Australian Labor Party
The Hon Ruby Hutchison said she joined the Australian Labor Party (ALP) when she was 16 years old. Her interest in politics developed further during the Great Depression and World War II. By the 1940s Ruby was a delegate to the ALP’s Metropolitan Council and the State Executive; and a member of the ALP Basic Wage Enquiry Committee. For seven years Ruby was a fulltime volunteer “live-wire secretary” of the East Perth branch of the ALP. Ruby was also Chair of the Mental Health Committee of the Western Australian branch of the ALP. At least one of the East Perth branch meetings was held at Ruby’s home at 10 Victoria Avenue, Perth. Senator Dorothy Tangney and Ruby represented the ALP's Metropolitan District Council at the Labor Women’s Executive annual conference in Melbourne on 30 April 1956, but the ALP Federal Executive did not fund the delegates travelling from interstate. Senator Tangney and Ruby were on parliamentary salaries and historian, Bobbie Oliver thought they would have paid their own expenses.
“Ruby Hutchison MLC, 1954-1971”
Courtesy: Dr Judyth Watson and the ALP
West Australian Women’s Parliament
Ruby was a foundation member of the West Australian Women’s Parliament, an organisation which replicated parliamentary debates on political issues pertinent to women. Prior to the first meeting the Women’s Service Guilds of WA Inc sent invitations to all women’s groups and well-known women to join the parliament. The West Australian Women’s Parliament was founded “under the auspices of the Women’s Service Guilds of WA Inc” on 5 March 1946. The aim of the movement was to stimulate interest in women on current topics but non-partisan to reinvigorate “the women’s movement”. The parliament was Mrs BM Rischbieth’s idea who had attended similar meetings in London. The President, Mrs Isabel (Isabella) Johnston called the inaugural meeting and Ruby was elected record clerk. Ruby said the women’s parliament “followed Parliamentary procedure and was an excellent training ground for public affairs”. The women discussed a variety of issues including libraries, housing, immigration, local government, “native affairs”, divorce, cost of living, basic wage, price control and transport etc. The women lobbied parliamentarians, for example requesting a woman to be appointed to the State Housing Commission. It appears the women’s parliament disbanded circa 1954-1959.
“West Australian Women's Parliament at its inaugural session, 2 April 1946” Ruby is 8th from the right-hand side, front row.
State Library of Western Australia: BA1206/3
Democratic Labor Party
Ruby played a key role in the ALP Hobart Conference in 1955 when the Labor Party split due to anti-communist sentiment by Catholics. The split was the genesis for the establishment of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP). Ruby stood firmly by Joe Chamberlain and the Labor Party against the DLP. Lyla Elliott, former MLC for North-East Metropolitan said that Ruby’s principled stand would have been very difficult as a devout Catholic. For years she was disparagingly called “Red Ruby”.
“Twenty-first Australian Labour Party Federal Biennial Conference Hobart, March 14th-18th, 1955”
State Library of Victoria: PCLTAF 936 F. 10