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Senator for Victoria 1901-1910
Member of the House of Representatives for Kooyong (Victoria),
1910-1922 |
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Robert Best was born in Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria. He practised as a lawyer, was Mayor of Fitzroy City Council 1888-89 and the member for Fitzroy in the Victorian Legislative Assembly 1889-1901.
Best, a Protectionist, was elected to represent Victoria in the Senate at the first federal elections in 1901. The Senate elected Best as its first Chairman of Committees in 1901. He was included in Deakin’s Protectionist ministry as Vice-President of the Executive Council in 1907-08, when he was also Leader of the Government in the Senate. He was Minister for Trade and Customs in the Fusion Government during 1909-10. He was defeated at the 1910 elections but later that year was elected as the member for Kooyong in the House of Representatives at a by-election, serving his electorate until 1922.
Best was knighted in 1908 and continued to practise as a lawyer throughout his political career.
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