Thomas Burke (Australian MP)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Patrick "Tom" Burke (28 August 1910 – 17 January 1973) was a member of the Parliament of Australia
.
Burke was born at Berkshire Valley, near Moora, Western Australia
. His birth name was Frederick Thomas, but he was informally renamed Patrick Thomas by his father, Peter Francis Burke, and he was always called Tom. He later formally changed his name to Thomas Patrick in 1963. He was educated by correspondence and at Miling
State School and later worked as a cartage contractor while studying accountancy. In 1941, he married Madeline Muirson Orr. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
in January 1943 and served with the ground staff at Kalgoorlie
.
to the House of Representatives
seat of Perth
, representing the Labor Party
. Although he had high aspirations he was not selected for the ministry during the Curtin
and Chifley
governments. A member of the party's right wing, he was a strong opponent of H. V. Evatt
; and in 1955, at the time of the split in the ALP
, was banned from representing the Western Australian branch at federal conferences of the party. Nevertheless, unlike various other Labor right-wingers, he did not join the Australian Labor Party (Anti-Communist)
(later the DLP). At the 1955 election
he was defeated by Fred Chaney.
In 1957, Burke was expelled from the party, but seven years later he regained his membership. He failed to gain Labor pre-selection for Perth in 1965 and 1968. Instead, he promoted his sons' careers. Terry Burke
became member for Perth
from 1968 to 1987. Brian Burke
became member for Balcatta in 1973 (later redistributed and renamed Balga) in the Western Australia
n Parliament and later served as state premier
from February 1983 until February 1988, in which period the WA Inc
events were commenced.
Tom Burke died of myocardial infarction
in Perth on 17 January 1973, survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters.
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
.
Burke was born at Berkshire Valley, near Moora, Western Australia
Moora, Western Australia
Moora is a townsite located 177 km north of Perth in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. Moora was one of the original stations on the Midland railway line to Walkaway, and the townsite was gazetted in 1895...
. His birth name was Frederick Thomas, but he was informally renamed Patrick Thomas by his father, Peter Francis Burke, and he was always called Tom. He later formally changed his name to Thomas Patrick in 1963. He was educated by correspondence and at Miling
Miling, Western Australia
Miling is a small town in the Shire of Moora, north of Perth, Western Australia. At the 2006 census, Miling had a population of 205.-Notes and references:* Seymour, A. L. The development of Miling. Miling [W.A.] : A.L. Seymour...
State School and later worked as a cartage contractor while studying accountancy. In 1941, he married Madeline Muirson Orr. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
in January 1943 and served with the ground staff at Kalgoorlie
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Kalgoorlie, known as Kalgoorlie-Boulder, is a town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, and is located east-northeast of state capital Perth at the end of the Great Eastern Highway...
.
Political career
Burke was elected at the 1943 electionAustralian 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...
to the House of Representatives
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....
seat of Perth
Division of Perth
The Division of Perth is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Western Australia. It is named after Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, where the Division is located...
, representing 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...
. Although he had high aspirations he was not selected for the ministry during 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...
and Chifley
Ben Chifley
Joseph Benedict Chifley , Australian politician, was the 16th Prime Minister of Australia. He took over the Australian Labor Party leadership and Prime Ministership after the death of John Curtin in 1945, and went on to retain government at the 1946 election, before being defeated at the 1949...
governments. A member of the party's right wing, he was a strong opponent of H. V. Evatt
H. V. Evatt
Herbert Vere Evatt, QC KStJ , was an Australian jurist, politician and writer. He was President of the United Nations General Assembly in 1948–49 and helped draft the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights...
; and in 1955, at the time of the split in the ALP
Australian Labor Party split of 1955
The Australian Labor Party split of 1955 was a splintering of the Australian Labor Party along sectarian and ideological lines in the mid 1950s...
, was banned from representing the Western Australian branch at federal conferences of the party. Nevertheless, unlike various other Labor right-wingers, he did not join the Australian Labor Party (Anti-Communist)
Australian Labor Party (Anti-Communist)
The Australian Labor Party was the name initially used by the right-wing group which split away from the Australian Labor Party in 1955, and which later became the Democratic Labor Party in 1957....
(later the DLP). At the 1955 election
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...
he was defeated by Fred Chaney.
In 1957, Burke was expelled from the party, but seven years later he regained his membership. He failed to gain Labor pre-selection for Perth in 1965 and 1968. Instead, he promoted his sons' careers. Terry Burke
Terry Burke
Terence Joseph "Terry" Burke is a former member for the seat of Perth in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly . He held the seat between 1968 and 1987....
became member for Perth
Electoral district of Perth
The Electoral district of Perth is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Perth is named for the capital city of Western Australia whose central business district falls within its borders. It is one of the oldest electorates in Western Australia, with its first member...
from 1968 to 1987. Brian Burke
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...
became member for Balcatta in 1973 (later redistributed and renamed Balga) in the Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
n Parliament and later served as state premier
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
from February 1983 until February 1988, in which period the WA Inc
WA Inc
WA Inc was a political scandal in Western Australia. In the 1980s, the state government, which was led for much of the period by premier Brian Burke, engaged in business dealings with several prominent businessmen, including Alan Bond, Laurie Connell and Warren Anderson...
events were commenced.
Tom Burke died of myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in Perth on 17 January 1973, survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters.