Australian Labor Party (Anti-Communist)

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The Australian Labor Party (Anti-Communist) (ALP-AC) was the name initially used by the right-wing group which split away from the Australian Labor Party in 1955, and which later became the Democratic Labor Party in 1957.

In April 1955, 7 Victorian federal MPs and some state MPs were expelled from the ALP, and they formed the party under the influence of B.A. Santamaria. All were defeated at the subsequent election in December 1955. The federal MPs were:

• Thomas Andrews
• Bill Bourke
• Bill Bryson
• John Cremean
• Robert Joshua
• Stan Keon
• John Mullens

However, the party did elect Frank McManus as a Senator for Victoria in this election, and successful ALP candidate George Cole had chosen before the election to become part of this party. Additionally, Frank Scully gained the seat of Richmond in the Victorian Legislative Assembly in the May 1955 Victorian election.

In 1957, the party became the Democratic Labor Party.

This group should not be confused with the Australian Labor Party (Non-Communist), which was a name used by supporters of New South Wales Premier Jack Lang in the 1930s.

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