Myles Ferricks

Myles Aloysius Ferricks (12 November 1875 – 21 August 1932) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and served as a Senator for Queensland from 1913 to 1920. He was also a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1909 to 1912 and from 1920 to 1929. He was associated with the militant wing of the ALP and was known for his opposition to World War I conscription in Australia and support for the White Australia policy. Prior to entering politics he worked as a schoolteacher and journalist and was active in the labour movement on the Central Queensland goldfields.

Early life Ferricks was born on 12 November 1875 in Maryborough, Queensland. He was the son of Mary (née Sheridan) and Austin Ferricks. He was raised in a working-class Irish Catholic family.

Ferricks was educated at the Albert State School and the Christian Brothers' College, Maryborough, where he passed his junior certificate.

Following a downturn in the mining industry, Ferricks moved to Proserpine and became a sugar-grower. He was also editor of the Bowen Independent, a local newspaper. He supported the 1911 Queensland sugar strike and the 1912 Brisbane general strike. He lost his seat at the 1912 state election, possibly due to anti-union sentiment in his rural constituency.

Federal politics, 1913–1920

At the 1913 federal election, Ferricks was elected to a six-year term commencing on 1 July 1913. His term was cut short by a double dissolution but he was re-elected to a further six-year term at the 1914 election. He was defeated for re-election at the 1919 election with his term ending on 30 June 1920.

Ferricks was known for his fervent support of the White Australia policy and particular opposition to Chinese migration, which he viewed as an "invasion". He made anti-Chinese remarks in the Senate on a number of occasions and criticised the Chinatowns in North Queensland and the Northern Territory. He believed the federal administration of the Northern Territory "was lax on White Australia and overprotective of corporate interests including those of the Vestey Brothers".

Ferricks was a prominent internal critic of ALP premier Ted Theodore, representing the party's radical wing which viewed Theodore's approach as too cautious.

Ferricks stood unsuccessfully at the 1931 federal election as the ALP candidate in Maranoa.

Personal life In 1909, Ferricks married Beatrice Waugh, with whom he had two daughters. Following his parliamentary defeat in 1929 he worked as a travelling salesman for a wine and spirit merchant, but lost his job as a result of the Great Depression. His funeral was held at St Stephen's Cathedral which proceeded to Nudgee Cemetery.