Abe Landa
Encyclopedia
The Hon. Abram Landa was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1930 until 1932 and from 1941 until 1965. He was variously a member of the Australian Labor Party (NSW)
and the Australian Labor Party
(ALP). He held a number of ministerial positions between 1953 and 1965.
and won a scholarship to study law at the University of Sydney
. He practiced as a solicitor mainly in Industrial Law and joined the ALP in 1919. He was an advisor to Doc Evatt at the United Nations
meetings in Lake Success
. Landa was a prominent member of Sydney's Jewish Community and was made a CMG
in 1968. He was the uncle of Paul Landa
who was a member of the Legislative Assembly and the New South Wales Legislative Council
.
at the 1930
state election. He defeated the sitting Nationalist
member Harold Jacques and his victory contributed to Labor forming a government under Jack Lang
. However, he lost the seat in the 1932
landslide that ended Lang's premiership. Landa regained the seat at the 1941
election which resulted in Labor regaining power under William McKell
. He retained the seat for the next 8 elections. Following the victory of Robert Askin
's conservative coalition at the 1965
election, Landa was controversially offered and accepted an appointment as the New South Wales Agent-General in London. This position was usually a sinecure for retiring members of the ruling party but Askin offered it to Landa to force his resignation from parliament and cause a by-election with the hope of increasing his government's small majority. Landa's acceptance of the position resulted in his expulsion from the Labor Party. However, Askin's plans were frustrated when the by-election was won by Labor's Syd Einfeld
.
, Robert Heffron
and Jack Renshaw
. He was the Minister for Labour, Industry and Social Welfare from 1953 till 1956 and the Minister for Housing from 1956 until the defeat of the Labor government in 1965.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1930 until 1932 and from 1941 until 1965. He was variously a member of the Australian Labor Party (NSW)
Australian Labor Party (NSW)
The Australian Labor Party , commonly known as Lang Labor, was the name given to a major breakaway of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales that operated from 1931 to 1936....
and the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
(ALP). He held a number of ministerial positions between 1953 and 1965.
Early and Personal Life
Landa was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and migrated to Sydney with his widowed mother in 1910. He was educated at Christian Brothers, WaverleyWaverley College
Waverley College is a Roman Catholic, secondary, day school for boys, located at Waverley, in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
and won a scholarship to study law at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. He practiced as a solicitor mainly in Industrial Law and joined the ALP in 1919. He was an advisor to Doc Evatt at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
meetings in Lake Success
Lake Success, New York
Lake Success is a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 2,934 at the 2010 census.Lake Success is in the Town of North Hempstead on northwest Long Island. Lake Success was the temporary home of the United Nations from 1946 to 1951, occupying the headquarters of...
. Landa was a prominent member of Sydney's Jewish Community and was made a CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1968. He was the uncle of Paul Landa
Paul Landa
David Paul Landa, QC was an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1973 to 1984, and the member for Peats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1984...
who was a member of the Legislative Assembly and the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
.
State Parliament
Landa was elected as the Labor member for BondiElectoral district of Bondi
Bondi was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1913 and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Bondi. In 1920, with the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into Eastern Suburbs...
at the 1930
New South Wales state election, 1930
The 1930 New South Wales state election was held on 25 October 1930. The election was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting...
state election. He defeated the sitting Nationalist
Nationalist Party of Australia
The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...
member Harold Jacques and his victory contributed to Labor forming a government under Jack Lang
Jack Lang (Australian politician)
John Thomas Lang , usually referred to as J.T. Lang during his career, and familiarly known as "Jack" and nicknamed "The Big Fella" was an Australian politician who was Premier of New South Wales for two terms...
. However, he lost the seat in the 1932
New South Wales state election, 1932
The 1932 New South Wales state election was held on 11 June 1932. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 30th New South Wales Legislative Assembly and it was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting...
landslide that ended Lang's premiership. Landa regained the seat at the 1941
New South Wales state election, 1941
The 1941 New South Wales state election was held on 10 May 1941. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 33nd New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting....
election which resulted in Labor regaining power under William McKell
William McKell
Sir William John McKell GCMG , Australian politician, was Premier of New South Wales from 1941 to 1947, and was the 12th Governor-General of Australia. He was also the oldest Governor General of Australia, at 93 when he died....
. He retained the seat for the next 8 elections. Following the victory of Robert Askin
Robert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
's conservative coalition at the 1965
New South Wales state election, 1965
The 1965 New South Wales state election was held on 1 May 1965. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1961 redistribution...
election, Landa was controversially offered and accepted an appointment as the New South Wales Agent-General in London. This position was usually a sinecure for retiring members of the ruling party but Askin offered it to Landa to force his resignation from parliament and cause a by-election with the hope of increasing his government's small majority. Landa's acceptance of the position resulted in his expulsion from the Labor Party. However, Askin's plans were frustrated when the by-election was won by Labor's Syd Einfeld
Syd Einfeld
Sydney David "Syd" Einfeld AO was an Australian politician and Jewish leader. Born in Sydney, he was educated at Fort St Boys' High School before becoming a manager of a merchandising company...
.
Government
Landa held ministerial positions in the governments of Joseph CahillJoseph Cahill
John Joseph Cahill was Premier of New South Wales in Australia from 1952 to 1959. He is best remembered as the Premier who approved construction on the Sydney Opera House, and for his work increasing the authority of local government in the state.-Early years:Joe Cahill, as he was popularly known,...
, Robert Heffron
Robert Heffron
Robert James "Bob" Heffron was one of the longest-serving New South Wales state parliamentarians. He was the Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales from 28 October 1959, to 30 April 1964.-Early years:...
and Jack Renshaw
Jack Renshaw
John Brophy "Jack" Renshaw AC was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of New South Wales from 30 April 1964 to 13 May 1965.-Early life:...
. He was the Minister for Labour, Industry and Social Welfare from 1953 till 1956 and the Minister for Housing from 1956 until the defeat of the Labor government in 1965.