John Mead Hallett (9 October 1917 – 9 August 1999) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Country Party and served in the House of Representatives from 1963 to 1974, representing the Western Australian seat of Canning. He also served as state president of the Country Party from 1962 to 1963.
John Hallett | |
|---|---|
 Hallett in 1971 | |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Canning | |
| In office 30 November 1963 – 18 May 1974 | |
| Preceded by | Neil McNeill |
| Succeeded by | Mel Bungey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 October 1917 Narrogin, Western Australia, Australia |
| Died | 9 August 1999 (aged 81) |
| Political party | Country Party |
| Other political affiliations | National Alliance (1974) |
| Occupation | Farmer |
Early life
editHallett was born on 9 October 1917 in Narrogin, Western Australia.[1] He attended Guildford Grammar School in Perth.[2]
Hallett had a farming and grazing property at Corrigin. He was active in the Farmers' Union of Western Australia and served a term as general treasurer.[3] He also represented agricultural interests on the Fremantle Harbour Trust, where he was involved in the creation of the Fremantle Passenger Terminal and the Fremantle Port Authority building.[4]
Politics
edit
Hallett first stood for the House of Representatives at the 1961 federal election, losing to the Liberal candidate Neil McNeill in the seat of Canning.[4] He was elected state president of the Country Party in 1962.[3]
At the 1963 election, Hallett recontested Canning for the Country Party and defeated McNeill with the assistance of Australian Labor Party (ALP) preferences.[5] He was re-elected in 1966 despite the ALP redirecting its preferences to the Liberal Party.[6]
In parliament, Hallett was a deputy chairman of committees from 1967 to 1972 and served on the Joint Standing Committee on the Australian Capital Territory from 1970 to 1974, including as deputy chair from 1973 to 1974.[1] He was an advocate of the White Australia policy and publicly opposed Asian immigration to Australia.[7]
Hallett lost his seat to the Liberal candidate Mel Bungey at the 1974 election, running under the National Alliance banner with the joint endorsement of the Country Party and the Democratic Labor Party.[8] After his defeat, he made a "blistering attack" on the National Alliance, stating it was "probably the biggest mistake in the history of the Country Party" and that he had been "opposed to the idea from the start".[9]
Personal life
editHallett had two daughters.[4] He died on 9 August 1999, aged 81.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Hallett, John Mead". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Archived from the original on 17 July 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
- ^ a b "New President for the Country Party". The Beverley Times. 22 June 1962.
- ^ a b c "Tomorrow's election". The Beverley Times. 24 October 1969.
- ^ "Two Seats Won On Preferences". The Canberra Times. 10 December 1963.
- ^ "Liberal May Unseat CP Member". The Canberra Times. 19 November 1966.
- ^ "The White Australia Policy". The Beverley Times. 28 August 1964.
- ^ "Tangney: close result likely". The Canberra Times. 16 May 1974.
- ^ Thomas, Athol (27 June 1974). "The end of an alliance that never really was". The Canberra Times.
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