Fred Paterson and the Red North (Queensland)

Communist, union activist and prominent barrister, Fred Paterson was an active defender of the rights of the working class and the unemployed, especially the Italian cane cutters and other immigrant communities in north Queensland.

The CPA had gained the support of wharfies, cane cutters, miners, and meatworkers as well as farmers across what became known as the “Red North”. In North Queensland during the 1930s up and down the coastal regions of Queensland the CPA’s image grew because of the hard work put in by many comrades over the years.

In the 1930s the CPA had 11 branches in Bowen alone, at least 5 in Townsville and 4 in Innisfail.

Fred practised as a barrister in Townsville but also gave legal advice freely and became known as the “Workers Barrister”. He was a magnificent orator, holding many large public meetings. The success of his meetings was due to the blending of his speaking abilities with a regional CPA apparatus which responded effectively to local concerns.

As a result, Fred was elected to the Townsville Council and later as Member for Bowen from 1944 to 1950. He was the only CPA member ever elected to an Australian parliament. The ALP Government in 1950 gerrymandered his seat out of existence. 

On St Patricks Day, March 17, 1948, Fred attended a rally in support of striking railway workers. He was legally observing the march when a policemen hit him with a baton very heavily on the back of his head.  He was seriously injured and for much of the rest of his life was troubled by dizziness and headaches. The policeman involved was not charged or reprimanded.

Fred Paterson made an extraordinary contribution to the working class in Queensland and helped the CPA do similar work in other parts of Australia. He is rightly regarded as ‘the people’s champion’.

(Material taken from Fitzgerald R., Fred Paterson the People’s Champion)