Frank Burke (Australian politician)

Born at Tamworth to police officer Michael Burke (who would serve in the New South Wales Parliament from 1885 to 1887) and Catherine Agnes, née Leahy, he attended Crown Street Public School.

After leaving school he held a variety of jobs including storeman, hotel manager and assistant on the staff of the Evening News.

He also worked as a staff member for Clive Evatt, and was president of the Newtown branch of the Labor Party.

[1] As president of the Anti-Conscription Council, Burke was ardently opposed to conscription and in 1917 was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the member for Newtown.

In July 1939, he joined Bob Heffron's Industrial Labor Party, but this splinter group was reincorporated into the ALP in August.