John Allan (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
John Allan Australia
n politician, was the 29th Premier of Victoria. He was born near Lancefield
, where his father was a farmer of Scottish
origin, and educated at state schools. He took up wheat and dairy farming at Wyuna and was director of a butter factory at Kyabram
. In 1892 he married Annie Stewart, with whom he had six children.
Northern Victoria was a centre of the movement of militant small farmers who founded first the Victorian Farmers Union (VFU) and later the Country Party
as an outlet for their grievances. In 1917 Allan was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
as VFU member for Rodney, a district centred on Echuca
. In 1919 he became a founding member of the Country Party and its first parliamentary leader, and was a member of its Victorian Central Council. Although the Country Party was highly critical of the ruling Nationalist Party
, it was a conservative party and disliked the Labor Party
even more, so it usually found itself in an uneasy alliance with the Nationalists.
In 1921 Allan withdrew his support from the Nationalist government of Harry Lawson
, over the issue of abolishing the state-run wheat-marketing system which had been introduced during World War I
, and which benefited small farmers by keeping wheat prices high. The result was a bitter state election in which the Nationalists won 31 seats, Labor 21 and the Country Party 12. The Country Party then split over the issue of whether to support Lawson or Labor, with Allan in favour of Lawson and a faction led Albert Dunstan
favouring an alliance with Labor.
Allan's faction propped up Lawson's government until 1923, when a new coalition government was formed with Lawson as Premier and Allan as Minister for Lands and Immigration. This was the first Nationalist-Country coalition state government. In March 1924 the coalition broke down and the Country Party ministers left the government, and Alexander Peacock
formed a minority Nationalist government, which fell in April when the Country Party voted against it. George Prendergast
then formed a minority Labor government. This in turn fell in November when the Nationalists and Country Party came to a new agreement.
Under the new coalition agreement, Allan became Australia's first Country Party Premier, with Peacock as his deputy. Dunstan's faction seceded from the party and formed the Country Progressive Party. Allan's government passed some legislation of benefit to farmers, but since a substantial majority of Victorians by this time lived in Melbourne, the government became increasingly unpopular with urban voters. Attempts by both Labor and Nationalists to reduce the over-representation of country areas were resisted by Allan and blocked by the Legislative Council
.
As a result, the April 1927 state election saw a big swing to Labor, which won 28 seats to the Nationalists' 15, the Country Party's 10, the Country Progressives four and independents eight. This was Labor's best result yet, and enough for the Labor leader Edmond Hogan
to form a minority government with Progressive support. Allan resigned in May, and the Country Party stayed in opposition until 1935. In 1930 Dunstan led his followers back into a united party. When Stanley Argyle
formed a United Australia Party
-Country Party coalition government in 1932, Allan became Minister for Agriculture, but in 1935 Dunstan put Argyle out and formed a government with Labor support. Allan refused to serve in this government, and remained on the backbench until his death in 1936.
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, was the 29th Premier of Victoria. He was born near Lancefield
Lancefield, Victoria
Lancefield is a town in the Shire of Macedon Ranges Local government area in Victoria, Australia. The town is located north of the state capital, Melbourne and had a population of 1,184 at the 2006 census.-History:...
, where his father was a farmer of Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
origin, and educated at state schools. He took up wheat and dairy farming at Wyuna and was director of a butter factory at Kyabram
Kyabram, Victoria
Kyabram is located in the centre of a rich irrigation district in the Goulburn River Valley, 200 kilometres north of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Kyabram, the second largest town in the Shire of Campaspe. is situated between the towns of Echuca and Shepparton and is close to the Murray River...
. In 1892 he married Annie Stewart, with whom he had six children.
Northern Victoria was a centre of the movement of militant small farmers who founded first the Victorian Farmers Union (VFU) and later the 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...
as an outlet for their grievances. In 1917 Allan was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
as VFU member for Rodney, a district centred on Echuca
Echuca, Victoria
Echuca is a town located on the banks of the Murray River and Campaspe river in Victoria, Australia. The Border town Moama is on the northern side of the Murray river in New South Wales. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Shire of Campaspe...
