Bill Ratcliffe
Encyclopedia
Wilfred Joseph "Bill" Ratcliffe (30 May 1880 - 25 March 1935) was an Australia
n politician. He was an Australian Labor Party
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1922 until 1932, representing the districts of Botany
(1922–1927), Alexandria
(1927–1930) and Barwon (1930–1932). He was Secretary of Public Works and Minister for Railways for four months in 1927, during the last months of the first Lang
government.
Ratcliffe was born at Pyrmont
, and was a tram driver before entering politics as a local alderman. He was an unsuccessful Labor candidate at the 1920 state election, when he was placed fifth and last on the Labor ticket for multi-member Botany
. He again contested Botany in 1922 and was again placed fifth on the Labor list, but this time, campaigned for voters to ignore the official ticket and give him their first preference. The tactic was successful, and he was elected at the expense of fellow Labor MLA Simon Hickey; however, it earned him significant emnity within the Labor Party. He was expelled by the Labor executive in April and sat as an Independent Labor member, but was readmitted to the party in July.
Ratcliffe was re-elected in 1925 when Labor won a majority under Jack Lang
, and was promoted to the ministry in 1927, when Martin Flannery was dropped in a reshuffle. His ministerial career was cut short by Labor's defeat that year; however, he was re-elected as the member for Alexandria
. The Alexandria seat was abolished in 1930, and Ratcliffe lost the preselection ballot for inner-city Redfern
. The executive tried to find him another seat; after rumors he would run for Monaro
, he was appointed candidate for the traditionally conservative rural seat of Barwon. He won the seat, but suffered from ill health during his final term, and retired in 1932. He died in 1935, and was buried in the Roman Catholic section of Rookwood Cemetery.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He was an Australian 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...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1922 until 1932, representing the districts of Botany
Electoral district of Botany
Botany was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1894, partly replacing Redfern, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Botany...
(1922–1927), Alexandria
Electoral district of Alexandria
Alexandria was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1904, partly replacing Waterloo, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Alexandria. With the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into the...
(1927–1930) and Barwon (1930–1932). He was Secretary of Public Works and Minister for Railways for four months in 1927, during the last months of the first 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...
government.
Ratcliffe was born at Pyrmont
Pyrmont, New South Wales
Pyrmont is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Pyrmont is located 2 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney...
, and was a tram driver before entering politics as a local alderman. He was an unsuccessful Labor candidate at the 1920 state election, when he was placed fifth and last on the Labor ticket for multi-member Botany
Electoral district of Botany
Botany was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1894, partly replacing Redfern, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Botany...
. He again contested Botany in 1922 and was again placed fifth on the Labor list, but this time, campaigned for voters to ignore the official ticket and give him their first preference. The tactic was successful, and he was elected at the expense of fellow Labor MLA Simon Hickey; however, it earned him significant emnity within the Labor Party. He was expelled by the Labor executive in April and sat as an Independent Labor member, but was readmitted to the party in July.
Ratcliffe was re-elected in 1925 when Labor won a majority under 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...
, and was promoted to the ministry in 1927, when Martin Flannery was dropped in a reshuffle. His ministerial career was cut short by Labor's defeat that year; however, he was re-elected as the member for Alexandria
Electoral district of Alexandria
Alexandria was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1904, partly replacing Waterloo, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Alexandria. With the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into the...
. The Alexandria seat was abolished in 1930, and Ratcliffe lost the preselection ballot for inner-city Redfern
Electoral district of Redfern
Redfern was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1880, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Redfern...
. The executive tried to find him another seat; after rumors he would run for Monaro
Electoral district of Monaro
Monaro is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by John Barilaro of the National Party of Australia....
, he was appointed candidate for the traditionally conservative rural seat of Barwon. He won the seat, but suffered from ill health during his final term, and retired in 1932. He died in 1935, and was buried in the Roman Catholic section of Rookwood Cemetery.