Arthur Fuller
Encyclopedia
Arthur Nieberding Fuller (24 October 1893 – 21 March 1987) was a long serving member of the Australian House of Representatives
.
Born in Gundagai
to a goldminer and his wife, Fuller spent his childhood in the New South Wales
goldfields. He later managed a clothing store in Cobar
before moving to Tumut
in 1919 to open a clothing store of his own. In 1921, Fuller met and married Vera Hoad, with whom he would have two daughters, and established a Labor Party
branch in Tumut (for which he served as secretary until 1971).
at the 1940 election
as the official Labor candidate but lost to Tom Collins
, the sitting Country Party
member, due partly to candidates from the Lang Labor
and New South Wales Labor factions standing and splitting the Labor vote.
Fuller successfully contested Hume at the 1943 election
as part of the Curtin
Labor landslide. In his maiden speech, Fuller stated his full support for the nationalisation of airlines and banks and that "the Commonwealth Parliament should assume supreme control of land and all other national resources, including money." However, Fuller was not adverse to criticising Labor policy when it detrimentally affected his constituents, such as in April 1944 when he accused Labor leaders of stifling the economic development of the New South Wales Riverina
district (which encompassed Hume).
In parliament, Fuller quickly gained a reputation as one of its quirkier members. A tall, thin man with a long neck, Fuller was nicknamed "Pilsener" due to his resemblance to long thin pilsener bottles. His inclination for long, loud speeches led one reporter to write that Fuller was "at times likely to rant about things he was passionate about without thought for tact", while his idiosyncratic dress sense became a subject of mirth for the Canberra Press Gallery.
Following his successful re-election in 1946
, Fuller was given the official job of Government Whip and the unofficial job of chief heckler of opposition speakers, particularly Jack Lang
.
Fuller lost to his Country Party opponent Charles Anderson
by 767 votes at the 1949 election
following a campaign by the Country Party linking Fuller to the Communist menace. In 1951
, Fuller regained Hume by 796 votes but lost it to Anderson again by 1715 votes in 1955
before regaining it again from Anderson by 704 votes at the 1961 election
.
By the 1963 election Fuller, in failing health, no longer had to face his old opponent Anderson but had lost much of his support base, with long time supporter The Tumut and Adelong Times urging a vote against "our grand old man of politics".
Following his loss to his Country Party opponent John Pettitt
, Fuller retired to Tumut.
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
.
Born in Gundagai
Gundagai, New South Wales
Gundagai is a town in New South Wales, Australia. Although a small town, Gundagai is a popular topic for writers and has become a representative icon of a typical Australian country town...
to a goldminer and his wife, Fuller spent his childhood in the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
goldfields. He later managed a clothing store in Cobar
Cobar, New South Wales
-Notable people:*Nik Kosef, former rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, 1996 premiership player, NSW & Australia representative*Ernie Toshack, cricketer, member of Bradman's Invincibles* Jemma Heather, state representative 4 times....
before moving to Tumut
Tumut, New South Wales
Tumut is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia, situated on the banks of the Tumut River. Tumut is at the foothills of the Snowy Mountains and is referred to as the gateway to the Snowy Mountains Scheme...
in 1919 to open a clothing store of his own. In 1921, Fuller met and married Vera Hoad, with whom he would have two daughters, and established a Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
branch in Tumut (for which he served as secretary until 1971).
Political career
With his wife as his campaign manager, Fuller first contested the Division of HumeDivision of Hume
The Division of Hume is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. The Division is located in the central part of the state, just north of the Australian Capital Territory. The Division covers a predominantly rural area, with agriculture and coal mining the main industries...
at the 1940 election
Australian federal election, 1940
Federal elections were held in Australia on 21 September 1940. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
as the official Labor candidate but lost to Tom Collins
Thomas Collins (Australian politician)
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Collins was an Australian politician and stock and station agent, born at Yass, New South Wales to storekeeper John Collins and Mary, née Hartigan. In 1902, having attended the local Catholic school, he enlisted in the 5th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, to fight in...
