Liberal Democrat Party (Australia)
Encyclopedia
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was an Australia
n political party that contested the 1943
federal election and the 1944
New South Wales state election.
resigned from the Australian Labor Party
and together with the opposition Nationalist Party
, five dissident Labor MPs and three conservative independent MPs formed the United Australia Party
(UAP). This unified the mainstream urban conservative forces in Australia but, in substance, it was largely a continuation of the Nationalists under a new name.
The UAP, in coalition with the Country Party
was in power federally and in New South Wales throughout much of the thirties. However, ideological and leadership issues resulted in severe fissures occurring within the conservative political forces towards the end of the decade. These tensions resulted in the party deposing both the NSW Premier Bertram Stevens in 1939 and the Prime Minister, Robert Menzies
, in 1941.The party also had difficulty endorsing single candidates in safe seats at the 1941 New South Wales state election
.
, and the party began to disintegrate prior to the 1943 federal election
. The Liberal Democratic Party was one of the first of many groups that split from the UAP and its formal launch was at a public meeting in Sydney on 16 April 1943. This meeting was co-chaired by a former Lord Mayor of Sydney, Stanley S. Crick, and the party's founder and President of the Australian-American Co-operation Movement, Ernest White. White was a wealthy Sydney timber merchant and businessman and it was soon apparent that he was the party's chief benefactor and driving force. Predating Menzies' appeal to The Forgotten People
, White said that his party stood for "the little people who have so far been inarticulate". He believed that the two major parties were hampering Australia's effort in World War II
by promoting class divisions rather than co-operation. The party platform included equal education opportunities for all, full time permanent employment for all men, reduced taxation, tough action against striking unions and the gradual abolition of tariffs and industry subsidies.
. They included William Wentworth, Norman Thomas (a former member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for the seat of Bondi
), Roden Cutler, Brice Mutton
and Eileen Furley
, the first conservative female member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
. However, White's over-bearing manner and his insistence that the party have a free trade
platform soon caused many of the its members to leave. The party gained significant publicity prior to the 1943 federal election, particularly through a weekly broadcast by White over Radio Station 2CH
.
, who gained 21% of the primary vote to come second in Eden-Monaro
, and Wing Commander Nigel Love
, who polled 19% in Parkes
, the party performed poorly. The UAP's results at the election were also poor. Its national primary vote was halved to 16% and it lost 11 of its 21 seats. As a result, the UAP was wound up and in New South Wales a number of small conservative parties were formed, including the Democratic Party and the Commonwealth Party. In the lead-up to the 1944 state elections, intense efforts were made to unify these groups and most joined the Democratic Party under the leadership of Reginald Weaver
. However, agreement with White and the LDP was not possible and the party ran its own candidates at that election. The party again generated publicity disproportionate to its size and the Sydney Morning Herald commented that the Liberal Democratic Party was a mouse attempting to swallow the Democratic Party lion. The results of the election, in which the party received less than 4% of the primary vote and did not win a seat, confirmed that it was of minor political importance.
against the party's endorsed candidate at the 1954 federal election
. In his old age, White would claim that he, rather than Menzies, had been the founder of the Liberal Party.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n political party that contested the 1943
Australian federal election, 1943
Federal elections were held in Australia on 21 August 1943. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Prime Minister of Australia John Curtin easily defeated the opposition Country Party led...
federal election and the 1944
New South Wales state election, 1944
The 1944 New South Wales state election was held on 27 May 1944. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1940 redistribution...
New South Wales state election.
Divisions in UAP
In 1931 Joseph LyonsJoseph Lyons
Joseph Aloysius Lyons, CH was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of Tasmania from 1923 to 1928 and a Minister in the James Scullin government from 1929 until his resignation from the Labor Party in March 1931...
resigned from 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...
and together with the opposition Nationalist Party
Nationalist Party of Australia
The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...
, five dissident Labor MPs and three conservative independent MPs formed the United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
(UAP). This unified the mainstream urban conservative forces in Australia but, in substance, it was largely a continuation of the Nationalists under a new name.
The UAP, in coalition with the Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
was in power federally and in New South Wales throughout much of the thirties. However, ideological and leadership issues resulted in severe fissures occurring within the conservative political forces towards the end of the decade. These tensions resulted in the party deposing both the NSW Premier Bertram Stevens in 1939 and the Prime Minister, Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
, in 1941.The party also had difficulty endorsing single candidates in safe seats at the 1941 New South Wales state election
New South Wales state election, 1941
The 1941 New South Wales state election was held on 10 May 1941. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 33nd New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting....
.
Formation of party
Menzies was succeeded as leader of the UAP by Billy HughesBilly Hughes
William Morris "Billy" Hughes, CH, KC, MHR , Australian politician, was the seventh Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923....
, and the party began to disintegrate prior to the 1943 federal election
Australian federal election, 1943
Federal elections were held in Australia on 21 August 1943. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Prime Minister of Australia John Curtin easily defeated the opposition Country Party led...
