People Australia

  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites

Browse People:

Browse Lists:

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

Robert Herbert (Bert) Lacey (1900–1984)

This article was published:

Bert Lacey, n.d.

Bert Lacey, n.d.

Robert Herbert (Bert) Lacey (1900-1984) miner, trade union official and politician

Birth: 12 January 1900 at Maryborough, Victoria, son of Herbert Edwin Lacey (or Lacy) (b.1876), labourer, and native-born Ellen Eliza (Nellie), née Finch (c.1878-1908). Marriage: 7 July 1926 at Mathinna, Tasmania, to native-born Mary Emmeline (Emme) Clark (1907-1990). They had three daughters and one son. Death: 2 November 1984 at Dynnyrne, Tasmania. Religion: Catholic. 

  • Educated at Ballarat State School and from 1912 at Wendouree Agricultural School.
  • Enlisted in Australian Imperial Force on 28 October 1918; not called up due to hostilities ceasing. Construction worker, bush worker, miner, blacksmith, farrier in Victoria, New Zealand and Tasmania until 1938.
  • Moved to Tasmania about 1924. District organiser for Australian Workers’ Union from 1938 to 1946. Vice-president of Federated Clerks’ Union from 1952 to 1973.
  • Secretary of Ulverstone branch of Australian Labor Party. Full-time General Secretary of ALP in Tasmania from 1947 to 1964. Tasmanian delegate to the federal Executive from 1959 to 1964; vice-president 1962.
  • He had contested Denison in 1954, 1956, 1958 and 1959, and the Australian Senate in 1955.
  • Was a member of the House of Assembly for Denison from a by-election on 27 January 1959 until defeated on 2 May 1959 – never took his seat.
  • Elected Senator for Tasmania in election in December 1964, and took his seat in July 1965. A persistent critic of Australia’s involvement in Vietnam. Was defeated in the Senate election of November 1970.
  • Appointed Justice of the Peace in 1937. Member of the Honorary Justices’ Association of Tasmania and the Royal Automobile Club (Hobart).

Sources
Joan Rydon (ed), A biographical register of the Commonwealth Parliament 1901-1972 (ANU Press, 1975); Scott Bennett and Barbara Bennett, Biographical Register of the Tasmanian Parliament, 1851-1960, (Canberra, 1980); Michael Roe, ‘Robert Herbert Lacey’, Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate: https://biography.senate.gov.au/lacey-robert-herbert/

Additional Resources and Scholarship

Citation details

'Lacey, Robert Herbert (Bert) (1900–1984)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/lacey-robert-herbert-bert-34194/text42907, accessed 26 April 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Bert Lacey, n.d.

Bert Lacey, n.d.

Life Summary [details]

Birth

12 January, 1900
Maryborough, Victoria, Australia

Death

2 November, 1984 (aged 84)
Dynnyrne, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Education
Occupation or Descriptor
Military Service
Key Organisations
Political Activism
Workplaces