Claude Barnard
Encyclopedia
Herbert Claude Barnard was an Australian politician and government minister.
Barnard was born at Mole Creek
, Tasmania and was educated at Invermay
State School, but left school at 14. In 1909 he began working for Tasmanian Government Railways
, first as an engine cleaner and eventually as a driver. In March 1912 he married Martha Melva McKenzie and they raised three sons and a daughter in East Launceston
. In 1920 he helped found the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen
.
as the Australian Labor Party
candidate for the seat of Bass
in the Australian House of Representatives
. In 1933, he became state secretary of the party and at the 1934 election
he won Bass. From 1941 to 1946, he was chairman of the joint parliamentary committee on social security, which developed much of the Curtin
and Chifley
governments' social policy agenda. In November 1946, he was appointed Minister for Repatriation
in the second Chifley Ministry
. Although one of his sons was killed in the war and the other two were injured, he was under constant attack from service organisations and others for not delivering more for war veterans and, like his predecessor, Charles Frost
, in 1946, he lost his seat at the 1949 election
.
In 1950, Barnard was elected to represent the Tasmanian House of Assembly
division of Bass
and held it until his death. He died of cancer in Launceston Public Hospital
, survived by his wife and two sons, one of whom, Lance Barnard
, was Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
1972–74.
Barnard was born at Mole Creek
Mole Creek, Tasmania
Mole Creek is a town in the upper Mersey Valley, in the central north of Tasmania, Australia. At the 2006 census, Mole Creek had a population of 223. The town primary school also services the surrounding districts including Chudleigh and Caveside. The nearest high school and regional centre is...
, Tasmania and was educated at Invermay
Invermay, Tasmania
Invermay is a suburb of Launceston, which contains the minor suburb of Inveresk, it is located on the eastern side of the Tamar River and the northern side of the North Esk River, the suburb is most notable as being home to York Park ....
State School, but left school at 14. In 1909 he began working for Tasmanian Government Railways
Tasmanian Government Railways
The Tasmanian Government Railways was the former Government of Tasmania managed operator of mainline railways in Tasmania, Australia...
, first as an engine cleaner and eventually as a driver. In March 1912 he married Martha Melva McKenzie and they raised three sons and a daughter in East Launceston
East Launceston, Tasmania
East Launceston is a prestigious area close to the Launceston CBD. Incorporates many of the city’s exclusive homes and is known for its quiet leafy streets. Nearby facilities include the Windmill Hill Swimming Pool, shops, doctors and private and public schools....
. In 1920 he helped found the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen
Australian Rail Tram and Bus Industry Union
The Australian Rail Tram & Bus Industry Union , formerly known as the Public Transport Union or PTU, was formed on 1 March 1993, through the amalgamation of the Australian Railways Union, the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen, the Australian Tramway & Motor Omnibus Employees'...
.
Political career
Barnard stood unsuccessfully at the 1931 electionAustralian federal election, 1931
Federal elections were held in Australia on 19 December 1931. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives, and 18 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
as the Australian 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...
candidate for the seat of Bass
Division of Bass
The Division of Bass is an Australian Electoral Division in Tasmania. The division was created in 1903 and is named for the explorer George Bass. It has always been based on the city of Launceston and surrounding rural areas, and its boundaries have changed very little in the century since its...
in the Australian 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....
. In 1933, he became state secretary of the party and at the 1934 election
Australian federal election, 1934
Federal elections were held in Australia on 15 September 1934. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 18 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent United Australia Party led by Prime Minister of Australia Joseph Lyons with coalition partner the Country Party led...
he won Bass. From 1941 to 1946, he was chairman of the joint parliamentary committee on social security, which developed much of 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' social policy agenda. In November 1946, he was appointed Minister for Repatriation
Minister for Veterans' Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Veterans' Affairs oversees income support, compensation, care and commemoration programs for more than 400,000 veterans and their widows, widowers and dependants....
in the second Chifley Ministry
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...
. Although one of his sons was killed in the war and the other two were injured, he was under constant attack from service organisations and others for not delivering more for war veterans and, like his predecessor, Charles Frost
Charles Frost
Charles William Frost was an Australian politician.Frost was born in Hobart, Tasmania and educated at Koonya and Margate state schools, but left school at 13. He later worked at the Iron Blow mine near Queenstown...
, in 1946, he lost his seat 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...
.
In 1950, Barnard was elected to represent the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
division of Bass
Division of Bass (state)
The Electoral Division of Bass is one of the 5 electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly, or lower house; it takes its name from the British Naval Surgeon and Explorer of Australia: George Bass. The division shares its name and boundaries with the federal division of Bass...
and held it until his death. He died of cancer in Launceston Public Hospital
Launceston General Hospital
The Launceston General Hospital is one of the three main public hospitals in Tasmania, Australia. It is located in Launceston and serves the north of the state...
, survived by his wife and two sons, one of whom, Lance Barnard
Lance Barnard
Lance Herbert Barnard AO , Australian politician, was Deputy Prime Minister of Australia for most of the Labor government of Gough Whitlam....
, was Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the second-most senior officer in the Government of Australia. The Deputy Prime Ministership has been a ministerial portfolio since 1968, and the Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime...
1972–74.