Andrew Fisher

Fisher's entry into federal politics

Fisher was elected as Labor candidate for the seat of Wide Bay, Queensland, at the first federal general election on 29 March 1901. He retained the seat through the next five general elections until resigning from Parliament.

Fisher successfully moved an amendment to Alfred Deakin’s Conciliation and Arbitration Bill in April 1904 to include state employees under the legislation.

He served as Minister for Trade and Customs from April to August 1904 in Chris Watson’s minority Labor government (the first federal Labor government).

Labor caucus elected Fisher as Deputy Leader of the parliamentary Labor Party in August 1905. He retained this position until October 1907 and was then elected to replace Watson as Leader

Prime Minister Andrew Fisher

Fisher became Prime Minister on 13 November 1908 when Deakin’s Protectionist government resigned and Fisher was commissioned to form a government. (Deakin resigned because he felt Labor’s ‘preference for unionists’ amendment to its arbitration legislation was unacceptable.)

As well as the prime ministership, Fisher took on the Treasury portfolio. He held both positions in his three governments: November 1908 to June 1909, April 1910 to June 1913 and September 1914 to October 1915.

Fisher lost office for the first time on 2 June 1909 after his government was defeated in parliament by Deakin’s and Joseph Cook’s Fusion group. Fisher sought dissolution of Parliament and resigned when the Governor-General (Lord Dudley) refused it.

Fisher became Prime Minister for the second time following Labor’s success at the fourth federal general election in 13 April 1910, where it won 43 of the 75 House of Representatives seats. Labor gained a clear majority in the Senate as well (with 23 of 36 seats). Labor held office for a full term of parliament, and engaged in an active legislative program.

Social reforms

Among Labor’s major innovations were the establishment of the Commonwealth Bank, the introduction of maternity allowances, workers’ compensation for Commonwealth employees, implementation of recommendations of the royal commission on the sugar industry (laying foundations for the industry’s future development), liberalisation of invalid and old age pensions, expansion of the High Court (from five to seven judges), transfer of the Northern Territory to the Commonwealth, and the decision to establish a federal capital at Canberra.

In 1911 Fisher attended the Imperial Conference in London where, as the only Labor Prime Minister present, he attracted interest. Like Deakin before him, he argued for dominions to be consulted over UK foreign policy. On returning to Scotland and his Crosshouse birthplace, he was welcomed as a hero.

Following the general election on 24 June 1913, at which Joseph Cook’s Liberal Party gained a one-seat majority, Cook replaced Fisher as Prime Minister. Fisher became Leader of the Opposition.

Fisher took office as Prime Minister for the third time on 17 September 1914 after leading Labor to a decisive victory at the sixth federal general election on 5 September 1915.

During the election campaign, as war between UK’s allies and the Axis powers became more likely, Fisher promised that if war broke out Australia would support UK ‘to the last man and last shilling’. By the time he had taken office, the Empire (including Australia) had been at war for six weeks.

Fisher retained the prime ministership until 27 October 1915, when he resigned because of ill health. He was succeeded by his deputy, William Morris Hughes.

Fisher's life beyond politics

After resigning the prime ministership, Fisher was appointed High Commissioner to UK, after George Reid, in January 1916. He retained the position for five years until retiring in January 1921.

While High Commissioner he served as a member of the Dardanelles Commission, and during the conscription controversy of 1916 he refused Hughes’ request to sign a public statement supporting compulsory military service.

After his return to Australia in 1921 supporters tried to secure Fisher a seat in federal parliament and to return him to Labor leadership, but he was not really interested.

He returned to London in 1922 and unsuccessfully sought Labour preselection for a Scottish seat in the House of Commons. Fisher lived in retirement in London until his death there on 22 October 1928.

Legislation passed under Fisher

Fisher was Prime Minister for the whole of the Fourth Parliament (1910–13). One hundred and thirteen bills were enacted. The most important were:

• The Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910 provided for the administration and laws of the Australian Capital Territory.
• The Naval Defence Act 1910 set up control of the new Royal Australian Navy.
• The Commonwealth Bank Act 1911 established a government owned bank.
• The Maternity Allowances Act 1912 paid a ‘baby bonus’ at the birth of each child, without means test.
• The Navigation Act 1913 regulated merchant shipping.
• The Commonwealth Workmen’s Compensation Act 1912 provided for compulsory accident insurance and compensation for federal and territory employees.
• Fisher was Prime Minister at the outbreak of war in August 1914 and parliament passed the War Precautions Act 1914, followed by the War Precautions Act (No. 2) 1915. These Acts gave very wide powers to the government to make regulations to ‘secure the public safety and defence of the Commonwealth.’
• Another related Act was the Crimes Act 1914, which established a code of offences against the Commonwealth, including treason and breaches of official secrecy.