Bill Power (Australian politician) explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
William Power
Constituency Am1:Baroona
Assembly1:Queensland Legislative
Term Start1:11 May 1935
Term End1:28 May 1960
Predecessor1:New seat
Successor1:Pat Hanlon
Birth Date:3 January 1893
Birth Place:Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Death Place:Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Birthname:William Joseph Power
Nationality:Australian
Party:Queensland Labor Party
Otherparty:Labor
Spouse:Alice Gertrude Cain (m.1918 d.1977)
Occupation:Tramwayman, Trade union official

William Joseph Power (3 January 1893 – 29 May 1974) was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and an Alderman in the Brisbane City Council.[1]

Early years

Power was born in Brisbane, Queensland to Richard and Margaret Power (née Young) in 1893.[1] He did his schooling in Petrie Terrace and worked as a tramwayman. Power became a leading trade union official before deciding to enter state politics.[1]

State political career

Representing the Labor Party, Power won the new seat of Baroona in Labor's landslide win in the Queensland state election of 1935,[2] convincingly defeating J.E. Streeter of the Douglas Credit Party.[3] When campaigning, he used the slogan "Power for the People".[1]

He served as Secretary for Public Works, Housing and Local Government from 1947 to 1950, Secretary for Mines and Immigration from 1950 till 1952, and Attorney-General from 1952 till Labor's defeat from government in 1957. Power sided with Premier Vince Gair after Gair had been expelled by the ALP executive in 1957 and standing for the Queensland Labor Party, he held his seat. He did not seek re-election in 1960 and retired from politics.[1]

Personal life

Power married Alice Gertrude Cain (died 1977) in 1918 and together they had four sons. He was an avid rugby league supporter, and also interested in Game fowl and dogs. He died in 1974.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former Members. Parliament of Queensland. 2015. 28 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402120757/http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/former/bio?id=1372958879. 2 April 2015. live.
  2. News: Overwhelming Government Victories in Two States. . . Brisbane . 13 May 1935 . 28 February 2015 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: QUEENSLAND ELECTIONS. . . Brisbane . 13 May 1935 . 28 February 2015 . 15 . National Library of Australia.