About Me
Full Name
Thomas (Tom) Price
Date of Birth
19 January 1852
Party
United Labor Party
Position
Former Member
Electorate
Torrens
House
House of Assembly
Date Elected
15 April 1893
Public Activities
Thomas Price was born in rural Wales and grew up in Liverpool in an impoverished working class environment. This experience, in addition to his later work as a mason and a lay preacher, imbued in him a deep interest in social conditions in industrial England. He carried this concern with him when he came to South Australia in 1883, becoming involved in the fledgling trade union movement. As a stonemason, he worked on the construction of Parliament House, Adelaide.
In 1891 he joined the United Labor Party (ULP) and two years later he won a seat (Sturt) in the House of Assembly. In the 1890's he supported the Kingston Government in its implementation of progressive social legislation, but felt only a Labor government could bring about the sorts of reforms necessary to significantly improve the conditions of South Australia's workers and small farmers. Price became leader of the ULP in 1899 and despite a disastrous showing in the 1902 election, led the Party to minority government in the 1905 election, with the support of Archibald Peake's Liberal and Democratic Union. It was the first "stable" Labor government in the world.
South Australia's first Labor Premier, Price was responsible for enacting a moderate platform of social democratic reforms including the introduction of free state secondary school education and legislation to improve working conditions via the formation of wages boards, and the institution of a minimum wage. Price's government also established the Municipal Tramways Trust.
The ULP, under Price's leadership, won further seats at the 1906 election, however, were still two seats short of a majority and required the continued support of Peake's party. After his health had been failing for some time, Price died in office in May 1909 and was given a State Funeral.
In 1891 he joined the United Labor Party (ULP) and two years later he won a seat (Sturt) in the House of Assembly. In the 1890's he supported the Kingston Government in its implementation of progressive social legislation, but felt only a Labor government could bring about the sorts of reforms necessary to significantly improve the conditions of South Australia's workers and small farmers. Price became leader of the ULP in 1899 and despite a disastrous showing in the 1902 election, led the Party to minority government in the 1905 election, with the support of Archibald Peake's Liberal and Democratic Union. It was the first "stable" Labor government in the world.
South Australia's first Labor Premier, Price was responsible for enacting a moderate platform of social democratic reforms including the introduction of free state secondary school education and legislation to improve working conditions via the formation of wages boards, and the institution of a minimum wage. Price's government also established the Municipal Tramways Trust.
The ULP, under Price's leadership, won further seats at the 1906 election, however, were still two seats short of a majority and required the continued support of Peake's party. After his health had been failing for some time, Price died in office in May 1909 and was given a State Funeral.
Other Information
A bust of Price, by South Australian artist Jane Price (great-granddaughter of Tom Price), unveiled in 2023, is on displayed in Parliament House.
Deceased
31 May 1909
Electoral History
Date
District
House
Party
Reason (if retired)
03 May 1902 - 31 May 1909
Torrens
House of Assembly
United Labor Party
Deceased
14 Apr 1893 - 02 May 1902
Sturt
House of Assembly
United Labor Party
Boundary Redistribution
Offices Held
31 May 1909 - Current
Former Member
Ministerial Appointments
26 Jul 1905 - 31 May 1909
Commissioner of Public Works
26 Jul 1905 - 31 May 1909
Minister of Education
26 Jul 1905 - 31 May 1909
Premier