sheehan |
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Glen Iris | |
In office 6 December 1952 – 22 April 1955 | |
Preceded by | Les Norman |
Succeeded by | District abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | Thomas Tuke Hollway 2 October 1906 Victorian Liberal Party (1954–1955) |
Spouse | Sheila Florence Kelsall |
Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
Profession | Solicitor |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Australia |
Branch/service | Royal Australian Air Force |
Years of service | 1942–1943 |
Rank | Flying Officer |
Unit | No. 100 Squadron RAAF |
Thomas Tuke Hollway (2 October 1906 – 30 July 1971) was the 36th
Early life
Thomas Tuke Hollway was born in Ballarat, the son of local merchant of the same name who would go on to become mayor of Ballarat, and Annie Nicholl. He was educated locally, at the Macarthur Street School and
Political career
Early career
Hollway was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly at the 1932 Victorian state election, representing the seat of Ballarat. At the time of his election, aged 25, he was the youngest member of any Australian parliament.[2]
In 1940, he was made UAP party secretary and whip, and in the same year deputy leader of the UAP. On 23 November 1940, UAP leader Sir Stanley Argyle died, and Hollway was elected party leader on 3 December.[2] In February 1942, whilst retaining his seat in parliament and the party leadership, Hollway enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force. He trained as an intelligence officer and served as a Flying Officer in Papua, before being discharged and transferred to the reserves in July 1943.[3]
In Albert Dunstan's second wartime government (1943–1945) Hollway was Deputy Premier of Victoria.
The UAP was brought under the
Premier of Victoria
At the 1947 state election held on 8 November,
However, the coalition supporting him was not strong. In March 1949, the Victorian division of the Liberal Party renamed itself the
The Country Party's leader John McDonald was Hollway's initial Deputy Premier, however he was sacked as deputy in December 1948 after criticising Hollway's negotiations with the Trades Hall Council over transport strikes.
The coalition between the Liberals and Country Party was dissolved.
Hollway led the Liberal Party to victory in the 13 May 1950 state election, gaining the most seats of any party, and having supply support from the Country Party. However this minority government arrangement was not to last for long.
Hollway lost office on 27 June 1950, when he was overthrown by the
Electoral reform plan and party expulsion
During his period as opposition leader, Hollway became a firm advocate of electoral reform. He considered Victoria's electoral system to be heavily rurally-biased, and suggested redrawing the state's electoral boundaries to emulate Tasmania's, that is, to follow the federal electoral divisions which were less malapportioned. His proposal was called the "two-for-one system", where each of Victoria's 33 federal electorates would be divided into two for the purposes of the state's lower house elections. The Hollway Plan, if implemented, would have seriously reduced the representation of the Country Party, and as such was supported by the Labor party as well as several on the Liberal side. Hollway convinced the state executive of the Liberal and Country Party to endorse his reform proposals, however there was considerable dissent in the party, particularly from members who feared losing their seats in the redistribution.[5]
Hollway attempted to contain the divisions in his party, but on 4 December 1951, the party moved against him and his deputy Trevor Oldham, overthrowing their leadership and replacing them with Les Norman and Henry Bolte.[6] The vote was close (21 to 19), and three members who were likely to have supported Hollway in the ballot were absent.[7]
Hollway continued to advocate for electoral reform, and worked closely with the Labor Party to attempt to achieve it. He dismissed criticism of his negotiations with Labor with the assertion that his plan was for the good of the community, and transcended party politics.[5] On 17 September 1952, Hollway moved a motion of no confidence against McDonald's government, which was defeated by a one-vote majority. The Liberals quickly moved to expel Hollway from the parliamentary party on 24 September, Norman stating that he had deliberately discredited the party while it was contesting two key by-elections. The expulsion motion carried 23 to 9, with seven members walking out of the party meeting in solidarity with Hollway.[8]
Bribery accusations and Royal Commission
On 30 September 1952, LCP leader Les Norman told the Legislative Assembly that he was in possession of six
Norman requested that McDonald immediately establish a
On 27 October 1952, Sir Edmund Herring adjourned the royal commission indefinitely, due to a legal technicality raised by Hollway's counsel,
The 70-hour Premier and the Electoral Reform League
In October 1952, the Labor Party moved to defeat the McDonald government by working with two of Hollway's supporters in the Victorian Legislative Council to block supply in the upper house.[12] Labor then informed the Governor that they would only grant supply to a minority government led by Hollway, and McDonald resigned as Premier.
On 23 October, Governor Brooks granted Hollway a commission to form a minority government with the seven former LCP members who supported him, with the backing of the Labor Party on confidence and supply. The
1952 and 1955 elections
The Electoral Reform League contested fifteen seats at the 1952 state election. In addition, Hollway announced that he would not contest Ballarat at the election, but would instead run for the seat of Glen Iris—the seat occupied by Les Norman, leader of his former party.[16] Hollway was not expected to win against Norman,[17] but then led the polling from the start of counting, defeating Norman easily. Cain's Labor Party won the election with the largest majority in its history, and the ERL won four seats (down from six).[18]
The Cain government proceeded to implement Hollway's "two-for-one" electoral redistribution plan. Ironically, Hollway's seat of Glen Iris was one of the electorates abolished in the redistribution. With his electoral reform plans implemented, Hollway changed the name of his party grouping to the
Later life
After his defeat, Hollway retired to
Further reading
- Paul Strangio and Brian Costar (eds.), The Premiers of Victoria: 1856–2006 (Federation Press, Sydney, 2006).
- Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
References
- ^ a b Jones, Barry O., 'Hollway, Thomas Tuke (Tom) (1906–1971)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed 13 February 2012.
- ^ a b "U.A.P. LEADER". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 4 December 1940. p. 2. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ^ HOLLWAY, THOMAS TUKE, WW2 Nominal Roll, Commonwealth of Australia, 2002.
- ^ "WRITS ISSUED FOR STATE ELECTION". The Herald. 14 October 1947.
- ^ a b c Paul Strangio and Brian Costar (eds.), The Premiers of Victoria: 1856–2006 (Federation Press, Sydney, 2006).
- ^ "Liberals topple Hollway, Oldham NORMAN NEW LEADER, BOLTE DEPUTY". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 5 December 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ "L.C.P. OUSTS HOLLWAY AS LEADER". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 5 December 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ "M.L.A.S Expel Hollway". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 25 September 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ "House told of bribery offers to members". The Advocate. Burnie, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 1 October 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "BRIBERY CHARGES TO GO TO ROYAL COMMISSION". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 2 October 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "Writ Stops Victorian Inquiry". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 28 October 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "Will today see end of the McDonald Government?". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 21 October 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "Mr. Hollway Will Become Premier". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 24 October 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "Hollway Govt Falls After 70-hr Office". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 1 November 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "Electoral Reform Move In Victoria". The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 1 November 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "REBEL TO OPPOSE LEADER". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 3 November 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "VIC LABOR CONFIDENCE". The Sunday Times. Perth: National Library of Australia. 30 November 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "LABOUR SWEEPS VICTORIAN POLL". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 8 December 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 22 February 2012.