National Labor Party facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
National Labor Party
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| Leader | Billy Hughes |
| Founded | 14 November 1916 |
| Dissolved | 17 February 1917 |
| Preceded by | pro-conscription Labor |
| Succeeded by | Nationalist Party of Australia |
| Ideology | Social democracy Nationalism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
The National Labor Party was a short-lived political party in Australia. It only existed for about three months. The party was started by Prime Minister Billy Hughes in November 1916.
Billy Hughes became the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and Prime Minister in 1915. This happened after Andrew Fisher stepped down. Hughes formed the National Labor Party because he was forced out of the ALP. This happened after Australians voted no to conscription in a 1916 vote. Conscription meant making people join the army. Hughes strongly believed Australia needed conscription for World War I.
On 15 September 1916, the Labor Party in New South Wales removed Hughes from the party. Then, on 14 November 1916, Hughes and 24 other Labor members of parliament walked out of a meeting. The remaining 43 members said they no longer wanted Hughes as their leader.
Hughes and his supporters then formed a new government. They got help from the Commonwealth Liberal Party (CLP), led by Joseph Cook. Hughes and his group said the Australian Labor Party was no longer truly nationalist. They wanted a new party that was both socially progressive and patriotic.
The National Labor Party had to rely on the Commonwealth Liberal Party to stay in power. In 1917, these two groups joined together. They formed a new, bigger party called the Nationalist Party of Australia. Billy Hughes became the leader of this new party.
The National Labor Party was not a fully organized political party. It did not have a proper structure like other parties. However, it did get some support. Some trade union officials and Labor Party groups supported it. This was especially true in Western Australia and Tasmania.
Contents
The National Labor Party in Western Australia
The National Labor Party in Western Australia began as two separate groups. One group was called the Labor Solidarity Committee. It was based in Perth. The other group was called National Labor. This group was based in the goldfields area.
These two groups joined together in April-May 1917. They were led by John Scaddan, who used to be the Premier. After Scaddan lost his seat in parliament, the party looked for new leaders. They found guidance from Federal Senators like Patrick Lynch, Hugh de Largie, and George Pearce.
Unlike the main federal party, the Western Australian group did not join with the CLP. It kept its own identity. It worked with the Nationalist Party as a partner instead of merging.
How the Party Performed in Elections
The party won six out of 50 seats in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly in 1917. They won the same number of seats in the 1921 state elections. They also held three out of 30 seats in the Western Australian Legislative Council during this time.
However, in the 1924 elections, they did not do as well. They won only one seat in the Assembly. They also won only two seats in the Council. Later that same year, the Nationalists took over their party.
Images for kids
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Billy Hughes, the leader of the National Labor Party.
See also
In Spanish: Partido Nacional Laborista para niños