. In 1919 he became a founding member of the Country Party and its first parliamentary leader, and was a member of its Victorian Central Council. Although the Country Party was highly critical of the ruling Nationalist Party
Nationalist Party of Australia
The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...
, it was a conservative party and disliked the 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...
even more, so it usually found itself in an uneasy alliance with the Nationalists.
In 1921 Allan withdrew his support from the Nationalist government of Harry Lawson
Harry Lawson
Sir Harry Sutherland Wightman Lawson KCMG , Australian politician, was the 27th Premier of Victoria.Lawson was born in Dunolly, the son of a Presbyterian clergyman of Scottish descent. He was educated at a local school and then briefly Scotch College in Melbourne. He was a noted Australian rules...
, over the issue of abolishing the state-run wheat-marketing system which had been introduced during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and which benefited small farmers by keeping wheat prices high. The result was a bitter state election in which the Nationalists won 31 seats, Labor 21 and the Country Party 12. The Country Party then split over the issue of whether to support Lawson or Labor, with Allan in favour of Lawson and a faction led Albert Dunstan
Albert Dunstan
Sir Albert Arthur Dunstan, KCMG was an Australian politician. A member of the Country Party , Dunstan was the 33rd Premier of Victoria. His term as Premier was the second-longest in the state's history, behind Sir Henry Bolte...
favouring an alliance with Labor.
Allan's faction propped up Lawson's government until 1923, when a new coalition government was formed with Lawson as Premier and Allan as Minister for Lands and Immigration. This was the first Nationalist-Country coalition state government. In March 1924 the coalition broke down and the Country Party ministers left the government, and Alexander Peacock
Alexander Peacock
Sir Alexander James Peacock, KCMG , Australian politician, was the 20th Premier of Victoria.Peacock was born of Scottish descent at Creswick, the first Victorian Premier born after the gold rush of the 1850s and the attainment of self-government in Victoria. He was distantly related to the family...
formed a minority Nationalist government, which fell in April when the Country Party voted against it. George Prendergast
George Prendergast
George Michael Prendergast , Australian politician, was the 28th Premier of Victoria. He was born to Irish emigrant parents in Adelaide, but he grew up in Stawell in the Wimmera district of Victoria...
then formed a minority Labor government. This in turn fell in November when the Nationalists and Country Party came to a new agreement.
Under the new coalition agreement, Allan became Australia's first Country Party Premier, with Peacock as his deputy. Dunstan's faction seceded from the party and formed the Country Progressive Party. Allan's government passed some legislation of benefit to farmers, but since a substantial majority of Victorians by this time lived in Melbourne, the government became increasingly unpopular with urban voters. Attempts by both Labor and Nationalists to reduce the over-representation of country areas were resisted by Allan and blocked by the Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
.
As a result, the April 1927 state election saw a big swing to Labor, which won 28 seats to the Nationalists' 15, the Country Party's 10, the Country Progressives four and independents eight. This was Labor's best result yet, and enough for the Labor leader Edmond Hogan
Edmond Hogan
Edmond John "Ned" Hogan , Australian politician, 30th Premier of Victoria, was born in Wallace, Victoria, where his Irish-born parents were small farmers...
to form a minority government with Progressive support. Allan resigned in May, and the Country Party stayed in opposition until 1935. In 1930 Dunstan led his followers back into a united party. When Stanley Argyle
Stanley Argyle
Sir Stanley Seymour Argyle KBE , Australian politician, was the 32nd Premier of Victoria. He was born in Kyneton, Victoria, the son of a grazier, and was educated at Brighton Grammar School and the University of Melbourne, where he graduated in medicine...
formed a United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
-Country Party coalition government in 1932, Allan became Minister for Agriculture, but in 1935 Dunstan put Argyle out and formed a government with Labor support. Allan refused to serve in this government, and remained on the backbench until his death in 1936.