Maurice Blackburn

Maurice McCrae Blackburn (19 November 1880 – 31 March 1944)

During his time practising law, Blackburn won cases that played a key role in establishing rights, including the 40-hour working week, wage equality for indigenous workers and women.

In late 1934 and early 1935, Blackburn acted as legal counsel to prevent the deportation of the noted Czech anti-fascist Egon Kisch. so he could contest the Federal seat of Bourke, based on the suburbs of Brunswick and Coburg in Melbourne. Although he won Bourke and held it until 1943, his relationship with the Labor Party was chequered.

In October 1935, he voted in favour of sanctions against Italy over the Abyssinian crisis, defying his leader John Curtin. frequently caused him to take positions opposed to Labor policy and, in October 1935, he was expelled over his membership of the Movement Against War and Fascism.

Blackburn was again expelled from the ALP in 1941 for his support of the Australia-Soviet Friendship League.

Blackburn died of cerebral tumour on 31 March 1944, in Prahran, Victoria, and was buried in Box Hill Cemetery, survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter, and his mother. His estate, which included a fine library, was sworn for probate at £2,552. His widow, Doris, won Bourke as an Independent Labour candidate at the 1946 election and spent much of her time in Parliament promoting similar policies to those that Blackburn had supported.