, the sitting Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
member, due partly to candidates from the Lang Labor
Lang Labor
Lang Labor was the name commonly used to describe three successive break-away sections of the Australian Labor Party, all led by the New South Wales Labor leader Jack Lang premier of NSW .-Initial opposition to Lang's leadership:...
and New South Wales Labor factions standing and splitting the Labor vote.
Fuller successfully contested Hume at the 1943 election
Australian federal election, 1943
Federal elections were held in Australia on 21 August 1943. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Prime Minister of Australia John Curtin easily defeated the opposition Country Party led...
as part of the Curtin
John Curtin
John Joseph Curtin , Australian politician, served as the 14th Prime Minister of Australia. Labor under Curtin formed a minority government in 1941 after the crossbench consisting of two independent MPs crossed the floor in the House of Representatives, bringing down the Coalition minority...
Labor landslide. In his maiden speech, Fuller stated his full support for the nationalisation of airlines and banks and that "the Commonwealth Parliament should assume supreme control of land and all other national resources, including money." However, Fuller was not adverse to criticising Labor policy when it detrimentally affected his constituents, such as in April 1944 when he accused Labor leaders of stifling the economic development of the New South Wales Riverina
Riverina
The Riverina is an agricultural region of south-western New South Wales , Australia. The Riverina is distinguished from other Australian regions by the combination of flat plains, warm to hot climate and an ample supply of water for irrigation. This combination has allowed the Riverina to develop...
district (which encompassed Hume).
In parliament, Fuller quickly gained a reputation as one of its quirkier members. A tall, thin man with a long neck, Fuller was nicknamed "Pilsener" due to his resemblance to long thin pilsener bottles. His inclination for long, loud speeches led one reporter to write that Fuller was "at times likely to rant about things he was passionate about without thought for tact", while his idiosyncratic dress sense became a subject of mirth for the Canberra Press Gallery.
Following his successful re-election in 1946
Australian federal election, 1946
Federal elections were held in Australia on 28 September 1946. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
, Fuller was given the official job of Government Whip and the unofficial job of chief heckler of opposition speakers, particularly Jack Lang
Jack Lang (Australian politician)
John Thomas Lang , usually referred to as J.T. Lang during his career, and familiarly known as "Jack" and nicknamed "The Big Fella" was an Australian politician who was Premier of New South Wales for two terms...
.
Fuller lost to his Country Party opponent Charles Anderson
Charles Groves Wright Anderson
Charles Groves Wright Anderson VC, MC was a South African-born, Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, a member of the Australian House of Representatives, and a farmer.-Early life:...
by 767 votes at the 1949 election
Australian federal election, 1949
Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1949. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives, and 42 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, where the single transferable vote was introduced...
following a campaign by the Country Party linking Fuller to the Communist menace. In 1951
Australian federal election, 1951
Federal elections were held in Australia on 28 April 1951. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, due to a double dissolution called after the Senate rejected the Commonwealth Bank Bill...
, Fuller regained Hume by 796 votes but lost it to Anderson again by 1715 votes in 1955
Australian federal election, 1955
Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1955. All 122 seats in the House of Representatives, and 30 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Prime Minister of Australia Robert Menzies with coalition partner the Country Party...
before regaining it again from Anderson by 704 votes at the 1961 election
Australian federal election, 1961
Federal elections were held in Australia on 9 December 1961. All 122 seats in the House of Representatives, and 31 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election...
.
By the 1963 election Fuller, in failing health, no longer had to face his old opponent Anderson but had lost much of his support base, with long time supporter The Tumut and Adelong Times urging a vote against "our grand old man of politics".
Following his loss to his Country Party opponent John Pettitt
John Pettitt
John Alexander Pettitt was an Australian politician. Born in Geelong, Victoria, he was educated at Geelong College before becoming a farmer at Harden, New South Wales. He served in the military from 1940-43...
, Fuller retired to Tumut.