Brookvale Public School
SPACE
Andrew Fisher


By Mona
Early Life

* Andrew Fisher was born in Ayshire, Scotland in 1862.
* At ten he worked in the coal mines like his father. He had to study at night.
* Seven years later he became secretary for the Miners Union.
* Andrew and his brother came to Australia in 1885 to live in Gympie, Queensland.
* Fisher became President for the Amalgamated Miners Association.
* Fisher was voted to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in 1893 while also establishing a newspaper, the Gympie Truth in 1896.
  Fisher.jpg

Achievements in Parliament

* In 1893 Fisher won a seat for the Labor Party in the Colonial Queensland Parliament. He lost in 1896, but won it again in 1899. He was a proud supporter of Federation.
* Fisher became a part of history in December 1899, when he was assigned a minister in the first Labor Government in the world in Queensland.
* Fisher moved to the Commonwealth Parliament in 1901. He became Minister for Trade and Customs in 1904.
* In 1905 he was Deputy Leader, then leader in 1907.
* In 1908 Fisher formed a government and became Prime Minister.
* In June 1909 the protectionist and free traders, now known as the Fusion, deposed Fisher.
* Back in opposition, Fisher worked hard to make Labor more attractive to the voters.  
* At the election of 13 April 1910 he regained power and became Prime Minister again.
* The next 3 years saw major advances under Fisher‘s leadership.
        * A start was made on the construction of Canberra.
        * Track work began on the long promised transcontinental railway.
        * He established the Commonwealth Bank.
        * Expanded the pension system to enable payments to invalids.
* In 1913 the Liberals gained a small majority, but within 15 months were defeated again at an early
election.
* During the campaign in 1914, Fisher made his notorious commitment to support Britain's war effort 'to the last man and the last shilling,' despite his personal opposition to it.
* Now in his third term as Prime Minister, Fisher‘s health was failing.
* Fisher resigned in October 1915 to be appointed High Commissioner in London where he remained until his death in 1928.
* Andrew Fisher was the first Prime Minister with an absolute majority in Parliament.
* His was the classic working class hero story, from working in coal mines at 10 to being the leader of the nation.
 
Timeline of his life

1862 - Born.
1867 - Started School.
1872 - Worked In Coal mines.
1885 - Came to Australia.
1893 - Won a seat in the Labour Party.
1899 - Won the seat again.
1908 - Prime Minister.
1915 - Resigned from Politics.
1922 - Returned to London.
1928 - Died.

Bibliography

Prime Ministers, Creating The Commonwealth Of Australia, Scott Brodie, Published by Watts Publishing Australia.
Internet Sites
http://www.nma.gov.au/primeministers/8.htm