Queensland's Bible in State Schools Referendum 1910: A Case Study of Democracy

Abstract

In 1910 Queenslanders voted in a state referendum for the reintroduction of religious instruction by clergy in state schools and the reading of passages from the Bible by classroom teachers. These activities had not been allowed in Queensland schools since 1875. Similar public debates about religious education in schools were also taking place in South Australia and Victoria. This thesis closely examines the campaign conducted at the grass roots from 1906 by the Protestant organisation, the Bible in State Schools League. It was another campaign which demonstrated the political skills of Anglican clergyman, David Garland. This thesis reveals a democracy where people outside parliament played an important role in political decision-making. It shows that women were significant political actors in the campaign and demonstrates that religious belief informed the political actions of many Queenslanders at the time. Premier for much of this period, William Kidston, led a fractious group of labour politicians. The religiously diverse Labour Party attempted in vain to remain neutral on religious matters while the public debate raged. The vociferous parliamentary debates revealed the tension when one plank of the party platform, secular education, was pitted against the Labour’s stated commitment to referendums as a tool of democracy. Significant policy areas such as education and health remained under the control of the states after Federation. Examination of the conduct of the ‘Bible in State Schools’ campaign demonstrates that a close examination of state politics in the period after Federation is essential in order to understand Australia’s political culture and concerns in the early twentieth century.