Paul Jones (Australian politician)

Paul Jones
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Indi
In office
17 November 1928 – 19 December 1931
Preceded by Robert Cook
Succeeded by William Hutchinson
Personal details
Born 15 June 1878(1878-06-15)
Gaffneys Creek, Victoria
Died 28 December 1972(1972-12-28) (aged 94)
Nationality Australian
Political party Labor (1928–55)
Labor (A-C) (1955)
Alma mater University of Melbourne
Occupation Teacher

Paul Jones (15 June 1878 – 27 December 1972) was an Australian politician. Born in Gaffneys Creek, Victoria, he was educated at South Melbourne College before becoming a goldminer and teacher. He also studied at the University of Melbourne for an MA. In 1928, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives in bizarre circumstances. Contesting the fairly safe Country Party seat of Indi, Jones's opponent, Robert Cook, mistakenly failed to lodge his nomination papers, which saw Jones elected unopposed. This is the only occasion in the history of the Australian Parliament that a candidate has lost his or her seat in this way. Cook attempted to regain the seat in 1929, but was unsuccessful; Jones was confirmed. He was defeated in the United Australia Party landslide of 1931, but was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council in 1938. He remained in the Council until 1958, but left the Labor Party in 1955, joining the Australian Labor Party (Anti-Communist), which later became the Democratic Labor Party.[1] Jones died in 1972.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Jones, Paul". Brighton Cemetery: Historic Interments. http://www.brightoncemetery.com/HistoricInterments/150Names/jonesp.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-15. 
  2. ^ Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia. Retrieved 2008-06-15. 
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Robert Cook
Member for Indi
1928 – 1931
Succeeded by
William Hutchinson