Australian Labor Party

Containers:

Box 25-27

Component identifier:

Series 4-5

Content Summary:

This series contains election campaign itineraries during the 1951 and 1954 general elections; extracts of speeches delivered by Fraser in the House of Representatives on the Constitution Alteration Bill 1950; the Commonwealth Arbitration Act Amendment Bill 1951; the Budget 1952; the Social Services Consolidation Bill 1953; and the Browne - Fitzpatrick affair (10 June 1955). Printed material of the A.L.P. included election pamphlets, "how to vote" tickets, handbills, J.B. Chifley's statement on the Communist Party Dissolution Bill, 5 May 1950; transcript of interview with Gough Whitlam on ATN 7 "seven days" 15 February 1966. The interview also contains a personal statement by Fraser explaining to his constituents his support of Whitlam's position against the A.L.P. Federal Executive on the question of voting against Party lines on matters of conscience. There are publications in 1971 relating to Labor's approach to health, its defence policy, education and decentralization of population from urban to rural areas.

Allan Fraser was a member of the Privileges Committee of the House of Representatives from 2 February 1956 until 26 November 1966 and again from 25 November 1969 until 2 December 1972. An incomplete set of agenda, minutes of meetings, written submissions and transcripts of evidence presented to the committee form series. Among the issues which the Privileges Committee dealt with during these two periods were the articles published by the Member for Reid, C.A. Morgan in 1955; a photograph published in the major metropolitan daily newspapers in August 1965 depicting the House of Representatives in session. This incident was considered a matter of qualified privilege and copyright at that time. The issue was raised by Arthur Calwell and seconded by Sir Robert Menzies. Minutes of proceedings evidence submitted are included in these papers; the report relating to the commitment to prison of Tom Uren in 1971, after his arrest at a Vietnam protest march; and a letter to the editor of the Australian 13 September 1971 on "Bribery in Parliament". The Committee questioned the editor's ethics in permitting this letter being published.

Names:

Allan Fraser

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