Philip Collier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Collier
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| 14th Premier of Western Australia | |
| In office 17 April 1924 – 23 April 1930 |
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| Monarch | George V |
| Governor | Francis Newdegate William Campion |
| Preceded by | James Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | James Mitchell |
| In office 24 April 1933 – 19 August 1936 |
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| Monarch | George V Edward VIII |
| Governor | none |
| Preceded by | James Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | John Willcock |
| Leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia |
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| In office 16 April 1917 – 16 August 1936 |
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| Preceded by | John Scaddan |
| Succeeded by | John Willcock |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia |
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| In office 27 October 1905 – 18 October 1948 |
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| Preceded by | John Hopkins |
| Succeeded by | Charlie Oliver |
| Constituency | Boulder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 April 1873 Woodstock, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 18 October 1948 (aged 75) Mount Lawley, Western Australia |
| Political party | Labor |
Philip Collier (born 21 April 1873 – died 18 October 1948) was an important Australian politician. He served as the 14th Premier of Western Australia twice. His first term was from 1924 to 1930, and his second was from 1933 to 1936.
Collier was also the leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia for a long time, from 1917 to 1936. He is known as the longest-serving Labor Premier in Western Australia's history.
He was born in Victoria and later moved to Western Australia to work in the mines. He became very involved in the union movement on the Eastern Goldfields. In 1905, he was elected to parliament for the seat of Boulder. He held this seat for the rest of his life.
In 1911, Collier became a minister in the government led by John Scaddan. He took over as Labor leader in 1917. This happened after a big disagreement in the Labor Party about whether people should be forced to join the army (called conscription).
Collier became Premier when his party won the 1924 state election. His government was re-elected three years later. However, they lost the election in 1930. Even so, Collier continued to lead the state Labor Party. He became Premier again after a big win in the 1933 election. He served until he retired in 1936.
As Premier, Collier's government brought a lot of stability to Western Australia. His government worked well with trade unions. They improved laws about how workers and employers solve disagreements (called industrial arbitration). This helped reduce arguments between workers and businesses compared to other states. His government also made sure workers had certain rights by law. These included a basic wage (a minimum amount of pay) and a 40-hour week (limiting how many hours people could work).
Collier was a moderate politician, meaning he wasn't extreme in his views. He often used good ideas from previous leaders, especially for developing rural areas. Many people have praised his leadership skills. They also admired how well he handled his political opponents, both inside and outside his own party.
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Early Life and First Steps in Politics
Philip Collier was born on 21 April 1873, in a place called Woodstock, near Melbourne, Victoria. His father was a farmer, also named Philip Collier. He went to school in his local area but left when he was 16 years old.
After school, he spent some time working in gold mining in places like Steiglitz, Victoria and New South Wales. Later, he became a construction foreman for a company in Northcote. On 27 June 1900, he married Ellen Heagney. They had two sons and two daughters together.
Collier soon became interested in the labor movement. He joined the Labor Party. He helped start the Northcote branch of the Political Labor Council and became its first secretary. He also helped manage election campaigns for several Labor candidates.
In 1904, Collier moved to Western Australia. He worked in the mines for about a year in Boulder. While there, he joined the Amalgamated Workers' Association. He also became the vice-president of the Goldfields Trades and Labour Council, which represented many workers.
Starting His Political Career
On 27 October 1905, Philip Collier was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. This is like the state parliament. He represented the seat of Boulder. He kept this seat for almost 43 years, until he passed away.
In 1911, he became a minister in the government led by John Scaddan. He was the Minister for Mines and Minister for Railways. In 1914, he swapped the Railways job for Water Supplies. He held these roles until the Scaddan government was defeated in 1916.
In April 1917, John Scaddan left the Labor Party. This was because he supported forcing people to join the army during World War I. On 9 May, Philip Collier was chosen to take Scaddan's place. He became the Leader of the Labor Party. This also made him the Leader of the Opposition, meaning he led the main party not in power.
Collier remained the leader of the Labor Party through several non-Labor governments. During this time, he worked with other important figures like John Curtin to lead a campaign against conscription. His public comments sometimes got him into trouble with the people who controlled what could be said during the war.
Becoming Premier and His Achievements
On 17 April 1924, the Labor Party won the election by a large margin. Philip Collier became the Premier of Western Australia. He also took on the roles of Treasurer and Minister for Forests.
The Labor Party lost to James Mitchell in the election on 23 April 1930. Collier then went back to being the Leader of the Opposition. However, he won another term as Premier in the election on 24 April 1933.
At the same time as the 1933 election, a referendum was held. This was a vote where the people of Western Australia decided if they wanted to leave the Commonwealth of Australia. Most people voted to leave. Even though the Labor Party was against leaving, Collier agreed to act on what the people wanted. He asked the British government to allow Western Australia to leave. However, the British government did not agree to this request.
During Collier's time as Premier, a lot was done to help rural areas grow.
- More bridges, roads, and railways were built.
- Water supply was increased in farming areas.
- An Agricultural Bank was set up to give generous loans to farmers.
- Both the annual wheat harvest and the amount of land used for crops more than doubled.
His government also improved conditions for workers:
- Workers' compensation benefits were increased.
- Industrial safety rules were made stricter.
- A state basic wage was introduced. This set a minimum pay rate for workers.
- Rules were made for working conditions for timber workers, coal miners, and others.
Even though the Legislative Council (another part of parliament) rejected some ideas, Collier's government still managed to introduce a 44-hour workweek for most of its own employees. They also gave preference to union members through administrative actions.
Later Years and Legacy
Philip Collier resigned as Premier and leader of the Labor Party on 19 August 1936. He handed over the leadership to John Willcock. His 19 years as the parliamentary leader of the Australian Labor Party is the longest ever. His 9 years as Labor Premier is also the longest.
Many people respected Collier's leadership. One writer, Victor Courtney, said Collier was "the only person Labor produced in State politics who could fairly claim to have approached statesmanship." This means he was seen as a very skilled and wise leader.
Collier and James Mitchell, who was often his political opponent, were known for being unusually friendly and cooperative. This was rare between political parties. A clear example of this was in 1933. Collier recommended that Mitchell be appointed as Lieutenant-Governor, even though they were from different parties.
Even after he stopped being a minister, Collier stayed in parliament for another twelve years. He became the "Father of the House" in March 1939. This title is given to the member who has served the longest.
Philip Collier passed away in Mount Lawley on 18 October 1948. He was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery. A road in Perth, Collier Road, is named after him to honor his contributions.
