This article provides information on candidates who stood for the 1953 Australian Senate election. The election was held on 9 May 1953.
By-elections, appointments and defections
By-elections and appointments On 7 February 1952, Joe Cooke (Labor) was appointed a Western Australian Senator to replace Richard Nash (Labor). On 30 September 1952, Bill Robinson (Country) was appointed a Western Australian Senator to replace Edmund Piesse (Country). On 3 March 1953, John Marriott (Liberal) was appointed a Tasmanian Senator to replace Jack Chamberlain (Liberal).
Defections In 1953, Labor Senator Bill Morrow (Tasmania) was defeated for preselection. He contested the election as a member of his own party, the "Tasmanian Labor Party".
Retiring Senators
Labor Senator Alex Finlay (SA)
Liberal Senator John Tate (NSW)
Senate Sitting Senators are shown in bold text. Tickets that elected at least one Senator are highlighted in the relevant colour. Successful candidates are identified by an asterisk (*).
New South Wales Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending three seats. The Liberal-Country Coalition was defending two seats. Senators John Armstrong (Labor), Bill Ashley (Labor), John McCallum (Liberal), Albert Reid (Country) and Bill Spooner (Liberal) were not up for re-election.
Labor candidatesCoalition candidatesCommunist candidatesUngrouped candidates Stan Amour* James Arnold* Donald Grant*Alister McMullin* (Lib) Ken Anderson* (Lib) Thelma Kirkby (CP)Jim Healy Claude Jones Cecil ConnorsRobert Stafford Hanse Goleby Edward Spensley
Queensland Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal-Country Coalition was defending three seats. Senators Archie Benn (Labor), Walter Cooper (Country), Ben Courtice (Labor), Neil O'Sullivan (Liberal) and Annabelle Rankin (Liberal) were not up for re-election.
Labor candidatesCoalition candidatesCommunist candidatesDemocratic candidates Condon Byrne* Gordon Brown* William ConelanTed Maher* (CP) Ian Wood* (Lib) Roy Kendall* (Lib)Albert Robinson Max Julius Tom MillarSir Raphael Cilento Henry Herbert Charles Russell
South Australia Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending three seats. The Liberal Party was defending two seats. Senators Clive Hannaford (Liberal), Ted Mattner (Liberal), George McLeay (Liberal), Theo Nicholls (Labor) and Sid O'Flaherty (Labor) were not up for re-election.
Labor candidatesLiberal candidatesCommunist candidatesUngrouped candidates Jack Critchley* John Ryan* Jim Toohey*Rex Pearson* Keith Laught* Frederick BoscombeEdward Robertson Alan Finger Elliott JohnstonSydney Edwards
Tasmania
Six seats were up for election. One of these was a short-term vacancy caused by Liberal Senator Jack Chamberlain's death; this had been filled in the interim by Liberal John Marriott. The Labor Party was defending four seats (although sitting senator Bill Morrow contested the election for the "Tasmanian Labour Group"). The Liberal Party was defending two seats. Senators Allan Guy (Liberal), Denham Henty (Liberal), Nick McKenna (Labor) and Reg Wright (Liberal) were not up for re-election.
Labor candidatesLiberal candidatesTasmanian Labour Group candidatesUngrouped candidates George Cole* Justin O'Byrne* Reg Murray Bill Aylett*Robert Wordsworth* John Marriott* Robert Wardlaw* Cedric MooreBill Morrow Andrew Graham Ian PearsonMax Bound (CPA) Robert McEwin
Victoria
Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal Party was defending three seats. Senators Don Cameron (Labor), George Rankin (Country), Charles Sandford (Labor), Jim Sheehan (Labor) and John Spicer (Liberal) were not up for re-election.
Labor candidatesLiberal candidatesCommunist candidatesHGJP candidates Bert Hendrickson* Jack Devlin* Pat Kennelly*John Gorton* Ivy Wedgwood* Magnus CormackRalph Gibson Bill Bird Frank HardyLeslie Bawden William Pitt Ivan Robinson
Western Australia
Six seats were up for election. One of these was a short-term vacancy caused by Country Party Senator Edmund Piesse's death; this had been filled in the interim by Bill Robinson, also of the Country Party. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal-Country Coalition was defending four seats. Senators Agnes Robertson (Liberal), Dorothy Tangney (Labor), Seddon Vincent (Liberal) and Don Willesee (Labor) were not up for re-election.
Labor candidatesCoalition candidatesCommunist candidatesAPGL candidatesInd Co-op candidates Joe Cooke* James Fraser* John Harris* Charlie GoldingMalcolm Scott* (Lib) Harrie Seward* (CP) Shane Paltridge* (Lib) Bill Robinson (CP)Sam Aarons Jack Coleman John GandiniCarlyle Ferguson Colin UnwinClaude Swaine Robert Salter
Summary by party
Beside each party is an indication of whether the party contested the Senate election in each state.
Party NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas TotalAustralian Labor Party * * * * * * 6Liberal Party of Australia * * * * * * 6Australian Country Party * * * 3Communist Party of Australia * * * * * * 6Henry George Justice Party * 1Democratic Party of Australia * 1All Parties Government League * 1Independent Co-operationist * 1Tasmanian Labor Party * 1
See also 1953 Australian Senate election Members of the Australian Senate, 1951–1953 Members of the Australian Senate, 1953–1956 List of political parties in Australia
References Adam Carr's Election Archive - Senate 1953