George McLeay
Encyclopedia
George McLeay was an Australian politician and senior minister in the Menzies
Liberal
government.
McLeay was born in Port Clinton
, South Australia and educated at Port Clinton Public School until 1906 when he was sent to Adelaide
where he continued his education at Unley Public School. At the outbreak of World War I, he was rejected for service in the First Australian Imperial Force
and did civilian war work instead. He and his younger brother Jack—who also became a federal politician, as did his son, John—set up as accountants and agents and eventually became wholesale and retail merchants. In October 1924, he married Marcia Doreen Weston.
in the House of Representatives
. In the 1934 elections
, he was elected to the Australian Senate
. He was leader of the government in the Senate from November 1938 to October 1941 and Vice-President of the Executive Council
from November 1938 to March 1940 and from October 1940 to October 1941. He was Minister for Commerce
from April 1939 to March 1940 in the first Menzies Ministry
and Minister for Trade and Customs
from March to October 1940 in the second Menzies Ministry
. He was Postmaster-General
in the third Menzies Ministry
from October 1940 until the fall of the government in August 1941 and Minister for Repatriation
until June 1941 and Minister for Supply and Development
from June to October 1941.
McLeay was leader of the opposition in the Senate from 1941 until the end of his Senate term in June 1947. He was defeated in the 1946 elections
, but re-elected to the Senate in 1949 elections
. Robert Menzies
appointed him Minister for Shipping and Fuel, in 1949
, Minister for Shipping, Fuel and Transport
in 1950 and Minister for Shipping and Transport in 1951
. He energetically negotiated with shipowners and trade unions to improve the performance of the ports. In 1954 the Commonwealth Railways
named a diesel locomotive after him – NSU 51
.
McLeay suffered from diabetes mellitus
and was affected by excessive travel and he died from ischaemic heart disease
at Calvary Hospital
, North Adelaide, survived by his wife, son and daughter.
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
government.
McLeay was born in Port Clinton
Port Clinton
Port Clinton is the name of several places in the United States:* Port Clinton, Ohio* Port Clinton, PennsylvaniaOutside the continental US:* Port Clinton, South Australia* Port Clinton, Queensland, in Australia...
, South Australia and educated at Port Clinton Public School until 1906 when he was sent to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
where he continued his education at Unley Public School. At the outbreak of World War I, he was rejected for service in the First Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
and did civilian war work instead. He and his younger brother Jack—who also became a federal politician, as did his son, John—set up as accountants and agents and eventually became wholesale and retail merchants. In October 1924, he married Marcia Doreen Weston.
Political career
At twenty McLeay joined the Liberal Union and in 1922 ran unsuccessfully for election for the seat of AdelaideDivision of Adelaide
The Division of Adelaide is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia. The division was created in 1903 and is named for the city of Adelaide, South Australia's capital. The seat has always been based in the inner suburbs of Adelaide...
in the 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 the 1934 elections
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 was elected to the Australian 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,...
. He was leader of the government in the Senate from November 1938 to October 1941 and 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....
from November 1938 to March 1940 and from October 1940 to October 1941. He was Minister for Commerce
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia)
The current Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig.-Portfolio responsibilities:The minister administers his portfolio through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and its component bodies:...
from April 1939 to March 1940 in the first Menzies Ministry
First Menzies Ministry
The First Menzies Ministry was the twenty-sixth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 26 April 1939 to 14 March 1940.United Australia Party*Rt Hon Robert Menzies, KC MP: Prime Minister, Treasurer...
and Minister for Trade and Customs
Minister for Trade (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Trade has been Dr. Craig Emerson since 14 September 2010.-Portfolio:Currently the Minister for Trade administers the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade jointly with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, although prior to 1987 there was a separate Department of Trade...
from March to October 1940 in the second Menzies Ministry
Second Menzies Ministry
The Second Menzies Ministry was the twenty-seventh Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 14 March 1940 to 28 October 1940.United Australia Party–Australian Country Party Coalition...
. He was 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:...
in the third Menzies Ministry
Third Menzies Ministry
The Third Menzies Ministry was the twenty-eighth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 28 October 1940 to 28 August 1941.United Australia Party–Australian Country Party Coalition...
from October 1940 until the fall of the government in August 1941 and 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....
until June 1941 and Minister for Supply and Development
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
from June to October 1941.
McLeay was leader of the opposition in the Senate from 1941 until the end of his Senate term in June 1947. He was defeated in the 1946 elections
Australian federal election, 1946
Federal elections were held in Australia on 28 September 1946. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
, but re-elected to the Senate in 1949 elections
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...
. Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
appointed him Minister for Shipping and Fuel, in 1949
Fourth Menzies Ministry
The Fourth Menzies Ministry was the thirty-fifth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 19 December 1949 to 11 May 1951.Liberal Party of Australia–Australian Country Party Coalition*Rt Hon Robert Menzies, KC MP: Prime Minister...
, Minister for Shipping, Fuel and Transport
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 1950 and Minister for Shipping and Transport in 1951
Fifth Menzies Ministry
The Fifth Menzies Ministry was the thirty-sixth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 11 May 1951 to 9 July 1954.Liberal Party of Australia–Australian Country Party Coalition*Rt Hon Robert Menzies, KC MP: Prime Minister...
. He energetically negotiated with shipowners and trade unions to improve the performance of the ports. In 1954 the Commonwealth Railways
Commonwealth Railways
The Commonwealth Railways were established in 1912, as part of a government department, currently called the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, by the Government of Australia to construct the missing link in the east-west transcontinental railway and...
named a diesel locomotive after him – NSU 51
Commonwealth Railways NSU Class
The NSU class was a Commonwealth Railways diesel locomotive built for service on the Central and North Australia Railways.- History :By the end of World War 2, the Commonwealth Railways, like every other operator, were surviving on a ragged and worn out collection of rollingstock on their Central,...
.
McLeay suffered from diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
and was affected by excessive travel and he died from ischaemic heart disease
Ischaemic heart disease
Ischaemic or ischemic heart disease , or myocardial ischaemia, is a disease characterized by ischaemia of the heart muscle, usually due to coronary artery disease...
at Calvary Hospital
Calvary Hospital Adelaide Inc
Calvary Health Care Adelaide is one of Adelaide's oldest hospitals, having been established in 1900. It was founded by the Little Company of Mary Sisters, and features a large maternity wing. Calvary is a fully operational hospital, which currently has 153 beds...
, North Adelaide, survived by his wife, son and daughter.