Charles Graham (Western Australian politician)

Charles Montague Graham (1867 – 27 March 1938) was an Australian politician. Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, he was educated at state schools. He worked as a tailor, was a union official, and entered the Western Australian parliament. He served as an Australian Labor Party Senator in the 1922 election, holding office from 1 July 1923 to 30 September 1929 but was not re-elected in the 1929 election. He relocated to Victoria and died in Clifton Hill, Melbourne in 1938.

Background
Charles Montague Graham was the eldest son of Patrick Graham who was a horse trainer.

Graham received his education in New Zealand and trained as a tailor before moving to Australia. He married Katie on 17 March 1891 and lived in Pell Street, Broken Hill, New South Wales, from 1892 before moving to Western Australia.

In Western Australia, Graham established a business in Piesse Street, Boulder, and served on Boulder's Municipal Council.

Graham died in Melbourne on 27 March 1938 after a brief illness, leaving behind his wife and daughter, Wilmot Jane.

Following the news of Charles Montague Graham's death, it was noted that Graham served as a senator for six years and was elected as a senator for Western Australia in the 1922 general election. He also participated in several select committees, including the Joint Select Committee on Commonwealth Electoral Law and Procedure of 1926 to 1927. His passing left his wife and daughter.

Later in his political career, he identified himself as an Australian.

Story chronology
Graham migrated from New Zealand to Australia before 1892 with his wife. He commenced his political career by becoming a member of Boulder's Municipal Council in 1922. By June 1922, he ranked third on the electoral ticket for the Western Australian Senate. During this time, he also served as the president of his district council (ALP paper as cited in SAWA). Reports from the Daily News acknowledge limited information about Charles Graham but assure that he was a person who appreciated different points of view.

Graham asserted himself as 'a representative of Western Australia' and declared himself 'an Australian.' After positioning himself as representing Western Australia, he raised questions and opinions on Australian issues, ultimately contributing to the 'one big union' movement. He defended various issues and questioned and supported the Senate, touring Australia as one of Western Australia's delegates.

While serving in government, he critiqued various systems in Australia, seeking to develop the Australian system. However, due to his lack of political upbringing, another senator expressed concerns that Graham might not understand the reasons behind the Australian Government's decisions, which Graham questioned.

During different political events, Graham successfully became one of Western Australia's delegates in ALP's eleventh Commonwealth Conference, even though he was unsuccessful in the 1928 election. Following his defeat, he chose to relocate to Victoria and resided in Clifton Hill, Melbourne.

Work
During his political tenure, Graham voiced opinions on various issues, including redistributing some of the Commonwealth bank's profits to the people, inadequate pensions for the elderly, compassion for workers suffering from work-related illnesses, making minor changes to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, opposing gold bounty, supporting selective immigration, and advocating for the concerns of the Australian Women's Commonwealth Organisations.

At the start of his political career, Graham emphasized the importance of preserving the production of men's caps (soldier caps) as an embodiment of 'true Australian sentiment.' His early actions included questioning 'Invalid and Old-Age Pensions' on 5 July 1923 and, towards the end of his tenure, addressing the government with questions on 'Wireless Advertisements' and 'Retiring Senators' (Sherratt, T. as cited in Historic Hansard). He was primarily known as 'a party man in debate,' indicating his focus on Australian policy, especially that concerning Western Australia.

Before concluding his political career, in 1927, he made one of his final speeches, expressing hope that the era when people had to beg for work had ended.

Following the conclusion of his political career, he found employment as a storeman and eventually served on the committee of the Victorian Federated Storeman and Packers Union.

Similar figures, history, aftermath
Edward Needham is mentioned as a figure who worked closely with Senator Charles Graham in the Western Australian government. Both senators expressed dissatisfaction with the Commonwealth Parliament. In Charles Montague Graham's Biographical Dictionary, Edward Needham's support for Graham's objections to the Commonwealth is highlighted.

During Graham's active tenure as a Western Australia Senator, various parts of Australia, including the Northern Territory, were subject to parliamentary concerns. This was linked to the fact that Charles Graham raised issues related to rights recognition during that period. Major bills and government changes were proposed in these territories.

Some issues involved debates about the right to vote and house representation. The lack of representation for females or different ethnicities in the Northern Territory's government was a common concern that Graham also raised. Various proposals were made about representation but until 1920, during Graham's tenure as a senator, no action was taken on these proposals. The focus on policy and labor policy was a significant aspect of Graham's political career.

While numerous senators brought policy matters to the table, the emphasis on policy was a significant theme in different parts of Australia's government, particularly in Western Australia, where Graham was actively involved. His discussions extended to the Australian Commonwealth Territory, encompassing the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.

After Graham's passing in 1938, further actions were taken in 1975 regarding electoral senate policy between the Commonwealth and Australia across various territories. Graham's advocacy for policy change significantly impacted the Australian government after his death.