D. J Murphy (1936–1984)

The definitive biography of possibly Queensland's most successful Premier. Thomas Joseph Ryan was the first long term Labor party Premier of Queensland and brought in many beneficial, quasi- socialistic reforms to a state noted, at least until recent times, for its calcified and conservative outlook. He took on the sugar and meat monopolies, introducing state enterprises to force them to lower their prices. Against the poisonous backdrop of domestic Australian politics during World War I and the connivances of wartime Prime Minister William Morris Hughes, Ryan managed to avoid a major split in the Labor party in Queensland over conscription. Premier of Queensland for four years, 1915-1919, Ryan shifted to Federal politics but Australia was robbed of a potentially great Labor Prime Minister when Ryan died of influenza in 1921 aged only 45. Thoroughly detailed and documented, with fair, considered and judicious judgments, this is the best biography of a Queensland politician ever written.… (mer)