John Seiffert
Encyclopedia
John Wesley Seiffert was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1941 until his death in 1965. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party
(ALP) but stood at an Independent Labor candidate at the 1950 state election.
and was the son of a gardener. He was educated to elementary level and worked as a prison warder. As a youth he was a keen sportsman and was an Australian amateur cycle champion as well as a founder of the New South Wales Country Rugby League
. Seiffert was elected as an alderman to Goulburn Municipal Council
in 1934-7. Seiffert joined the ALP in 1931.
at the 1941
state election. He defeated the incumbent Country Party
member William Hedges
by less than 200 votes. Monaro was one of a number of rural seats that Labor won at the 1941 election and these victories contributed to the formation of the Labor government of William McKell
. Seiffert retained the seat for the Labor Party at the next 2 elections.
resigned from the Legislative Council
to successfully contest the federal seat of Blaxland
at the 1949
election. His successor was due to be elected at a joint sitting of the two houses of parliament on March 22 1950. While the election was by secret ballot, each Labor member of the parliament had a unique how- to-vote card and Labor scrutineers were able to determine if a member had broken caucus solidarity and voted against the endorsed Labor candidate. On the day of the election, Asher Joel
, a wealthy Sydney businessman was a surprise nomination against Labor's James Thom. Joel was unsuccessful but received 23 votes and it became common knowledge within the Labor Party, although never officially stated, that 4 members of the party; Seiffert, James Geraghty
(North Sydney
) , Roy Heferen
(Barwon) and Fred Stanley
(Lakemba
) had voted for him. There were also unproven rumours that they had received cash payments for their votes. The state executive of the Labor Party responded by withholding the endorsement for these candidates at the 1950
election. Seiffert and the other disendorsed members received support from the Caucus and a severe rift developed between the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary parties. This was a major contribution to Labor's poor showing at the election. Seiffert also received support from the branch members in his electorate and no candidate could be found for Labor endorsement. He successfully defended the seat as an Independent Labor candidate but, unlike the other three members, he had not stood against an endorsed candidate he was therefore not expelled from the party. His readmission to the caucus, after the election, gave the Labor government of James McGirr
a one seat majority in the assembly. He continued to represent Monaro until his death a few months prior to the 1965
election. Seiffert did not hold party, parliamentary or ministerial office.
Seiffert Oval
in Queanbeyan is named after him.
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 1941 until his death in 1965. He was a member of the 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...
(ALP) but stood at an Independent Labor candidate at the 1950 state election.
Early life
Seiffert was born in Goulburn, New South WalesGoulburn, New South Wales
Goulburn is a provincial city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Goulburn Mulwaree Council Local Government Area. It is located south-west of Sydney on the Hume Highway and above sea-level. On Census night 2006, Goulburn had a population of 20,127 people...
and was the son of a gardener. He was educated to elementary level and worked as a prison warder. As a youth he was a keen sportsman and was an Australian amateur cycle champion as well as a founder of the New South Wales Country Rugby League
New South Wales Country Rugby League
-2011 Tier 2 Championships:-History:Newcastle was the first city outside Sydney to start a league competition, being involved in the Sydney Premiership in 1908-09 and then starting their own competition in 1910....
. Seiffert was elected as an alderman to Goulburn Municipal Council
Goulburn Mulwaree Council
Goulburn Mulwaree Council is a Local Government Area of New South Wales, Australia. The council was formed as the Greater Argyle Council in 2004 as an amalgamation of Goulburn City and parts of the former Mulwaree Shire. It was renamed in 2005 following objections from the community...
in 1934-7. Seiffert joined the ALP in 1931.
State parliament
Seiffert was elected to the parliament as the Labor member for MonaroElectoral 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....
at the 1941
New South Wales state election, 1941
The 1941 New South Wales state election was held on 10 May 1941. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 33nd New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting....
state election. He defeated the incumbent 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 William Hedges
William Hedges (New South Wales politician)
William Whaley Hedges was an Australian politician. He was a Country Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1927 to 1941, representing the electorate of Monaro....
by less than 200 votes. Monaro was one of a number of rural seats that Labor won at the 1941 election and these victories contributed to the formation of the Labor government of William McKell
William McKell
Sir William John McKell GCMG , Australian politician, was Premier of New South Wales from 1941 to 1947, and was the 12th Governor-General of Australia. He was also the oldest Governor General of Australia, at 93 when he died....
