Progressive Labor Party (Victoria)
{{for|the party that existed from 1996 until 2021|Progressive Labour Party (Australia)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Progressive Labor Party
| colorcode = {{Australian politics/party colours|Progressive Labor}}
| leader1_title = Leader
| leader1_name = Charlie Mutton
| leader2_title = President
| leader2_name = Doris Blackburn
| leader3_title = General Secretary
| leader3_name = B. W. McIlroy{{cite web |title=Absurd |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/26600692 |publisher=The Argus |date=2 April 1954}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|9 October 1950}}
| dissolved = Late {{Start date and age|1955}}
| predecessor = Blackburn-Mutton Labor Party
| split = Australian Labor Party
| merged =
| seats1_title = Victorian Legislative Assembly
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|1|65|hex={{Australian politics/party colours|Progressive Labor}}}} {{small|(1950−1955)}}
| seats2_title = Broadmeadows Shire Council
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|2|12|hex={{Australian politics/party colours|Progressive Labor}}}} {{small|(1954−1955)}}
| country = Victoria
}}
{{Labour politics in Australia}}
The Progressive Labor Party (PLP), alternatively spelt Progressive Labour, was an Australian political party active in Victoria.{{cite web |title=CONTACT |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/230870666 |publisher=The Sun |quote=The founder and sole representative of the Progressive Labor Party, Mr. Mutton.}}
History
The party was formed in October 1950, absorbing the Blackburn-Mutton Labor Party (BMLP), which was led by Charlie Mutton, the member for Coburg in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Former BLMP MP Doris Blackburn became the PLP's president after its formation.{{cite web |title=Breakaway Labor Party formed |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/23027022 |publisher=The Argus |date=10 October 1950}}{{cite web |title=Breakaway Labor Party formed |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/267875730 |publisher=Border Morning Mail |date=10 October 1950 |quote=A member of the organisation claims that the new party had already absorbed the Blackburn-Mutton group in Coburg, and was now forming new branches.}}
Blackburn contested the division of Wills at the 1951 federal election. She was unsuccessful, coming in third place with 17.6% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Prices blamed on War Plans |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206386251 |publisher=The Age |date=17 April 1951}}
Mutton was the only candidate endorsed by the PLP at the 1952 Victorian state election. He was re-elected despite a 4.4% swing against him.{{cite web |title=State election |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205426122 |publisher=The Age |date=6 December 1952}}{{cite web |title=Only candidate |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245295418 |publisher=The Herald |date=17 November 1952}}
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.{{cite web |title=ELECTIONS FORECAST |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58280989 |publisher=Kilmore Free Press |date=3 July 1952 |quote=The Mutton Progressive Labor Party has definitely decided to support Mr. Robert Warnock, welder, of Queen's Parade, Fawkner.}}{{cite web |title=Broadmeadows by-election |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205698513 |publisher=The Age |date=12 July 1954}}
One month later at the statewide local government elections in August 1954, Mutton's son, Jack Mutton, was also elected to Campbellfield Riding.{{cite web |title=Defeat of 2 mayors |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/23435669 |publisher=The Argus |date=30 August 1954}} The seat had formerly been held by his father before his retirement from local government in 1953.{{cite web |title=Back in family |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205692987 |publisher=The Age |date=30 August 1954}}
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.{{cite web |title=30 up, Bolte wants 3 more to go it alone |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71885288 |publisher=The Argus |date=30 May 1955 |quote=Mr. C. Mutton (Progressive Labor) retained his seat of Coburg.}}{{cite web |title=WARDERS WERE HUMAN SHIELDS |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71676561 |publisher=The Argus |date=29 August 1955 |quote=Mr. C. Mutton, Progressive Labor member for Coburg, said last night the only answer to the continual escapes from Pentridge was removal of the gaol to an inaccessible spot.}}
Members of the Mutton family continued serving as either ALP or independent members in the Victorian parliament until 1979.
Elected representatives
=Victorian Legislative Assembly=
- Charlie Mutton (1950−1955)
=Broadmeadows Shire Council=
- Robert Warnock (1954−1955)
- Jack Mutton (1954−1955)