Arthur Fadden. A Political Silhouette

Abstract

This thesis examines the political legacy of Sir Arthur Fadden, leader of the federal Country Party (1940–58), prime minister (1941) and, until his record was surpassed by Peter Costello, Australia’s longest serving treasurer (1940–41 and 1949–58). It traces his life story from ordinary beginnings in north Queensland, through his foray into business as an accountant and his long career in politics – local, state and federal. The thesis argues that Fadden was integral to the establishment of the enduring coalition arrangement between the Liberal Party and the Country (later National) Party that remains in place to this day. This thesis employs the methodology of political biography, building a portrait of Fadden by looking at the influences that shaped him as a person and a politician. Yet it is not a standard ‘life’ biography but rather a political inquiry into a political figure, focusing particularly on his contribution to the coalition and his role as party leader. As such the thesis contextualises Fadden very much as a man belonging to a particular time and place in Australian history. Fadden has gone down in folklore as one of the great characters in the Australian parliament. This thesis aims to bring his personality and wit back to life, as part of the explanation for his political success. Fadden held public office for close to three decades. Yet to date he remains a largely forgotten figure in public discourse. This thesis hopes, in some part, to redress this lack of attention. When Fadden entered the federal parliament in 1936 the conservative parties were a loose grouping of fractious interests. By the time he retired in 1958 the coalition was an entrenched feature of conservative politics. This thesis argues that Fadden, through a unique blend of personal traits, such as his strength of character and a belief in compromise and consensus, laid the foundations for an enduring coalition arrangement that has seen successive conservative governments hold office federally for forty-two of the last sixty years. Yet while he was conciliatory, Fadden showed that he was not averse to pursuing his objectives with a degree of relentlessness. He was no pushover, a fact recognised by prime minister Menzies and the Liberal members of cabinet during policy debates in the early 1950s. The most important explanation for Fadden’s success lies in his capacity for fostering relationships. This thesis unpacks his relationships with political colleagues, party leaders, public officials, the press and his constituents, and concludes that his interpersonal skills are crucial to understanding his political longevity. Fadden’s career proves that even at its most ruthless, politics is an intensely personal endeavour.