“I did not leave the Labor Party, The party left me.”
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Billy Hughes
William Morris Hughes was an Australian politician who served as the seventh prime minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923. He led the nation during World War I, and his influence on national politics spanned several decades. He was a member of the federal parliament from the Federation of Australia in 1901 until his death in 1952, and is the only person to have served as a parliamentarian for mor…
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politics · Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923 · politician · diplomat · head of government · social democrat · also Billy Hughes, William Morris Hughes, William Hughes, The Right Honourable William Hughes, W.M. Hughes, William Morris "Billy" Hughes
Born 25 September 1862 · Died 28 October 1952 · Q152666
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Australia’s Prime Minister Delights the Empire (1915)
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2026· 3 entries
“the first historic event in the history of the Commonwealth we are engaged in today [is] without the slightest trace of that race we have banished from the face of the earth.”
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Mutual Art: William Hughes Market Performance: Price Trends & Analytics
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1972· 1 entry
Was honoured on a postage stamp bearing his portrait issued by Australia Post
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1952· 13 entries
Died 1952-10-28.
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“Many new industries have arisen under the stimulus of dire necessity, and the encouragement of the Government. We have learned to make many things ourselves that we formerly imported from oversea. The war has taught us many lessons. It has taught us, among other things, to believe in ourselves and in the greatness of the resources and destiny of Australia.”
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“There is urgent need for population, but, of course, it must be of the right sort, and it must go to the right place. We do not want to make Australia a dumping ground for the world’s refuse populations, or to bring population to our already overcrowded cities, for such newcomers would not for the most part produce new wealth, but only share the wealth already there.”
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“I have said that increased production is essential to the very existence of Australia; and increased production cannot be assured without the hearty co-operation of labour and capital. Industrial peace is essential to increased production, and that in its turn cannot be assured unless labour is given its legitimate place as a full partner in production.”
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“The White Australia is yours. You may do with it what you please; but, at any rate, the soldiers have achieved the victory, and my colleague and I have brought that great principle back to you from the Conference. Here it is, at least as safe as it was on the day when it was first adopted by this Parliament.”
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“We are loyal to the Empire first and foremost because we are of the British race.”
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“Whatever we have achieved—and our achievements are many and great—has come because we have believed in Australia, in ourselves, in our race. It is this spirit which enabled us to fight—doggedly, if you like, but determinedly—Nature in her sternest moods, to endure and emerge triumphant from droughts, floods, and other evils that have beset us.”
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“The Dominions could not exist if it were not for the British Navy. We must not forget this. We are a united Empire or we are nothing.”
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“The difference between the status of the dominions now and twenty-five years ago is very great. We were colonies, we became dominions. We have been accorded the status of nations. ... What greater advance is conceivable? What remains to us? We are like so many Alexanders. What other worlds have we to conquer?”
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“On the welfare of Australia depends the welfare of every citizen, producer and consumer, employer and employee. Let our watchword be Australia, and as our splendid boys have fought for it and saved it let us all live and work for it. In this spirit the war was won; in this spirit and in this spirit only can we win the peace.”
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“He was sick of this canting humbug about internationalism. Nationalism, not internationalism, was the policy for Britain.”
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“I emphasize that...nothing short of a decisive victory will avail. Germany's military power must be utterly crushed. (Cheers.) In no other way can the peace of the world be assured. Peace under any other conditions would be only a period of feverish preparation for another and even more fearful struggle.”
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“Germany...deliberately appealed to the arbitrament of the sword. Now, when she is beginning to learn that the world is not a sheep to be butchered, but that it has both the means and the will to defend itself, she talks about a “League of Nations”. Had she achieved world power, would our fate have differed from that of Russia or Rumania? Would she then have talked about a League of Nations?”
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1949· 1 entry
Career landmark: member of the Australian House of Representatives (1949–1952).
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1946· 1 entry
“had to draw the line somewhere, didn”
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1944· 1 entry
A celebratory dinner was held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his election to the parliament of the colony of New South Wales and thus 50 consecutive years of service as an MP
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1942· 1 entry
“Britain has temporarily lost control of the seas but she has lost it in an effort to protect Australia. It would be well if those who criticise Britain would turn the searchlights on Australia”
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1939· 2 entries
Career landmark: Attorney-General for Australia (1939–1941).
