Career
In February 1932 Edmond Hogan, the Premier of Victoria and leader of the Labor Party, travelled to London to talk to the banks about Victoria"s desperate economic plight during the Great Depression. While he was away Tunnecliffe was acting Premier, and he was much more willing than Hogan to reject the Premiers" Plan. As a result the Country Party withdrew its support from Hogan"s minority government, and in April the government was defeated in a confidence vote.
Tunnecliffe, as acting leader, led the Labor campaign in the May 1932 state election, now completely rejecting the Premiers"s Plan, which was the main issue at the election.
The Labor Party Executive expelled everyone who had supported the Premier"s Plan, including Hogan, although it did not run a candidate against him. Tunnecliffe was elected leader of the party.
Hogan and one of his ex-ministers were elected as "Premiers" Plan Labor" candidates. With Wren"s influence, Labor supported Dunstan"s minority government from 1935.
Tunnecliffe was succeeded as leader of the Victorian Labor Party by John Cain, Snr in 1937 following the 1937 state election.
He was Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1937 to 1940 and continued as the member for Collingwood until August 1947, when he resigned due to ill-health. Labor"s support for Dunstan continued until 1943.
