There’s been a lot written and said about Vince Catania’s decision to quit the Labor Party and join the WA Nationals.
Some media have described the defection as a “shock” and “unprecedented”.
It’s not shocking for a country Labor MP to turn independent, or in this case join an independent party of fellow country MPs.
And it’s not unprecedented either.
While at the Kalgoorlie Miner I came across the interesting story of Ned Hogan.
He was a union leader who stood unsuccessfully for Labor preselection in Kalgoorlie.
After suffering typhoid fever and pneumonia he moved to Victoria and in 1913 won the seat of Warrenheip for Labor.
He held the seat for the next 30 years and became a farmer at Ballan.
Hogan became Labor Premier of Victoria in May 1926, holding 28 of 65 seats in the assembly, but supported by Albert Dunstan and the Country Progressive Party.
Labor was crushed in the 1932 election and in the fall-out, Hogan resigned as Premier and was disendorsed.
He remained an Independent Labor member until 1935 when he joined the Country Party under Dunstan.
He was minister of agriculture and mines and vice-president of the Board of Land and Works from April in the Dunstan government which, supported by Labor lasted until September 1943.
So there is nothing new in Vince Catania, or John Bowler for that matter, supporting the WA Nationals.
- Reference: The Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
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It will be interesting to see what advantage, if any, Karratha gains out of having a Nationals member, rather than a Labor member. One could draw the conclusion that if the North West suddenly recieves a flood of new funding under the Royalties for Regions program, the Nationals have succeeded in undermining the political process, well played Vince. If this doesn’t happen, you could say he has achieved nothing. Neither are strictly speaking true, or untrue for that matter, but we’re talking in broad terms.
Also, saying it’s unprecented and going back 70-odd years is a bit of a stretch, don’t you think? It’s worth noting that Vince has essentialy switched from opposition to become a member of the coalition government. I can’t think of a recent example of such a change, off the top of my head.
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Liam, the historical point that’s often missed is, in Victoria at least, there was an alliance between the ALP and the Country Party for much of the 30s, 40s and 50s.
Brendon Grylls has made it clear he wants the WA Nationals to be an independent voice for regional areas and, if he holds the balance of power, the Nats are prepared to deal with either side.
I suspect he seriously wanted to support Labor after the last election, but was outflanked by the Trenorden camp.
Catania and maybe Bowler joining the Nationals could swing it the other way next time if the Nats again hold the balance of power.