Thomas Murphy (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Patrick Murphy was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
between 1953 and 1968. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party
(ALP) and held the minor government position of Assistant Minister in 1964-65.
Murphy was the son of a railway worker and was educated in Patrician Brothers
schools in rural NSW. He worked as a clerk in the New South Wales Government Railways
between 1923 and 1953. During World War Two he served in the Middle East with the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
of the Second Australian Imperial Force
and reached the rank of sergeant. Following demobilization, Murphy settled in Concord in the western suburbs of Sydney and became involved in community organizations including the Returned and Services League of Australia
and the Hibernian Australian Catholic Benefits Society, a provider of health and other insurance.
After an unsuccessful attempt to win the seat in 1950
, Murphy was elected to parliament as the Labor member for Concord
at the 1953
state election. He defeated the incumbent Liberal
member John Adamson
. The 1953 election saw Labor make significant gains in marginal seats, particularly in the western suburbs. The seat of Concord was highly marginal
but Murphy was able to retain it for Labor at the next 4 elections, usually by less than 1000 votes and in 1956
and 1965
by less than 100 votes (approximately 0.2% of the total votes cast). Murphy was appointed to the minor government post of Assistant Minister between 30 April 1964 and 13 May 1965 but he held no other party, parliamentary or ministerial office. The seat of Concord was abolished at the 1968
election and Murphy unsuccessfully stood for the new seat of Yaralla
. He retired from public life after his defeat but became a successful businessman with investments in motels and the wholesale shoe business.
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...
between 1953 and 1968. 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) and held the minor government position of Assistant Minister in 1964-65.
Murphy was the son of a railway worker and was educated in Patrician Brothers
Patrician Brothers
The Patrician Brothers, or Brothers of Saint Patrick, are a Roman Catholic congregation for the religious and literary education of youth and the instruction of the faithful in Christian piety.-History:This Brotherhood was founded by the Right Rev. Dr...
schools in rural NSW. He worked as a clerk in the New South Wales Government Railways
New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...
between 1923 and 1953. During World War Two he served in the Middle East with the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
The Royal Australian Army Medical Corps is the branch of the Australian Army responsible for providing medical care to Army personnel. The AAMC was formed in 1902 and has participated in every Australian Army operation...
of the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
and reached the rank of sergeant. Following demobilization, Murphy settled in Concord in the western suburbs of Sydney and became involved in community organizations including the Returned and Services League of Australia
Returned and Services League of Australia
The Returned and Services League of Australia is a support organisation for men and women who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force ....
and the Hibernian Australian Catholic Benefits Society, a provider of health and other insurance.
After an unsuccessful attempt to win the seat in 1950
New South Wales state election, 1950
The 1950 New South Wales State state election was held on 17 June 1950. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1949 redistribution...
, Murphy was elected to parliament as the Labor member for Concord
Electoral district of Concord
Concord was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1930, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Concord. It was abolished in 1968.-Members for Concord:-References:...
at the 1953
New South Wales state election, 1953
The 1953 New South Wales state election was held on 14 February 1953. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1952 redistribution...
state election. He defeated the incumbent Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member John Adamson
John Adamson (New South Wales politician)
John Clark Adamson was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for a single term from 1950 until 1953 . He was a member of the Liberal Party of Australia....
. The 1953 election saw Labor make significant gains in marginal seats, particularly in the western suburbs. The seat of Concord was highly marginal
Marginal seat
A marginal seat, or swing seat, is a constituency held with a particularly small majority in a legislative election, generally conducted under a single-winner voting system. In Canada they may be known as target ridings. The opposite is a safe seat....
but Murphy was able to retain it for Labor at the next 4 elections, usually by less than 1000 votes and in 1956
New South Wales state election, 1956
The 1956 New South Wales state election was held on 3 March 1956. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1952 redistribution...
and 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...
by less than 100 votes (approximately 0.2% of the total votes cast). Murphy was appointed to the minor government post of Assistant Minister between 30 April 1964 and 13 May 1965 but he held no other party, parliamentary or ministerial office. The seat of Concord was abolished at the 1968
New South Wales state election, 1968
The 1968 New South Wales state election was held on 24 February 1968. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1966 redistribution...
election and Murphy unsuccessfully stood for the new seat of Yaralla
Electoral district of Yaralla
Yaralla was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1968 to 1981.-Members for Yaralla:...
. He retired from public life after his defeat but became a successful businessman with investments in motels and the wholesale shoe business.