Patrick Leahy (Australian politician)

Patrick Leahy
JP
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Warrego
In office
11 March 1902  18 May 1907
Preceded by David Bowman
Succeeded by George Barber
In office
24 September 1907  5 February 1908
Preceded by George Barber
Succeeded by Harry Coyne
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
In office
1 July 1912  23 March 1922
Personal details
Born Patrick James Leahy
June 1860
Schull, County Cork, Ireland
Died 13 October 1927 (aged 67)
Clayfield, Queensland, Australia
Resting place Toowong Cemetery
Nationality Irish Australian
Political party Ministerialist
Other political
affiliations
Opposition
Spouse(s) Julia Alice Costello (m.1897 d.1955)
Relations John Leahy
Occupation Journalist
Religion Roman Catholic

Patrick James Leahy (June 1860 – 13 October 1927) was a journalist, and member of both the Queensland Legislative Council and the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

Early life

Leahy was born in June 1860 at Schull, County Cork, to Patrick Leahy, farmer, and his wife Mary (née Coghlan). Educated at Schull National school, he came to Australia in 1887 to join his brother, John Leahy and began work as a journalist with the Brisbane Courier. He then moved to Western Queensland where he established the The Herald newspaper in Thargomindah and became secretary of the Bulloo Divisional Board. In 1900 he established the Johnstone River Advocate newspaper (later the Johnstone River Advocate and Innisfail News) in Innisfail.

Political career

After being a member of the Bulloo Shire Council for several years, Leahy stood as a Ministerialist candidate for the seat of Warrego at the 1902 state election, defeating[2] the sitting[3] Labour member, David Bowman. He held the seat until the 1907 state election when was defeated by Labour's George Barber.[4] Leahy appealed the outcome on the basis that Barber was an uncertified insolvent and in September the Elections Tribunal reversed the result and Leahy was declared duly returned.[4]

In November 1907, Leahy was appointed as Secretary for Public Works and Mines but at the 1908 state election, he lost the seat to Harry Coyne of the Labour Party.[5] On 1 July 1912, he was called up by the Denham Ministry[6] to the Legislative Council.[7]

He took a leading role in fighting against the abolition of the Council, making many well considered speeches against it. When the State Governor, Sir Hamilton Goold-Adams was being pressured by the Labour Government to make additional appointments to the Council, he called on Leahy who was opposed to the idea to hear his views on the matter. Leahy was constantly and strenuously opposed to any legislation that savoured of socialist or communist ideals. He had a good knowledge of law, especially laws that applied to the land, and was a Justice of the Peace.

Personal life

On 13 December 1885, he had married Julia Alice Costello at Thargomindah and together had five children. He died in October 1927 and was buried in Toowong Cemetery.

References

  1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  2. "WARREGO.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 14 March 1902. p. 5. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  3. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 "WARREGO.". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 6 February 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  5. "WARREGO.". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 4 October 1909. p. 6. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  6. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  7. "State Politics.". The Cairns Post. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 2 July 1912. p. 5. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by
David Bowman
Member for Warrego
1902–1907
Succeeded by
George Barber
Preceded by
George Barber
Member for Warrego
1907–1908
Succeeded by
Harry Coyne
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