The Country and Progressive National Party was a short-lived conservative political party in the Australian state of Queensland. Formed in 1925, it combined the state's conservative forces in a single party and held office between 1929 and 1932 under the leadership of Arthur Edward Moore. Following repeated election defeat it split into separate rural and urban wings in 1936.

History

It was created in 1925 as the result of a merger between the state's two conservative parties, the United Party (the Queensland branch of the Nationalist Party) and the Country Party, in an attempt to end a decade of Labor domination in the state. Initially called the Country Progressive Party it was formed in May 1925 by all of the Country MLAs and all but four United MLAs; the outstanding four joined in December when the party took the name Country and Progressive National Party.[1] The party was led throughout the entirety of its existence by Arthur Edward Moore, previously the leader of the Country Party. In the 1929 state election the party won power, defeating Labor in a landslide. The election was further notable for the surprise victory of Irene Longman, a Country and Progressive National candidate and the first woman ever to be elected to the Queensland parliament. However, the government floundered amidst the difficulties of the Great Depression, and was swept from power in 1932 by the Labor Party, led by William Forgan Smith. It contested the 1935 state election, but was severely beaten, being reduced to sixteen seats, which left Labor with a massive majority. As a result, in 1936, the party again split, leaving two-state based parties - the Country Party and the United Australia Party, each aligned with the federal parties of the same names.[2]

From 1941-1944 another merger was attempted as the Country-National Organisation[3] but this failed within a few years.[4]

A later merger between the two parties' successors, the Liberal and National parties, gave birth to the Liberal National Party of Queensland in 2008.[5]

Election results

Election Leader Votes  % Seats +/– Position Government
1926 Arthur Edward Moore 192,043 48.48
28 / 72
 Decrease 1 Steady 2nd Opposition
1929 Arthur Edward Moore 233,977 54.23
43 / 72
 Increase 15 Increase 1st Majority government
1932 Arthur Edward Moore 204,158 45.21
28 / 62
 Decrease 15 Decrease 2nd Opposition
1935 Arthur Edward Moore 156,325 33.80
16 / 62
 Decrease 12 Steady 2nd Opposition

See also

References

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  1. ↑ B. J. Costar, 'Moore, Arthur Edward (1876–1963)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/moore-arthur-edward-7632/text13343, published first in hardcopy 1986, accessed online 19 June 2018.
  2. ↑ Hughes, Colin A. (1980). The Government of Queensland. University of Queensland Press. p. 17. ISBN 978-0702215155.
  3. ↑ Margaret Bridson Cribb, 'Fadden, Sir Arthur William (1894–1973)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/fadden-sir-arthur-william-10141/text17907, published first in hardcopy 1996, accessed online 19 June 2018.
  4. ↑ Margaret Bridson Cribb, 'Hunter, James Aitchison Johnston (1882–1968)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hunter-james-aitchison-johnston-6770/text11707, published first in hardcopy 1983, accessed online 19 June 2018.
  5. ↑ Green, Antony (30 July 2008). "The Liberal-National Party - a new model party?". ABC News. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
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