Role Australian Politician Resting place Cremation Name Kenneth Morris Resigned June 30, 1968 | Nationality Australian Preceded by New seat Spouse Ettie Dunlop | |
Political party Liberal Party of Australia Children Barbara Morris, David Morris, Grant Morris, Bruce Morris Occupation Shoe/Boot Manufacturer, Grazier Party Liberal Party of Australia | ||
Sir Kenneth James Morris KBE (22 October 1903 – 1 June 1978) was an Australian politician. Born in Brisbane, he was educated at Brisbane Grammar School before becoming the director of his family's boot manufacturing firm. In 1931, he married Ettie Louise Dunlop.
Morris served in the military 1939-1944, in Britain (1940), Tobruk (1941) and Egypt (1942); rising to the rank of Major. A founding member of the Liberal Party in Queensland, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland in 1944 as the member for Enoggera, transferring to Mount Coot-tha in 1950. Morris was state Leader of the Liberal Party 1954-1963 Deputy Premier 1957-1963, and Minister for Labour and Industry 1957-1962.
In August 1962 he stepped down temporarily due to health reasons, and moved to Cooktown where he cultivated legume seed. In December 1963, he won a special election for a Senate seat in Queensland, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Labor Senator Max Poulter and to which George Whiteside had been appointed. Morris defeated Whiteside 50.6% to 49.4%. He retired in 1967. Morris died in 1978 at Chermside, Brisbane.