The Progressive Labor Party (PLP), alternatively spelt Progressive Labour, was an

Australian political party The politics of Australia has a mild two-party system, with two dominant political groupings in the Australian political system, the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal/National Coalition. Federally, 16 of the 151 members of the lower house ( ...

active in Victoria.

History

The party was formed in October 1950, absorbing the Blackburn-Mutton Labor Party (BMLP), which was led by

Charlie Mutton Charles Mutton (14 September 1890 – 13 May 1989) was an Australian politician. He was born in North Melbourne to tobacco worker Charles Mutton and Mary Ann Moloney. He attended Catholic schools and from 1903 to 1910 worked for Excelsior Ba ...

, the member for Coburg in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Former BLMP MP

Doris Blackburn Doris Amelia Blackburn (; 18 September 1889 – 12 December 1970) was an Australian social reformer and politician. She served in the House of Representatives from 1946 to 1949, the second woman after Enid Lyons to do so. Blackburn was a promin ...

became the PLP's president after its formation. Blackburn contested the division of Wills at the 1951 federal election. She was unsuccessful, coming in third place with 17.6% of the vote. Mutton was the only candidate endorsed by the PLP at the

1952 Victorian state election The 1952 Victorian state election was held in the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victoria (Australia), Victoria on Saturday 6 December 1952 to elect 65 members of the state's Victorian Legislative Assembly, Legislative A ...

. He was re-elected despite a 4.4% swing against him. The PLP won a second representative when it successfully contested a by-election for Campbellfield Riding on Broadmeadows Shire Council in July 1954, with Robert Warnock defeating Labor after the resignation of councillor B. Foulsham. One month later at the statewide local government elections in August 1954, Mutton's son,

Jack Mutton John Patrick Mutton (9 March 1915 – 20 June 2006) was an Australian politician. He was born in Fawkner, the son of Charlie Mutton and Annie Maria Peachey. He attended the local state school and became a panel beater, joining both the Labo ...

, was also elected to Campbellfield Riding. The seat had formerly been held by his father before his retirement from local government in 1953. Mutton contested the 1955 state election for the PLP, and was again re-elected. However, the party faded away by the end of the year.

Elected representatives

Victorian Legislative Assembly

(1950−1955)

Broadmeadows Shire Council

*Robert Warnock (1954−1955) *

(1954−1955)

References

{{Defunct Australian political parties Labour parties Political parties established in 1950 Political parties disestablished in 1955 Defunct political parties in Australia Australian Labor Party breakaway groups 1950 establishments in Australia 1955 disestablishments in Australia