Roger Nott
Encyclopedia
The Hon. Roger Bede Nott (20 October 1908 – 28 September 2000) was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1941 until 1961. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party (NSW)
and held numerous ministerial positions between 1954 and 1961. He was the Administrator of the Northern Territory
between 1961 and 1964.
and was the son of a farmer, Leo Nott
a member of the Legislative Assembly between 1953 and 1963 was his brother. He was educated to elementary level at Gulgong Primary School and initially worked as a shearer and farm hand. He later became a wheat farmer at Dunedoo.
at the 1941
state election. He replaced the Country Party
member Harry Carter and defeated the Country Party candidate Alfred Yeo
who had been the member for Castlereagh
. Liverpool Plains 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
. Nott retained the seat at the next 6 elections but controversially resigned in 1961 to accept an appointment from the Federal government as the Administrator of the Northern Territory
. This position was often a sinecure for retiring members of the ruling party but the government of Robert Menzies
offered it to Nott to force his resignation from parliament and cause a by-election. The Country Party's Frank O'Keefe
who had been an unsuccessful candidate at 4 previous elections and a rising star for the party was successful. Nott was the unsuccessful candidate at the 1970 Upper Hunter
by election caused by Frank O'Keefe's transfer to the federal seat of Paterson
.
and Robert Heffron
. He was appointed as a Minister without Portfolio in 1954 and between 1956 and 1957 was the Secretary for Lands and Secretary for Mines. From 1957 until his retirement he was the Minister for Agriculture
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 1961. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party (NSW)
Australian Labor Party (NSW)
The Australian Labor Party , commonly known as Lang Labor, was the name given to a major breakaway of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales that operated from 1931 to 1936....
and held numerous ministerial positions between 1954 and 1961. He was the Administrator of the Northern Territory
Administrator of the Northern Territory
The Administrator of the Northern Territory is an official appointed by the Governor-General of Australia to exercise powers analogous to that of a state governor...
between 1961 and 1964.
Early life
Nott was born at Gulgong, New South WalesGulgong, New South Wales
Gulgong is a 19th century gold rush town in the Central-West of the Australian state of New South Wales. The town is located about north west of Sydney, and about 30 km north of Mudgee along the Castlereagh Highway. At the 2006 census, Gulgong had a population of 1,907 people...
and was the son of a farmer, Leo Nott
Leo Nott
Leo Mervyn Nott was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1953 and 1968 and again between 1971 and 1973. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party ....
a member of the Legislative Assembly between 1953 and 1963 was his brother. He was educated to elementary level at Gulgong Primary School and initially worked as a shearer and farm hand. He later became a wheat farmer at Dunedoo.
State Parliament
Nott was elected to the parliament as the Labor member for Liverpool PlainsElectoral district of Liverpool Plains
Liverpool Plains was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1859 and including the Liverpool Plains and the extensive pastoral district around the Gwydir River in the northwest of the state. It was created when the seat of...
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 replaced 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...
member Harry Carter and defeated the Country Party candidate Alfred Yeo
Alfred Yeo
Alfred William Yeo was an Australian politician. He was a Country Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1932 to 1941, representing the electorate of Castlereagh....
who had been the member for Castlereagh
Electoral district of Castlereagh
Castlereagh was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales originally created in 1904, partly replacing Coonamble and named after the Castlereagh River. In 1920, with the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into Wammerawa,...
. Liverpool Plains 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....
. Nott retained the seat at the next 6 elections but controversially resigned in 1961 to accept an appointment from the Federal government as the Administrator of the Northern Territory
Administrator of the Northern Territory
The Administrator of the Northern Territory is an official appointed by the Governor-General of Australia to exercise powers analogous to that of a state governor...
. This position was often a sinecure for retiring members of the ruling party but the government of Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
offered it to Nott to force his resignation from parliament and cause a by-election. The Country Party's Frank O'Keefe
Frank O'Keefe
Frank Lionel O'Keefe, AM was an Australian politician. Born in Gunnedah, New South Wales, he attended state schools before becoming a farm machinery distributor and oil merchant. He was mayor of Gunnedah Shire Council for 18 years, and also served on Namoi Valley County Council...
who had been an unsuccessful candidate at 4 previous elections and a rising star for the party was successful. Nott was the unsuccessful candidate at the 1970 Upper Hunter
Electoral district of Upper Hunter
Upper Hunter is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by George Souris of the National Party of Australia....
by election caused by Frank O'Keefe's transfer to the federal seat of Paterson
Division of Paterson
The Division of Paterson is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located just north of Newcastle, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It extends to the Hunter Valley in the south, the Manning River in the north, and the Great Dividing Range in the west...
.
Government
Nott was a member of the governments of Joseph CahillJoseph Cahill
John Joseph Cahill was Premier of New South Wales in Australia from 1952 to 1959. He is best remembered as the Premier who approved construction on the Sydney Opera House, and for his work increasing the authority of local government in the state.-Early years:Joe Cahill, as he was popularly known,...
and Robert Heffron
Robert Heffron
Robert James "Bob" Heffron was one of the longest-serving New South Wales state parliamentarians. He was the Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales from 28 October 1959, to 30 April 1964.-Early years:...
. He was appointed as a Minister without Portfolio in 1954 and between 1956 and 1957 was the Secretary for Lands and Secretary for Mines. From 1957 until his retirement he was the Minister for Agriculture
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, a division of the New South Wales Government, is responsibile for the administration and development for agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, state forests, biosecurity, and crown lands in New South Wales...