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Hughes was also serving as attorney-general and minister for industry
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1935· 2 entries
And remained small in size, with Lyons taking the primary responsibility for formulating foreign policy
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After his book Australia and the War Today exposed a lack of preparation in Australia for what Hughes correctly supposed to be a coming war
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1934· 2 entries
And became known for his prescient warnings against Japanese imperialism
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Hughes became Minister for Health and Repatriation in the Lyons government
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1931· 2 entries
Merged into the new United Australia Party (UAP)
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Buried the hatchet with his former non-Labor colleagues and joined the Nationalists and several right-wing Labor dissidents under Joseph Lyons in forming the United Australia Party (UAP), under Lyons' leadership
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1928· 1 entry
Following a dispute over industrial relations, he and his supporters crossed the floor on a confidence motion and brought down the government
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1925· 1 entry
Hughes again had little involvement in parliamentary affairs, but began to portray himself as "champion of Australian industries struggling to get established against foreign competition and government indifference", wit
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1924· 1 entry
Hughes embarked on a lecture tour of the United States
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1922· 1 entry
Career landmark: member of the Australian House of Representatives (1922–1949).
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1920· 1 entry
Commencing international passenger flights in 1935
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1919· 3 entries
“Several Australian aviators are desirous of attempting flight London to Australia they are all first-class men and very keen your thoughts”
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Hughes, with former prime minister Joseph Cook, travelled to Paris to attend the Versailles Peace Conference
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“but we shall keep our powder dry”
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1918· 1 entry
To wounded servicemen convalescing in Kent, Hughes had met Australian pilots who were facing the seven-week sea voyage home and were eager to pioneer an air route and fly to Australia instead
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1917· 1 entry
Career landmark: member of the Australian House of Representatives (1917–1922).
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1916· 1 entry
Declined the offer of a peerage from the UK prime pinister David Lloyd George, saying Good God, David
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1915· 2 entries
In Victoria, a few months before he became prime minister
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Career landmark: Prime Minister of Australia (1915–1923).
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1914· 2 entries
Japan, Australia and New Zealand had seized all German territorial possessions in the Pacific
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Career landmark: Attorney-General for Australia (1914–1921).
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1913· 1 entry
At the foundation ceremony of Canberra as the capital of Australia, Hughes gave a speech proclaiming that the country was obtained via the elimination of the indigenous population
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1912· 1 entry
Following a series of High Court decisions that conflicted with the government's agenda, Hughes sought to "pack the court" with additional judges whom he perceived to be favourable to federal supremacy
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1911· 1 entry
The couple went on a long drive, because he did not have time for a honeymoon
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1910· 2 entries
Career landmark: Attorney-General for Australia (1910–1913).
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And his second wife was Ida Margaret Phegan
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1908· 1 entry
Career landmark: Attorney-General for Australia (1908–1909).
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1904· 2 entries
In the short-lived Watson government, and was later the attorney-general of Australia in each of Andrew Fisher's governments
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And Watson formed the first national ALP government
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1903· 1 entry
Was admitted to the bar after several years part-time study
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1901· 5 entries
Hughes became the inaugural president of the Trolley, Draymen and Carters' Union, primarily covering workers transporting goods to the waterfront
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Career landmark: member of the Australian House of Representatives (1901–1917).
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Still serving in Parliament when he died
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One of his subordinates writing: "No Gov't could live for a day in Australia if it tampered with a White Australia
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Until his death in 1952, and is the only person to have served as a parliamentarian for more than 50 years
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1899· 1 entry
Hughes played a key role in the revival of the Sydney Wharf Labourers' Union, which had struggled for relevance since the 1890 Australian maritime dispute
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1894· 2 entries
As a member of the New South Wales Labor Party, and then transferred to the new federal parliament in 1901
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Career landmark: Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (1894–1901).
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1862· 1 entry
Born 1862-09-25.
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