. The Liberal Democratic Party was one of the first of many groups that split from the UAP and its formal launch was at a public meeting in Sydney on 16 April 1943. This meeting was co-chaired by a former Lord Mayor of Sydney, Stanley S. Crick, and the party's founder and President of the Australian-American Co-operation Movement, Ernest White. White was a wealthy Sydney timber merchant and businessman and it was soon apparent that he was the party's chief benefactor and driving force. Predating Menzies' appeal to The Forgotten People
The forgotten people
"The Forgotten People" is the name given to a 1942 speech delivered by Robert Menzies, an Australian politician who went on to become the longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia.-Overview:...
, White said that his party stood for "the little people who have so far been inarticulate". He believed that the two major parties were hampering Australia's effort in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by promoting class divisions rather than co-operation. The party platform included equal education opportunities for all, full time permanent employment for all men, reduced taxation, tough action against striking unions and the gradual abolition of tariffs and industry subsidies.
Prominent party members
White's party attracted a number of young conservative activists who would later be prominent in Australian public life or have political careers in the Liberal PartyLiberal 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...
. They included William Wentworth, Norman Thomas (a former member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
for the seat of Bondi
Electoral district of Bondi
Bondi was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1913 and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Bondi. In 1920, with the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into Eastern Suburbs...
), Roden Cutler, Brice Mutton
Brice Mutton
Brice Mutton was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assemblyfor 9 months in 1949. He was a member of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Early life:...
and Eileen Furley
Eileen Furley
Mabel Eileen Furley OBE, née Llewelyn was the first woman to represent the Liberal Party in the New South Wales Legislative Council....
, the first conservative female member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
. However, White's over-bearing manner and his insistence that the party have a free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
platform soon caused many of the its members to leave. The party gained significant publicity prior to the 1943 federal election, particularly through a weekly broadcast by White over Radio Station 2CH
2CH
2CH is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia, at 1170 kHz AM. It broadcasts an oldies format, and is aimed to an older age demographic...
.
Election results
The party stood a number of candidates in New South Wales electorates at the 1943 federal election. However, with the exception of Brigadier Denzil Macarthur-OnslowDenzil Macarthur-Onslow
Major-General Sir Denzil Macarthur-Onslow CBE, DSW, ED was an Australian general.Macarthur-Onslow, the son of grazier Arthur Macarthur-Onslow, enlisted in the Australian Citizens Military Forces in 1924...
, who gained 21% of the primary vote to come second in Eden-Monaro
Electoral results for the Division of Eden-Monaro
This is a list of electoral results for the Division of Eden-Monaro in Australian federal elections from the electorate's creation in 1901 until the present.-Members:-Elections in the 2010s:-Elections in the 2000s:...
, and Wing Commander Nigel Love
Nigel Love
Wing Commander Nigel Borland Love was an Australian aviator and flour miller.Love was born at South Kurrajong to businessman John Love and Rebecca, née Charley. He attended Sydney Boys' High School before working in his father's importing business, Plummer Love & Co. He visited Britain 1912–13...
, who polled 19% in Parkes
Division of Parkes (1901-69)
The Division of Parkes was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was located in the south-west of Sydney, and originally included the suburbs of Canterbury, Burwood and Ashfield...
, the party performed poorly. The UAP's results at the election were also poor. Its national primary vote was halved to 16% and it lost 11 of its 21 seats. As a result, the UAP was wound up and in New South Wales a number of small conservative parties were formed, including the Democratic Party and the Commonwealth Party. In the lead-up to the 1944 state elections, intense efforts were made to unify these groups and most joined the Democratic Party under the leadership of Reginald Weaver
Reginald Weaver
Reginald Walter Darcy Weaver was an Australian conservative parliamentarian who served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 28 years. Serving from 1917 in the backbenches, he entered the cabinet of Thomas Bavin in 1929 as Secretary for Mines and Minister for Forests until he returned to...
. However, agreement with White and the LDP was not possible and the party ran its own candidates at that election. The party again generated publicity disproportionate to its size and the Sydney Morning Herald commented that the Liberal Democratic Party was a mouse attempting to swallow the Democratic Party lion. The results of the election, in which the party received less than 4% of the primary vote and did not win a seat, confirmed that it was of minor political importance.
Merger with Democratic Party
The party eventually fused with the Democratic Party in August 1944 and the unified party was briefly known as the United Democratic Party before it became the New South Wales division of the Liberal Party the next year. White remained a disruptive element within the Liberal party and contested the seat of WarringahElectoral results for the Division of Warringah
This is a list of electoral results for the Division of Warringah in Australian federal elections from the division's creation in 1922 until the present.-Members:-Elections in the 2010s:-Elections in the 2000s:...
against the party's endorsed candidate at the 1954 federal election
Australian federal election, 1954
Federal elections were held in Australia on 29 May 1954. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election, no Senate election took place...
. In his old age, White would claim that he, rather than Menzies, had been the founder of the Liberal Party.