James Scullin

James Scullin, Australia's ninth Prime Minister, was a complex figure shaped by his Catholic faith and a deep sense of justice. An early school leaver who worked various jobs, Scullin entered politics and rose to leadership just as the Great Depression began. Sworn in during the week of the Wall Street Crash in 1929, his tenure was marked by economic chaos, rising unemployment, and political strife. Like many world leaders at the time, he struggled to respond effectively to the crisis.

Despite the overwhelming challenges, Scullin's decency, sincerity, and humility stood out. His leadership was undermined not only by the Depression but by Labor Party factionalism and difficult political personalities. However, his influence extended beyond his own premiership, profoundly shaping the policies of later leaders like John Curtin and Ben Chifley.

Scullin's faith and moral convictions drove his vision of government, particularly his belief that justice demanded intervention on behalf of the weak. His legacy, captured in the words on his grave-"Justice and Humanity demand interference whenever the weak are being crushed by the strong"-reflects his lifelong commitment to fighting indifference and injustice, even if his time in office was fraught with difficulty.

Michael Easson AM is a businessman, company director, former union leader and Labor historian. He has previously published Whitlam's Foreign Policy as well as In Search of John Christian Watson. Labor's First Prime Minister.