John Mullens
Encyclopedia
John Michael Mullens was an Australia
n politician. Born in Ballarat, Victoria
, he was educated there at St Patrick's College before becoming a teacher in state schools. Having been active in the local politics of inner western Melbourne
as a member of Footscray City Council
, in 1937 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
as the Labor
member for Footscray
. He remained in the Assembly until 1945. In 1949, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives
for the new seat of Gellibrand
, again as a Labor member. In 1955, together with six colleagues, he was expelled from the Labor Party and formed the Australian Labor Party (Anti-Communist)
. He contested Melbourne
in 1955. Although he and all six of his colleagues were defeated in the elections of that year
, the party itself became the Democratic Labor Party
, which was instrumental in keeping Labor out of power in Canberra
for twenty years. Mullens died in 1978.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. Born in Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
, he was educated there at St Patrick's College before becoming a teacher in state schools. Having been active in the local politics of inner western Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
as a member of Footscray City Council
City of Footscray
The City of Footscray was a Local Government Area located about west of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1859 until 1994.-History:...
, in 1937 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
as the Labor
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...
member for Footscray
Electoral district of Footscray
The Electoral district of Footscray is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It lies just north of Melbourne and covers the suburbs of Footscray, Maribyrnong and Seddon....
. He remained in the Assembly until 1945. In 1949, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
for the new seat of Gellibrand
Division of Gellibrand
The Division of Gellibrand is anAustralian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1949 and is named for Joseph Gellibrand, a pioneer settler of the Melbourne area...
, again as a Labor member. In 1955, together with six colleagues, he was expelled from the Labor Party and formed the Australian Labor Party (Anti-Communist)
Australian Labor Party (Anti-Communist)
The Australian Labor Party was the name initially used by the right-wing group which split away from the Australian Labor Party in 1955, and which later became the Democratic Labor Party in 1957....
. He contested Melbourne
Division of Melbourne
The Division of Melbourne is an Australian Electoral Division of Victoria. It is represented by Adam Bandt of the Australian Greens.Created at Federation in 1900 the division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election...
in 1955. Although he and all six of his colleagues were defeated in the elections of that year
Australian federal election, 1955
Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1955. All 122 seats in the House of Representatives, and 30 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Prime Minister of Australia Robert Menzies with coalition partner the Country Party...
, the party itself became the Democratic Labor Party
Democratic Labor Party (historical)
The Democratic Labor Party was an Australian political party that existed from 1955 until 1978.-History:The DLP was formed as a result of a split in the Australian Labor Party that began in 1954. The split was between the party's national leadership, under the then party leader Dr H.V...
, which was instrumental in keeping Labor out of power in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
for twenty years. Mullens died in 1978.