J.A. Lyons : a political biography

Abstract

The first chapter covers the Tasmanian career of Joseph Aloysius Lyons. After examining his early interest in politics and the formative influences on his early political thinking, it describes his entry in 1909 as a Labour member into the Tasmanian parliament. His rapid success in state politics is then traced as he becomes successively a minister, Leader of the Opposition, and then Premier from 1923 to 1928. His changing political. concepts are discussed, especially in the light of the socialism debate of 1919-1921. After the main events of his Premiership along with the principal features of his leadership are discussed, the latter is assessed in conjunction with the political philosophy he derived from his twenty years in state parliament in the light of their influence on his role in federal politics. The chapter ends with his entry into the Scullin Government.