Robert Richards (Australian politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Robert Richards
Richards in 1931
32nd Premier of South Australia
In office 13 February 1933 – 18 April 1933
Monarch	George V
Governor	Earl of Gowrie
Preceded by	Lionel Hill
Succeeded by	Richard L. Butler
Leader of the Opposition in South Australia Leader of the South Australian Labor Party
In office 1 April 1938 – 27 October 1949
Deputy	Andrew Lacey Mick O'Halloran
Preceded by	Andrew Lacey
Succeeded by	Mick O'Halloran
Deputy Leader of the South Australian Labor Party
In office 22 June 1934 – 1 April 1938
Preceded by	J.C. Fitzgerald
Succeeded by	Andrew Lacey
Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party
In office 13 February 1933 – 22 June 1934
Preceded by	Lionel Hill
Succeeded by	party merged
Member of the South Australian Parliament for Wallaroo
In office 6 April 1918 – 22 November 1949
Preceded by	John Frederick Herbert
Succeeded by	Hughie McAlees
Minister of Irrigation and Repatriation
In office 13 February 1933 – 18 April 1933
Preceded by	Stanley Whitford
Succeeded by	Malcolm McIntosh
Other Cabinet Posts Minister of Labour & Employment In office 12 November 1931 – 13 February 1933 Preceded by office established Succeeded by Frank Staniford Minister of Mines Minister of Marine In office 30 October 1930 – 18 April 1933 Preceded by Stanley Whitford Succeeded by Herbert Hudd Commissioner of Crown Lands In office 17 April 1930 – 18 April 1933 Preceded by George Jenkins Succeeded by Malcolm McIntosh
Personal details
Born	Robert Stanley Richards (1885-05-31)31 May 1885 Moonta, South Australia, Australia
Died	24 April 1967(1967-04-24) (aged 81) Moonta, South Australia, Australia
Political party	Australian Labor Party (SA)

Robert Stanley Richards (born May 31, 1885 – died April 24, 1967) was an important Australian politician. He served as the 32nd Premier of South Australia, which is like being the leader of the state government. He was a member of the Labor Party.

Early Life and Beginnings

Robert Richards was born in Moonta Mines, South Australia. He was the youngest of twelve children. His father was a Cornish miner. Robert went to school locally but left when he was only 13 years old. He started working in the Moonta mines, first doing small jobs and later becoming a carpenter.

When he was in his early twenties, Robert moved to Burnie, Tasmania. There, he managed a copper mine. He later returned to Moonta and married Ada Dixon on January 31, 1914.

Starting in Politics

Robert Richards became very involved with the labour movement. This group worked to improve conditions for workers. In 1916, he was chosen as the vice-president of a mining union. When that union joined the Australian Workers' Union in 1917, he became the president of its mining section. People saw him as a strong and skilled leader.

Robert was also a Methodist preacher and a Freemason. He loved cricket and Australian rules football. He was well-known and liked in his local area. So, it was not a surprise when he decided to run for the Labor Party.

First Steps in Parliament

In 1918, Robert was elected to represent the Electoral district of Wallaroo in the South Australian House of Assembly. This area included his hometown of Moonta. In parliament, he quickly became known for his leadership and debating skills.

After the Labor Party won the 1924 election, Robert was made Chairman of Committees. He served in this role under two different Labor leaders, John Gunn and then Lionel Hill.

Facing Tough Times: The Great Depression

In 1927, the Labor government lost the election. The state then faced the start of the Great Depression in Australia. This was a very difficult time when many people lost their jobs and money.

In the 1930 election, the Labor Party won again. Robert Richards was given several important jobs. He became the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Minister of Mines and Marine, and Minister of Labour and Employment.

The Premiers' Plan

Sadly, the Labor government did not have an easy solution for the Depression. They had to make tough decisions. They cut wages and reduced the number of public service jobs. These actions were part of a plan called the 1931 Premiers' Plan. This plan was meant to help the country's economy.

Many Labor supporters were very unhappy with these changes. Because of this, 23 of the 30 Labor politicians in parliament were removed from the Labor Party. This included Robert Richards and all the other ministers. These 23 politicians then formed a new group called the Parliamentary Labor Party. They stayed in government with support from other parties.

Leading the State (Briefly!)

The government led by Lionel Hill stayed in power, but it was a difficult time. In February 1933, Hill resigned as Premier. He moved to London for a new job. Robert Richards then became the Premier, even though he didn't really want the job. He also became the Treasurer, in charge of the state's money.

Robert was Premier for only nine weeks. He tried to highlight what his government had achieved. However, it was not enough. In the 1933 election, the Labor vote was split between three different Labor groups. The opposition party, the Liberal and Country League, won by a huge amount. The three Labor groups together won only 13 seats.

Former South Australian Premiers (from left) Robert Richards, Sir Richard Butler, Lionel Hill and Sir Henry Barwell meet with Premier Tom Playford in 1940.

Back as Opposition Leader

After this defeat, Robert Richards worked hard to bring the Labor Party back together. He succeeded, and from 1934 to 1938, he was the Deputy Leader of the reunited party.

In 1938, after another election loss, Robert became the Labor leader for a second time. This meant he was the Leader of the Opposition. He held this role for 11 years. During this time, more people voted for Labor in three elections in a row.

The Playmander

However, Labor could not win the government. This was because of a system called the Playmander. This system meant that votes in country areas counted for much more than votes in the city of Adelaide. For example, in the 1944 election, Labor received 53.3 percent of the votes. In most other parts of Australia, this would have been enough to win. But because of the Playmander, Labor only gained five seats. They were still four seats short of winning the election.

By 1949, Robert's wife had passed away. He also realized that the Playmander made it very hard for Labor to win. So, he decided to retire from politics. He then became the Administrator of Nauru, an island nation. He took his new wife with him.

Life After Politics

Robert returned to Adelaide from Nauru in 1951. He became a director for a radio station called 5KA. In 1954, he was appointed to the South Australian government Forestry Board.

The Premier at the time, Tom Playford, often asked Robert for help. Robert investigated issues about children, mining, and housing.

Family Life

Robert Richards married Ada Maude Dixon on January 31, 1914. They had two daughters named Joyce and Kathlean. Ada passed away in 1948. Robert later remarried.

Later Years and Passing

Robert Richards had diabetes in his later years. However, he lived long enough to see a Labor government return to power in South Australia in 1965. This was led by Premier Frank Walsh.

Robert Richards passed away in Moonta two years later, in 1967. He received a state funeral, which is a special ceremony for important people.