Thomas Collins (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Collins (6 April 1884 – 15 April 1945) was an Australian politician and stock and station agent, born at Yass
, New South Wales to storekeeper John Collins and Mary, née Hartigan. In 1902, having attended the local Catholic school, he enlisted in the 5th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse
, to fight in the Boer War
. However, by the time Collins's unit arrived, the war had finished.
Collins moved to Young
in 1906, where in 1911 he began his own business, which prospered. On 17 February 1914 he married Ruby Violet Summerhayes. He had always been interested in politics and had contested the federal seat of Newcastle
in 1913, being a close associate of Charles Hardy
, leader of the Riverina Movement. In 1931, having built his firm, Collins, Ellerman & Co., to one of the largest stock and property businesses in New South Wales
, he defeated Parker Moloney
for the federal seat of Hume
for the Country Party. He was never a significant parliamentarian, despite his entertaining manner, and was mainly a representative of rural issues.
Collins was embroiled in the United Australia Party
-Country Party leadership conflict which ensued after the death of Prime Minister Joseph Lyons
in 1939. The Country Party leader, Sir Earle Page
, attempted to prevent Sir Robert Menzies
from becoming Prime Minister by exploiting UAP divisions. Collins voiced support of Page on radio, but the following day Page attacked Menzies in parliament, causing Sir Arthur Fadden
and Bernard Corser
to resign from the Country Party. Collins too distanced himself from Page and, together with Oliver Badman, announced he would not attend party meetings headed by Page.
On 26 April Menzies formed a government, and Page resigned as leader of the Country Party. Collins, Fadden, Corser and Badman were not permitted to vote in the subsequent leadership ballot, in which Page supporter Archie Cameron
became leader. Menzies, perhaps in gratitude, made Collins Minister Assisting the Prime Minister (dealing with external territories) and Minister Assisting the Minister for the Interior. In 1941 he was appointed Postmaster-General and held the office until Labor
won the elections later that year. Collins himself lost his seat in 1943.
Known for his charity, skill and support of many sports, Collins considered standing again for parliament, but died on 15 April 1945 of a sudden coronary sclerosis. He was survived by his wife and daughter.
Yass, New South Wales
Yass is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Yass Valley Shire. The name appears to have been derived from an Aboriginal word, "Yarrh" , said to mean 'running water'....
, New South Wales to storekeeper John Collins and Mary, née Hartigan. In 1902, having attended the local Catholic school, he enlisted in the 5th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse
Australian Commonwealth Horse
The Australian Commonwealth Horse was a mounted infantry unit of the Australian Army formed for service during the Second Boer War in South Africa in 1902 and was the first expeditionary military unit established by the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia following Federation in 1901...
, to fight in the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
. However, by the time Collins's unit arrived, the war had finished.
Collins moved to Young
Young, New South Wales
-Demographics:On census night, 7 August 2001, there were 6,821 people counted in Young. There were 238 people who identified as being of Indigenous origin in the 2001 Census...
in 1906, where in 1911 he began his own business, which prospered. On 17 February 1914 he married Ruby Violet Summerhayes. He had always been interested in politics and had contested the federal seat of Newcastle
Division of Newcastle
The Division of Newcastle is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. The Division is centred around the city of Newcastle, after which it is named....
in 1913, being a close associate of Charles Hardy
Charles Hardy (Australian politician)
Charles Hardy was an Australian politician. Born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, he was educated at Geelong Grammar School before serving in the military 1917-1919. He returned to become a manufacturer of building supplies, and was a leader of the Riverina new state movement...
, leader of the Riverina Movement. In 1931, having built his firm, Collins, Ellerman & Co., to one of the largest stock and property businesses in New South Wales
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...
, he defeated Parker Moloney
Parker Moloney
Parker John Moloney was an Australian politician, teacher and public servant. He was born at Port Fairy, Victoria to Maurice Moloney and Mary, née Bowe. He became a teacher at John O'Hara's South Melbourne College in 1902 and then at University High School...
for the federal seat of Hume
Division of Hume
The Division of Hume is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. The Division is located in the central part of the state, just north of the Australian Capital Territory. The Division covers a predominantly rural area, with agriculture and coal mining the main industries...
for the Country Party. He was never a significant parliamentarian, despite his entertaining manner, and was mainly a representative of rural issues.
Collins was embroiled in the United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
-Country Party leadership conflict which ensued after the death of Prime Minister Joseph Lyons
Joseph Lyons
Joseph Aloysius Lyons, CH was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of Tasmania from 1923 to 1928 and a Minister in the James Scullin government from 1929 until his resignation from the Labor Party in March 1931...
in 1939. The Country Party leader, Sir Earle Page
Earle Page
Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page, GCMG, CH was the 11th Prime Minister of Australia, and is to date the second-longest serving federal parliamentarian in Australian history, with 41 years, 361 days in Parliament.-Early life:...
, attempted to prevent Sir Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
from becoming Prime Minister by exploiting UAP divisions. Collins voiced support of Page on radio, but the following day Page attacked Menzies in parliament, causing Sir Arthur Fadden
Arthur Fadden
Sir Arthur William Fadden, GCMG was an Australian politician and, briefly, the 13th Prime Minister of Australia.-Introduction:...
and Bernard Corser
Bernard Corser
Bernard Henry Corser was an Australian politician. In 1912, he was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly as the member for Burnett, joining the Nationalist Party on its formation in 1917. He held the seat until 1928...
to resign from the Country Party. Collins too distanced himself from Page and, together with Oliver Badman, announced he would not attend party meetings headed by Page.
On 26 April Menzies formed a government, and Page resigned as leader of the Country Party. Collins, Fadden, Corser and Badman were not permitted to vote in the subsequent leadership ballot, in which Page supporter Archie Cameron
Archie Cameron
Archie Galbraith Cameron , was an Australian politician. He was Leader of the Country Party 1939-40, and Speaker of the House of Representatives 1950-56.-Biography:...
became leader. Menzies, perhaps in gratitude, made Collins Minister Assisting the Prime Minister (dealing with external territories) and Minister Assisting the Minister for the Interior. In 1941 he was appointed Postmaster-General and held the office until 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...
won the elections later that year. Collins himself lost his seat in 1943.
Known for his charity, skill and support of many sports, Collins considered standing again for parliament, but died on 15 April 1945 of a sudden coronary sclerosis. He was survived by his wife and daughter.