Percival Brookfield
Encyclopedia
Percival Stanley Brookfield (7 August 1875 – 22 March 1921) was an Australian politician and militant trade unionist. He was variously known as Percival Jack Brookfield or Jack Brookfield, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1917 until his violent death in 1921. In parliament he was a member of the Australian Labor Party
(ALP) until July 1919 and then joined the Industrial Socialist Labor Party
and prospector in New South Wales and Queensland but had settled in Broken Hill by 1910. He became an official of the Amalgamated Miners' Association and led the Broken Hill campaign against the introduction of conscription
. He was gaoled and reportedly fined ₤700 as a result of his anti-conscription activities.
who had accepted the position of Railways Commissioner. Brookfield won the seat with 54% of the primary vote and increased this to 57% at the general election that was held one month later. In parliament he became a leading left-wing advocate and expressed sympathy for the Industrial Workers of the World
and the Bolshevik Revolution
. His radicalism led him into conflict with the rest of the ALP caucus and he resigned from it in July 1919. He was not readmitted to the party when he attempted to retract his resignation.
and, under the multi-member proportional representation system then used, he was the first candidate elected with 27% of the primary vote. Following the election he held the balance of power
in the assembly. He supported the Labor government of John Storey
and used his position to improve industrial conditions for Broken Hill miners and to overturn the convictions of Australian IWW members gaoled in 1916.
railway station, in South Australia on 22 March 1921. It has been claimed that Brookfield was the only Australian politician murdered prior to the death of John Newman
in 1994—although another member of the Legislative Assembly, Thomas John Ley
probably murdered fellow member Hyman Goldstein
in 1927. There is no evidence of a political motive in Brookfield's death.
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 1917 until his violent death in 1921. In parliament he was a member of 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) until July 1919 and then joined the Industrial Socialist Labor Party
Industrial Socialist Labor Party
The Industrial Socialist Labor Party was a short lived socialist political party in Australia in the late 1910s and early 1920s. It was founded by radical socialist members of the industrial wing of the Australian Labor Party , at a time when the ALP's socialist ideology was a matter of intra-party...
Early life
Brookfield was born in Wavertree, Lancashire, England, the son of a local grocer Cuthbert Brookfield and Jane Brookfield (nee Peers) and after an elementary education went to sea at age 13. After spending about 6 years at sea working on various merchant ships, at his request he was discharged from his service on the vessel "Godiva", with an endorsement of good conduct, in Port Melbourne in 1894. He was a swagmanSwagman
A swagman is an old Australian and New Zealand term describing an underclass of transient temporary workers, who travelled by foot from farm to farm carrying the traditional swag...
and prospector in New South Wales and Queensland but had settled in Broken Hill by 1910. He became an official of the Amalgamated Miners' Association and led the Broken Hill campaign against the introduction of conscription
Conscription in Australia
Conscription in Australia, or mandatory military service also known as National Service, has a controversial history dating back to the first years of nationhood...
. He was gaoled and reportedly fined ₤700 as a result of his anti-conscription activities.
State Politics
In February 1917 he won ALP pre-selection for a by-election in the seat of Sturt. The by-election had been caused by the resignation of the previous member John CannJohn Cann
John Henry Cann was a New South Wales politician, Treasurer, and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of James McGowen and William Holman. From 1912 to 1914 he was the Treasurer of New South Wales...
who had accepted the position of Railways Commissioner. Brookfield won the seat with 54% of the primary vote and increased this to 57% at the general election that was held one month later. In parliament he became a leading left-wing advocate and expressed sympathy for the Industrial Workers of the World
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
and the Bolshevik Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
. His radicalism led him into conflict with the rest of the ALP caucus and he resigned from it in July 1919. He was not readmitted to the party when he attempted to retract his resignation.
Industrial Socialist Labor Party
At the March 1920 state elections Brookfield contested the seat of Sturt for the Industrial Socialist Labor PartyIndustrial Socialist Labor Party
The Industrial Socialist Labor Party was a short lived socialist political party in Australia in the late 1910s and early 1920s. It was founded by radical socialist members of the industrial wing of the Australian Labor Party , at a time when the ALP's socialist ideology was a matter of intra-party...
and, under the multi-member proportional representation system then used, he was the first candidate elected with 27% of the primary vote. Following the election he held the balance of power
Balance of power (parliament)
In parliamentary politics, the term balance of power sometimes describes the pragmatic mechanism exercised by a minor political party or other grouping whose guaranteed support may enable an otherwise minority government to obtain and hold office...
in the assembly. He supported the Labor government of John Storey
John Storey
John Storey or Story may refer to:*John Story , English Roman Catholic martyr*John Storey , Australian politician, premier of New South Wales...
and used his position to improve industrial conditions for Broken Hill miners and to overturn the convictions of Australian IWW members gaoled in 1916.
Death
Brookfield died as a result of wounds received when trying to disarm a deranged Russian emigree named Koorman Tomayoff at the RivertonRiverton, South Australia
Riverton is a small town of distinctive character and interest to travellers in the Mid North of South Australia, in the Gilbert Valley. It is situated on the Gilbert River, from which the town derives its name...
railway station, in South Australia on 22 March 1921. It has been claimed that Brookfield was the only Australian politician murdered prior to the death of John Newman
John Newman (Australian politician)
John Paul Newman was a member of the New South Wales state parliament and Member for the seat of Cabramatta. He was the first elected politician to be assassinated in Australia.-Early life:...
in 1994—although another member of the Legislative Assembly, Thomas John Ley
Thomas John Ley
Thomas John Ley was an Australian politician who was convicted of murder in England. It is highly likely that he was also involved in the deaths of a number of people in Australia.-Early life:...
probably murdered fellow member Hyman Goldstein
Hyman Goldstein (politician)
Hyman Goldstein was an Australian politician. He was a Nationalist member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Eastern Suburbs from 1922 until 1925, and Coogee from 1927 to his death in 1928...
in 1927. There is no evidence of a political motive in Brookfield's death.