Liberal and Country League (Western Australia)

The Liberal and Country League of Western Australia was the major conservative political party in Western Australia from 1949 to 1968. It operated as the state division of the Liberal Party of Australia throughout its existence, forming government from 1947 to 1953, and again from 1959 to 1971.

Background

After the defeat of the Nationalist Party government of James Mitchell at the 1933 election, the Nationalists had fewer seats than the Country Party and so became the junior partner in a conservative coalition opposing the Labor government. That remained the case until 1947.

In 1944-45, the Nationalist Party renamed itself the Liberal Party, adopting the new name chosen by the major conservative party federally and in most other states.

Return to government

Following 14 years in opposition, the Liberal/Country coalition narrowly defeated the Wise Labor Government at the 1947 election, winning 25 seats to Labor's 23 in the 50 seat Legislative Assembly. The coalition strengthened its majority by gaining the support of Independent MPs Harry Shearn and William Read. With the Liberal Party having won 13 seats and the Country Party 12 seats, the Liberals narrowly became the senior party of the coalition again, and the Liberal leader Ross McLarty became Premier.[1]

The Country Party had undergone significant structural change after the Primary Producers' Association decided in 1944 to cease funding the party, forcing it to set up its own support structure. It renamed itself the Country and Democratic League and retained a significant amount of support at the 1947 election, winning 16.2% of the vote and 12 seats (up 2 from 1943).

Name change

With difference in the number of seats held by the two coalition parties being so narrow, the Liberal Party sought to gain a larger number to ensure that it remained the senior coalition partner. This was made easier by the defection of the MLA for Beverley, James Mann, who left the Country Party to sit as an Independent, reducing the Country Party-held seats to 11.

At a public meeting in May 1949, the Liberal Party renamed itself the Liberal and Country League (LCL), following a similar move made in March by the Liberals in Victoria, who had renamed themselves the Liberal and Country Party.[2] Mann joined this party, making the party numbers in the coalition 14-11 in favour of the LCL.

Unlike the party of the same name in South Australia, the Country Party did not merge with the LCL, and still contested elections in its own name. But unlike in Victoria, the LCL and Country parties ran as a coalition throughout the LCL's existence.

Years as LCL

The name change proved to be effective, with the LCL making further gains from its coalition partner at the 1950 election, taking another seat from the Country Party to take its total to 15. The Country Party lost 2 other seats to finish with a total of 9. However, the coalition was not able to form a majority in its own right, and still required the support of independents.

The coalition was defeated by the Albert Hawke-led Labor Party at the 1953 election, but the LCL remained the senior coalition partner, retaining 15 seats to the Country Party's 9. The Hawke government was elected to second term in 1956, winning a larger majority and reducing the coalition to 19 seats (11 LCL and 8 CP). Ross McLarty retired as LCL leader in 1957 and was replaced by David Brand.

The LCL-CP coalition returned to government at the 1959 election, albeit narrowly. The LCL won a net 6 seats from Labor, with the coalition holding 25 of 50 seats and the Labor Party 23, the remaining 2 seats being won by Independents. However, the LCL still had a clear lead over the Country Party, with 17 seat to 8. The coalition formed a majority with the support of Independent Bill Grayden, who joined the LCL in 1960 to give the government a majority in its own right, while the other independent, Edward Oldfield, joined the Labor Party.

The Brand coalition government remained in power continuously until 1971, with the LCL remaining the senior coalition partner during that time.

In 1968, after the election, the LCL renamed itself the Liberal Party of Australia (Western Australia division), bringing it in line with other Australian states, apart from South Australia.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hughes, Colin A.; Graham, B.D. (1976). Voting for the South Australian, Western Australian and Tasmanian Lower Houses, 1890-1964. Canberra: Dept. of Political Science, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University. ISBN 0708113346.
  2. ↑ "Details of WA 1950 Election". Australian Politics and Elections Database. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
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