Progressive Party (1920)
Encyclopedia
The Progressive Party was a New South Wales
political party that operated between 1920 and 1927, achieving representation in the Legislative Assembly
due to proportional representation
. The party attracted support from conservative voters in both rural and urban NSW. As a result, its policies were socially conservative but had elements of Agrarian socialism
. At the 1920 election it won 15 seats. The party split over the question of support for the first government of George Fuller
into an urban wing, led by Thomas Ley and Walter Wearne
, which agreed to enter Fuller's coalition and a rural wing ("The True Blues"), led by Michael Bruxner
and Ernest Buttenshaw
which offered Fuller only conditional support. The urban members of the party were absorbed into the Nationalist Party
at this time. The party was reduced to nine rural members at the 1922 election and was a coalition partner in Fuller's second government. The rural wing contested the 1925 election
and maintained its 9 seats. In 1927, its members officially joined the Country Party
, of which the Progressive Party was largely a fore-runner. It was not related to the earlier Progressive Party that had operated in the state between 1901 and 1907.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
political party that operated between 1920 and 1927, achieving representation in the Legislative Assembly
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...
due to proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
. The party attracted support from conservative voters in both rural and urban NSW. As a result, its policies were socially conservative but had elements of Agrarian socialism
Agrarian socialism
Agrarian socialism is a socioeconomic political system which combines an agrarian way of life with socialist economic policies.When compared to standard socialist systems which are generally urban/industrial , internationally oriented, and more progressive/liberal in terms of social orientation,...
. At the 1920 election it won 15 seats. The party split over the question of support for the first government of George Fuller
George Fuller (Australian politician)
Sir George Warburton Fuller KCMG was Premier of New South Wales, Australia on two occasions during the 1920s. His first term of office lasted less than one day ; his second lasted from 13 April 1922 to 17 June 1925.-Early life:Fuller was born in Kiama, New South Wales and was educated at Kiama...
into an urban wing, led by Thomas Ley and Walter Wearne
Walter Wearne
Walter Wearne was an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1917 until 1930. He was initially elected as an Independent but subsequently formed the Progressive Party of which he was the leader until it split into urban and rural wings in 1921...
, which agreed to enter Fuller's coalition and a rural wing ("The True Blues"), led by Michael Bruxner
Michael Bruxner
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Michael Frederick Bruxner KBE, DSO, JP was an Australian politician and soldier, serving for many years as Leader of the Country Party and its predecessors...
and Ernest Buttenshaw
Ernest Buttenshaw
Ernest Albert Buttenshaw was an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1917 until 1932. He was a member of the Nationalist Party of Australia until 1920, when he helped to establish the Progressive Party. After 1925 he was a member of its successor, the...
which offered Fuller only conditional support. The urban members of the party were absorbed into the Nationalist Party
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...
at this time. The party was reduced to nine rural members at the 1922 election and was a coalition partner in Fuller's second government. The rural wing contested the 1925 election
New South Wales state election, 1925
The 1925 New South Wales state election was held on 30 May 1925. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 27th New South Wales Legislative Assembly and it was conducted in multiple member constituencies with compulsory preferential single transferable vote usit the Hare Clark system)...
and maintained its 9 seats. In 1927, its members officially joined the Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
, of which the Progressive Party was largely a fore-runner. It was not related to the earlier Progressive Party that had operated in the state between 1901 and 1907.