. Seiffert retained the seat for the Labor Party at the next 2 elections.
Disendorsement and readmission to Labor Party
In November 1949, Eli HarrisonJames Harrison (Australian politician)
Eli James Harrison was an Australian politician. Born in Port Macquarie, New South Wales to farmer William Binney and Sophia Selina Turnbull, he was educated at state schools. He then worked on a dairy farm before joining New South Wales Railways in 1925...
resigned from the Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
to successfully contest the federal seat of Blaxland
Division of Blaxland
The Division of Blaxland is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. It is based in the western suburbs of Sydney, and includes the working-class suburbs of Bass Hill, Birrong, Carramar, Chester Hill, Condell Park, Fairfield East, Georges Hall, Guildford West, Old Guildford,...
at the 1949
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...
election. His successor was due to be elected at a joint sitting of the two houses of parliament on March 22 1950. While the election was by secret ballot, each Labor member of the parliament had a unique how- to-vote card and Labor scrutineers were able to determine if a member had broken caucus solidarity and voted against the endorsed Labor candidate. On the day of the election, Asher Joel
Asher Joel
Sir Asher Alexander Joel KBE, AO was an Australian public figure and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council for 20 years...
, a wealthy Sydney businessman was a surprise nomination against Labor's James Thom. Joel was unsuccessful but received 23 votes and it became common knowledge within the Labor Party, although never officially stated, that 4 members of the party; Seiffert, James Geraghty
James Geraghty
James Leo Geraghty was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1941 until 1953. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party until 1950 and then sat as an Independent Labor member .-Early life:Geraghty was born in Parramatta, New South Wales...
(North Sydney
Electoral district of North Sydney
North Sydney was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. Created in 1927, it replaced part of the multi-member electorate of North Shore, and was named after and included the Sydney suburb of North Sydney. It was abolished in 1962 and partly...
) , Roy Heferen
Roy Heferen
Stephen Roy Heferen was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1941 until 1950. During his parliamentary career he was a member of the Australian Labor Party but sat as an Independent Labor member between March and May 1950.-Early life:Heferen...
(Barwon) and Fred Stanley
Fred Stanley (politician)
Fred Stanley was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1927 until 1950...
(Lakemba
Electoral district of Lakemba
Lakemba is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales in Sydney's Inner West. It has been held by the Australian Labor Party since its creation in 1927...
) had voted for him. There were also unproven rumours that they had received cash payments for their votes. The state executive of the Labor Party responded by withholding the endorsement for these candidates at the 1950
New South Wales state election, 1950
The 1950 New South Wales State state election was held on 17 June 1950. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1949 redistribution...
election. Seiffert and the other disendorsed members received support from the Caucus and a severe rift developed between the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary parties. This was a major contribution to Labor's poor showing at the election. Seiffert also received support from the branch members in his electorate and no candidate could be found for Labor endorsement. He successfully defended the seat as an Independent Labor candidate but, unlike the other three members, he had not stood against an endorsed candidate he was therefore not expelled from the party. His readmission to the caucus, after the election, gave the Labor government of James McGirr
James McGirr
James McGirr was the Labor Premier of New South Wales from 6 February 1947 to 3 April 1952.A Catholic, McGirr was the seventh son of John Patrick McGirr, farmer and Irish immigrant, and Mary McGirr, whose maiden name was O'Sullivan. Born in Parkes, New South Wales, he grew up on a dairy farm near...
a one seat majority in the assembly. He continued to represent Monaro until his death a few months prior to the 1965
New South Wales state election, 1965
The 1965 New South Wales state election was held on 1 May 1965. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1961 redistribution...
election. Seiffert did not hold party, parliamentary or ministerial office.
Seiffert Oval
Seiffert Oval
Seiffert Oval is a rugby league ground in Queanbeyan, New South Wales that served as the base of the Canberra Raiders for the first seven years of its existence . It also hosted an ACTRU v The British and Irish Lions fixture in 1989. It is now used to host games of the Queanbeyan Blues Rugby League...
in Queanbeyan is named after him.