Hugh Mahon : a political biography

Abstract

Although the expulsion from parliament of the Hon. Hugh Mahon has often been quoted by advocates of civil liberty as an awful example of authoritarianism in Australian. politics, nobody has hitherto professed to understand the motives behind his dramatic expulsion and the details of his unusual career have slowly been forgotten. This apparent extinction was facilitated by his unattractive appearance ad personality. Though nearly six feet tall, he was described as Colorless and somewhat narrow chested. No fads or hobbies. Drinks beer, in summer and whisky in winter. Just a trace of accent but it takes detecting. in youth, he could have been called ruggedly handsome but the adoption of steel rimmed spectacles and a nondescript moustache in middle age made him look curiously anonymous. Mahon's colorless appearance. was matched by excessive reticence His carefully preserved and, annotated papers show that he was well aware of his place in history but unlike other politicians, he seemed indifferent to publicity and because much of what he wrote has vanished in the shadow of journalistic anonymity the press coverage; of his career is remarkably thin. Show more