William Ashley (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
William Patrick "Bill" Ashley (20 September 1881 – 27 June 1958) was an Australian politician.
Ashley was born at Singorambah, near Hay
, New South Wales and educated at Hay. He went to South Africa in May 1902, but saw no action in the Second Boer War
and returned to Australia in August. He established himself as a tobacconist in Lithgow
and married Theresa Ellen Maloney in July 1921. He served as an alderman and mayor on Lithgow Council
.
Senate
ticket for the 1937 election
, partly because his surname would appear high on the ballot paper under the alphabetical system then in effect. With the fall of the Fadden
government, he became Postmaster-General
and Minister for Information in the Curtin government
. In March 1943
, he lost the porfolio of information, but gained the position of Vice-President of the Executive Council
. In February 1945, he became Minister for Supply and Shipping
.
In a minor reshuffle
in April 1948, Ashley became Minister for Shipping and Fuel. In June 1949, his handling of a scheme to introduce long-service leave for coal miners contributed to an ensuing strike. He had implied that the federal governnment would contribute financially to the scheme, but this proved not to be the case. In addition, the proposed scheme might have limited the right to strike. He also attempted to support British economic recovery by buying oil from British companies—when they ran short of supplies, he was forced to impose petrol rationing. Both the coal miners' strike and the fuel rationing contributed to Labor's defeat at the 1949 election
. He stayed in the Senate for the rest of his life and supported H. V. Evatt
against the Industrial Groups
.
Ashley died in Sydney Hospital
and is survived by his wife and daughter.
Ashley was born at Singorambah, near Hay
Hay, New South Wales
Hay is a town in the western Riverina region of south western New South Wales , Australia. It is the administrative centre of Hay Shire Local Government Area and the centre of a prosperous and productive agricultural district on the wide Hay Plains....
, New South Wales and educated at Hay. He went to South Africa in May 1902, but saw no action in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
and returned to Australia in August. He established himself as a tobacconist in Lithgow
Lithgow, New South Wales
Lithgow is a city in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia and is the centre of the local political division City of Lithgow. It is located in a mountain valley named Lithgow's Valley by John Oxley in honour of William Lithgow, the first Auditor-General of New South Wales.Lithgow is...
and married Theresa Ellen Maloney in July 1921. He served as an alderman and mayor on Lithgow Council
City of Lithgow
Lithgow is a Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia that includes Lithgow and its surrounding area. It is on the Great Western Highway and the Main Western railway line.- Demographics :According to the , there:...
.
Political career
Ashley was pre-selected for the Australian Labor PartyAustralian 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...
Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
ticket for the 1937 election
Australian federal election, 1937
Federal elections were held in Australia on 23 October 1937. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
, partly because his surname would appear high on the ballot paper under the alphabetical system then in effect. With the fall of the Fadden
Arthur Fadden
Sir Arthur William Fadden, GCMG was an Australian politician and, briefly, the 13th Prime Minister of Australia.-Introduction:...
government, he became Postmaster-General
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Australia)
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy is currently Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy. He replaced Senator the Hon Helen Coonan on 3 December 2007.-Portfolio:...
and Minister for Information in the Curtin government
First Curtin Ministry
The First Curtin Ministry was the thirtieth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and held office from 7 October 1941 to 21 September 1943.Australian Labor Party...
. In March 1943
Second Curtin Ministry
The Second Curtin Ministry was the thirty-first Australian Commonwealth ministry, and held office from 21 September 1943 to 6 July 1945.Australian Labor Party*Rt Hon John Curtin, MP: Prime Minister, Minister for Defence...
, he lost the porfolio of information, but gained the position of Vice-President of the Executive Council
Vice-President of the Executive Council
The Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council is a position in Australian federal governments, whose holder acts as presiding officer of the Federal Executive Council in the absence of the Governor-General....
. In February 1945, he became Minister for Supply and Shipping
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport is the Hon Anthony Albanese. On 3 December 2007 he replaced the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, the Hon Mark Vaile, who held office since August 2006, and the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, the Hon Jim...
.
In a minor reshuffle
Second Chifley Ministry
The Second Chifley Ministry was the thirty-fourth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and held office from 1 November 1946 to 19 December 1949.Australian Labor Party*Rt Hon Ben Chifley, MP: Prime Minister and Treasurer*Hon Dr H.V...
in April 1948, Ashley became Minister for Shipping and Fuel. In June 1949, his handling of a scheme to introduce long-service leave for coal miners contributed to an ensuing strike. He had implied that the federal governnment would contribute financially to the scheme, but this proved not to be the case. In addition, the proposed scheme might have limited the right to strike. He also attempted to support British economic recovery by buying oil from British companies—when they ran short of supplies, he was forced to impose petrol rationing. Both the coal miners' strike and the fuel rationing contributed to Labor's defeat at the 1949 election
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...
. He stayed in the Senate for the rest of his life and supported 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...
against the Industrial Groups
Industrial Groups
The Industrial Groups were groups formed by the Australian Labor Party in the late 1940s, to combat Communist Party influence in the trade unions....
.
Ashley died in Sydney Hospital
Sydney Hospital
Sydney Hospital is a major hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Macquarie Street in the Sydney central business district. It is the oldest hospital in Australia, dating back to 1788, and has been at its current location since 1811. It first received the name Sydney Hospital in 1881.Currently...
and is survived by his wife and daughter.