Andrew Lacey

Andrew Lacey
Andrew Lacey in 1922
22nd Leader of the Opposition (SA) Elections: 1938
In office 1933–1938
Preceded by	Richard Butler
Succeeded by	Robert Richards
10th Australian Labor Party (SA) leader
In office 1933–1938
Preceded by	Edgar Dawes
Succeeded by	Robert Richards
Member of the Australian Parliament for Grey
In office 16 December 1922 – 9 December 1931
Preceded by	Alexander Poynton
Succeeded by	Philip McBride
Personal details
Born	19 October 1887 Terowie, South Australia
Died	24 August 1946 (aged 58)
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party (SA)
Spouse(s)	Helene Clara Welke
Occupation	Smelter

Andrew William Lacey (19 October 1887 – 24 August 1946) was the 22nd Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of South Australia from 1933 to 1938, representing the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party. Lacey was previously the Labor member for the seat of Grey in the Australian House of Representatives from 1922 to 1931.

Early life

Of Irish Protestant heritage, Lacey was born in Terowie, South Australia to labourer George Lacey and his wife Mary Ellen, attended the local public school and became one of the area's leading sprinters before commencing work in the Port Pirie smelters.

Politics

Following his marriage to Helene Clara Welke on 13 October 1908, Lacey became increasingly involved in the trade union movement and was employed as the Australian Workers' Union organiser at the smelter from 1916-22. His high profile in the smelters led to his election to Port Pirie Municipal Council in 1920, a position he held until 1922 when he successfully stood as the Labor candidate for the Federal Division of Grey against the incumbent Alexander Poynton, a former Labor member who left the party over conscription in World War I.

As a member of the opposition, Lacey was appointed in 1924 to the select committee investigating the operation of the Navigation Act, and served as a member of the Public Works Committee from 1925. Following the ALP victory at the 1929 election, Lacey was made Chair of the Public Works Committee.

Lacey was unlucky enough to be in government when the Great Depression affected Australia. He was swept out in Labor's heavy defeat at the 1931 election, but remained involved in politics, being re-elected to Port Pirie Municipal Council in 1932 and elected to the South Australian House of Assembly Electoral district of Port Pirie at the 1933 state election.

At this time, the Labor Party was split into three factions; Official Labor, Premiers' Plan Labor and Lang Labor, who all had different plans on combating the Depression. Lacey was leader of Official Labor, the largest Labor faction following the election, and became Leader of the Opposition.

As leader, Lacey advocated nationalising the banks and greater support for the unemployed. Regarded as "an affable people's man", he also played a leading role in reuniting the three factions in 1934 and remained Labor leader until 1938 when he stepped aside to become deputy leader under Robert Richards.

Death

Lacey died of heart disease in 1946. Survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter, Lacey was buried in Centennial Park Cemetery in Adelaide.

References

• Hopgood, D. (1983) 'Lacey, Andrew William (1887 - 1946)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 9, Melbourne University Press. ISBN 0-522-84273-9