Norman Makin
Encyclopedia
Norman John Oswald Makin AO (31 March 188920 July 1982), Australian politician, was a Cabinet minister, Speaker of the House of Representatives
and diplomat.
, a suburb of Sydney, the son of an itinerant worker. He received a primary education in Broken Hill
, then moved with his family to Adelaide
, where he became a metal-worker. He was active in the Australian Society of Engineers and the Australian Labor Party
from an early age. By 1918 he was President of the South Australian branch of the Labor Party. In his private life Makin was a lay Methodist
preacher.
for the safe Labor seat of Hindmarsh
in the working-class suburbs of Adelaide
. Makin spent ten years in Opposition before the election of the Scullin
Labor government in 1929. He hoped to be elected to Cabinet, but had to be content with the parliamentary position of Speaker, a post in which he performed capably, being noted for his even temperament and his courtesy to all members. In 1932, following the defeat of the Scullin government, he returned to the Opposition benches, and was Secretary of the Labor Caucus
during the 1930s.
By 1941, when Labor returned to power under John Curtin
, Makin had an undeniable claim to office, and became Minister for the Navy
and Minister for Munitions
– key posts in a wartime government. In 1945 he also became Minister for Aircraft Production
. He established good relations with service chiefs and played an important role in Australia's successful transition to a wartime economy. When Curtin died in 1945, Makin contested the leadership along with Ben Chifley
and caretaker Prime Minister Frank Forde
, but Chifley succeeded.
atmosphere of the post-war years, this was a position of great importance to Australia, and Makin performed it so well that the incoming Liberal
Prime Minister, Robert Menzies
, kept him in the post after the change of government in 1949. In 1946 he served as the first President
of the United Nations Security Council
.
It has subsequently emerged that during his time in the United States, Makin was involved with the secretive neo-conservative religious group now known as The Family
. In 1948 he was a key speaker at a meeting of the group and was recorded in a 1949 newsletter as having started up similar groups in Australia.
for Labor on 53 per cent of the vote, and in 1955 he shifted to the new, safe seat of Bonython
. While still a Member of Parliament in 1961 he authored a book with brief biographies of all leaders of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party
until that time. He retired at the 1963 election, and remained active in Labor affairs for many years, dying in Adelaide in 1982 at the age of 93. He was the second-last surviving member of Curtin's Cabinet; Forde outlived him by one year.
, established in 1984 in Adelaide's northeastern suburbs, is named after him.
Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Parliament of Australia. The presiding officer in the upper house is the President of the Senate....
and diplomat.
Early life
Makin was born in PetershamPetersham, New South Wales
Petersham is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Petersham is located 6 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Marrickville Council...
, a suburb of Sydney, the son of an itinerant worker. He received a primary education in Broken Hill
Broken Hill, New South Wales
-Geology:Broken Hill's massive orebody, which formed about 1,800 million years ago, has proved to be among the world's largest silver-lead-zinc mineral deposits. The orebody is shaped like a boomerang plunging into the earth at its ends and outcropping in the centre. The protruding tip of the...
, then moved with his family 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 became a metal-worker. He was active in the Australian Society of Engineers and 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...
from an early age. By 1918 he was President of the South Australian branch of the Labor Party. In his private life Makin was a lay Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
preacher.
First political career
In 1919 he was elected to the House of RepresentativesAustralian 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....
for the safe Labor seat of Hindmarsh
Division of Hindmarsh
The Division of Hindmarsh is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia covering the western gulfside suburbs of Adelaide.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir John Hindmarsh, who was Governor of South Australia 1836-38. For many years it was one of the safest Labor seats...
in the working-class suburbs of 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...
. Makin spent ten years in Opposition before the election of the Scullin
James Scullin
James Henry Scullin , Australian Labor politician and the ninth Prime Minister of Australia. Two days after he was sworn in as Prime Minister, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 occurred, marking the beginning of the Great Depression and subsequent Great Depression in Australia.-Early life:Scullin was...
Labor government in 1929. He hoped to be elected to Cabinet, but had to be content with the parliamentary position of Speaker, a post in which he performed capably, being noted for his even temperament and his courtesy to all members. In 1932, following the defeat of the Scullin government, he returned to the Opposition benches, and was Secretary of the Labor Caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
during the 1930s.
By 1941, when Labor returned to power under John 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...
, Makin had an undeniable claim to office, and became Minister for the Navy
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:...
and Minister for Munitions
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:...
– key posts in a wartime government. In 1945 he also became Minister for Aircraft Production
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:...
. He established good relations with service chiefs and played an important role in Australia's successful transition to a wartime economy. When Curtin died in 1945, Makin contested the leadership along with Ben 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...
and caretaker Prime Minister Frank Forde
Frank Forde
Francis Michael Forde PC was an Australian politician and the 15th Prime Minister of Australia. He was the shortest serving Prime Minister in Australia's history, being in office for only eight days.-Early life:...
, but Chifley succeeded.
As diplomat
In 1946 Chifley appointed Makin as the Australian Ambassador to the United States, a post he held until 1951. In the gathering Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
atmosphere of the post-war years, this was a position of great importance to Australia, and Makin performed it so well that the incoming 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...
Prime Minister, Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
, kept him in the post after the change of government in 1949. In 1946 he served as the first President
President of the United Nations Security Council
The President of the United Nations Security Council is the presiding officer of that body. The president is the head of the delegation from the Security Council member state that holds the rotating presidency.-Selection:...
of the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
.
It has subsequently emerged that during his time in the United States, Makin was involved with the secretive neo-conservative religious group now known as The Family
The Family (Christian political organization)
The Fellowship, also known as the Family, is a U.S.-based religious and political organization founded in 1935 by Abraham Vereide. The stated purpose of the Fellowship is to provide a fellowship forum for decision makers to share in Bible studies, prayer meetings, worship experiences and to...
. In 1948 he was a key speaker at a meeting of the group and was recorded in a 1949 newsletter as having started up similar groups in Australia.
Return to politics and later life
After leaving his diplomatic post, Makin returned to Australia. Although he was by now in his mid-60s, he decided to return to politics. At the 1954 election he captured the marginal Liberal seat of SturtDivision of Sturt
The Division of Sturt is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia.First proclaimed for the 1949 election, Sturt was named for Captain Charles Sturt, nineteenth century explorer and the first European to discover the Murray River...
for Labor on 53 per cent of the vote, and in 1955 he shifted to the new, safe seat of Bonython
Division of Bonython
The Division of Bonython was an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia. The division was created in 1955 and abolished in 2004. It was named for Sir Langdon Bonython, philanthropist, publisher, and federal MP. Bonython was based in the northern working-class suburbs of Adelaide and was a...
. While still a Member of Parliament in 1961 he authored a book with brief biographies of all leaders of the Federal Parliamentary 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...
until that time. He retired at the 1963 election, and remained active in Labor affairs for many years, dying in Adelaide in 1982 at the age of 93. He was the second-last surviving member of Curtin's Cabinet; Forde outlived him by one year.
Honoured in naming of electoral division
The electorate of MakinDivision of Makin
The Division of Makin is an electoral division for the Australian House of Representatives located in the northeastern suburbs of Adelaide. Established in 1984 and named after Norman Makin, a former MP and diplomat, it has been a marginal seat at most elections since...
, established in 1984 in Adelaide's northeastern suburbs, is named after him.
See also
- Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd.Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd.Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd 28 CLR 129 was a landmark Australian court case decided in the High Court of Australia on 31 August 1920...