Paul Jones (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Paul Jones was an Australia
n politician. Born in Gaffneys Creek, Victoria
, he was educated at South Melbourne College
before becoming a goldminer and teacher. He also studied at the University of Melbourne
for an MA
. In 1928, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives
in bizarre circumstances. Contesting the fairly safe Country Party
seat of Indi
, Jones's opponent, Robert Cook
, mistakenly failed to lodge his nomination papers, which saw Jones elected unopposed. This is the only occasion in the history of the Australian Parliament that a candidate has lost his or her seat in this way. Cook attempted to regain the seat in 1929, but was unsuccessful; Jones was confirmed. He was defeated in the United Australia Party
landslide of 1931, but was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
in 1938. He remained in the Council until 1958, but left the Labor Party in 1955, joining the Australian Labor Party (Anti-Communist)
, which later became the Democratic Labor Party
. Jones died in 1972.
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 politician. Born in Gaffneys Creek, Victoria
Gaffneys Creek, Victoria
Gaffneys Creek is a former mining locality situated between Jamieson and Woods Point in Victoria, Australia. It is located at the junction of Gaffney and Raspberry Creeks in a steep valley in mountainous terrain...
, he was educated at South Melbourne College
South Melbourne College
South Melbourne College was a co-education boarding school in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The school was founded by Thomas Palmer in 1883....
before becoming a goldminer and teacher. He also studied at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
for an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
. In 1928, he was elected to 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 bizarre circumstances. Contesting the fairly safe 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...
seat of Indi
Division of Indi
The Division of Indi is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. It is located in north-eastern Victoria. Its northern border is formed by the Murray River...
, Jones's opponent, Robert Cook
Robert Cook (Australian politician)
-Early life:Cook was born at Chiltern, Victoria to English splitter Henry Cook and his Irish wife Mary, née Wilkinson. He received little formal education and was soon a land-owner, owning land at Tallangatta and Porepunkah...
, mistakenly failed to lodge his nomination papers, which saw Jones elected unopposed. This is the only occasion in the history of the Australian Parliament that a candidate has lost his or her seat in this way. Cook attempted to regain the seat in 1929, but was unsuccessful; Jones was confirmed. He was defeated in 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...
landslide of 1931, but was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
in 1938. He remained in the Council until 1958, but left the Labor Party in 1955, joining the Australian Labor Party (Anti-Communist)
Australian Labor Party (Anti-Communist)
The Australian Labor Party was the name initially used by the right-wing group which split away from the Australian Labor Party in 1955, and which later became the Democratic Labor Party in 1957....
, which later became the Democratic Labor Party
Democratic Labor Party (historical)
The Democratic Labor Party was an Australian political party that existed from 1955 until 1978.-History:The DLP was formed as a result of a split in the Australian Labor Party that began in 1954. The split was between the party's national leadership, under the then party leader Dr H.V...
. Jones died in 1972.