Australian Electoral Commission Submission - William Watt
The Australian Electoral Commission is about to establish a new Commonwealth electoral division in Victoria.
The English-Speaking Union has proposed that this new electorate be named in recognition of William Alexander Watt (Submission S58), President of the English-Speaking Union Victoria Branch from 1921 to 1925.
ESU’s submission is merit-based, warranted by William Watt’s outstanding contributions to the cause of Federation and to the well-being of the people of Victoria and Australia over a span of four decades. Watt was active in Australian life as:
- a prominent advocate of Australian Federation in the 1890s;
- a reformist Victorian Treasurer;
- Victorian Premier from 1912 to 1914;
- Commonwealth Treasurer from 1918 to 1920;
- Acting Prime Minister of Australia in 1918-1919;
- Speaker of the Commonwealth House of Representatives from 1923 to 1926.
All members and interested parties are encouraged to support the ESU's submission by posting a public comment in support of William Watt on the Australian Electoral Commission’s website. Comments must be lodged by 6pm on Friday 30th October 2020.
