Fred Bamford

Background

Bamford was born in Dubbo, New South Wales and educated at Toowoomba, Queensland.

Career

He left school at 14 and worked as a carpenter around the Toowoomba area. He and a partner set up a cabinet-making business in Mackay in 1882 but he went bankrupt in 1884. In 1892 Bamford became a publican in Bowen and ran unsuccessfully for the seat of Bowen in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland in December 1895 and March 1899.

He was elected to the Bowen municipal council in 1897 and was elected mayor in 1898.

In parliament, he spoke frequently in support of the White Australia policy and subsidies and protection for the sugar industry. From 1902 to 1916, he was vice-president of the Waterside Workers" Federation while Billy Hughes was its president

In July 1915, he became the first member to speak in favour of the introduction of conscription during World War I. He was expelled from the Labor Party on 30 October 1916 and was Minister for Home and Territories in Hughes" National Labor Party ministry from 14 November to 17 February 1917. He retired from parliament at the 1925 election.

Achievements

• Bamford narrowly won the Australian House of Representatives seat of Herbert at the 1901 election as the Australian Labor Party candidate, campaigning specifically against the employment of Kanakas in the North Queensland sugar cane fields.