Charles McDonald

Charles McDonald (25 August 186013 November 1925) was an Australian politician who served in the House of Representatives from 1901 until his death, representing the Labor Party. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1910 to 1913 and from 1914 to 1917. Before entering federal politics, McDonald had served in the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1893 to 1901.

Early life and career McDonald was born on 25 August 1860 in North Melbourne, Victoria. He was the son of Harriet (née Pape) and Charles Thomas Young McDonald. His mother was born in England and his father in Scotland.

As a child, McDonald "moved between four colonies as new goldfields were discovered".

Queensland Labor movement

McDonald was a watchmaker in Charters Towers in 1890 when he became the President of the Australian Labor Federation based in Brisbane. He played a leading role in the formation of the Australian Labor Party in Queensland.

McDonald was elected in 1893 as member for Flinders in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. McDonald became known for his mastery of the Standing Orders.

The Liberal Prime Minister Joseph Cook became frustrated by the Labor controlled Senate blocking his legislation and called for a double dissolution election. Labor won the election and McDonald became speaker again in 1914. He served as Speaker under the Labor, National Labor, and Nationalist governments until the 1917 election. During the parliamentary term, Labor split over the introduction of conscription in Australia. After the election, McDonald served on the opposition backbench.

His health was failing in the mid-1920s despite a trip to the United Kingdom in 1923. He died of cerebro-vascular disease

McDonald had a state funeral and was buried in Boroondara General Cemetery. He was survived by his wife and daughter.

Australian painter Josephine Muntz Adams (1862-1949) painted a portrait of McDonald in 1916, which is now part of the Historic Memorials Collection at Parliament House in Canberra.