Charles McDonald (Australian politician)

The Honourable Charles McDonald
Member of the Australian Parliament for Kennedy
In office 30 March 1901 – 13 November 1925
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Grosvenor Francis
3rd Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives
In office 1 July 1910 – 8 July 1913
Preceded by	Carty Salmon
Succeeded by	Elliot Johnson
3rd Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives - 2nd time
In office 8 October 1914 – 13 June 1917
Preceded by	Elliot Johnson
Succeeded by	Elliot Johnson
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Flinders
In office 20 May 1893 – 24 June 1901
Preceded by	Louis Goldring
Succeeded by	Peter Airey
Personal details
Born	(1860-08-25)25 August 1860 North Melbourne, Victoria
Died	13 November 1925(1925-11-13) (aged 65) Melbourne, Victoria)
Resting place	Boroondara General Cemetery
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Mary Ann Tregear
Occupation	Watchmaker
Religion	Presbyterian

Charles McDonald (25 August 1860 – 13 November 1925) was an Australian politician who served as Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives during the second and third Andrew Fisher Labor governments between 1910 and 1913 and between 1914 and 1917.^[1]

Early life and career

Charles McDonald was born in North Melbourne, Victoria. He lived a transient life as a child with his family living in four colonies.^[1] He was living in Mudgee, New South Wales, when he left school, becoming an apprentice printer. However, he later switched trades becoming a watchmaker.^[1]

Queensland Labor movement

McDonald was a watchmaker in Charters Towers in 1890 when he became the President of the Australian Labor Federation based in Brisbane. He played a leading role in the formation of the Australian Labor Party in Queensland.

McDonald was elected in 1893 as member for Flinders^[2] in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland.^[3] McDonald became known for his mastery of the Standing Orders.^[3] He was a member of the Queensland Executive between 1898 and 1903.

Federal parliamentarian

In 1901, he successfully stood for the Division of Kennedy, a vast seat in the outback of western Queensland, in the first election for the Australian House of Representatives after Federation. McDonald was known as "Fighting Charlie"^[1] or "Fighting Mac"^[3] for his vigorous campaigning style. In one campaign, he reportedly rode over 3,000 miles (4,800 km) on bicycle on the rough outback roads.^[1]

McDonald became Chairman of Committees between 1906 and 1910.^[1] He became the first Labor Speaker in 1910^[1] as Andrew Fisher formed the first Labor majority Government. He served in that position until Labor was narrowly defeated in the 1913 Federal election. McDonald was a confirmed republican who abandoned the traditional Speaker's wig and gown in favour of an ordinary business suit. All Labor Speakers have followed this tradition. He also removed the mace from the table.

The Liberal Government made an offer to McDonald to continue in the position but he declined due to the interests of the Labor Party.^[4]

The Liberal Prime Minister Joseph Cook became frustrated by the Labor controlled Senate blocking his legislation and called for a double dissolution election. Labor won the election and McDonald became speaker again in 1914. He served as Speaker under the Labor, National Labor, and Nationalist governments until the 1917 election. During the parliamentary term, Labor split over the introduction of conscription in Australia. After the election, McDonald served on the opposition backbench.

His health was failing in the mid-1920s despite a trip to the United Kingdom in 1923. He died of cerebro-vascular disease^[1] on the day before the 1925 election, leading to his opponent Grosvenor Francis being declared elected unopposed.^[5]

McDonald had a state funeral and was buried in Boroondara General Cemetery. He was survived by his wife and daughter.^[1]

References