voted in favour of sanctions against Italy over the Abyssinian crisis, defying his leader John Curtin. Blackburn's support for international socialism, and his opposition to conscription, frequently caused him to take positions opposed to Labor policy and, in October 1935, he was expelled over his membership of the Movement Against War and Fascism. He was soon re-admitted to the ALP, but expelled again in 1941 for his support of the Australia-Soviet Friendship League. His expulsion was seen as a warning to other left-wing MPs that violation of party policy was not to be tolerated. Blackburn continued to serve as the member for Bourke as an independent, voting against the Labor government's conscription bill, but he lost his seat at the 1943 election to the official Labor candidate. Blackburn died of cerebral tumour on 31 March 1944, in Prahran, Victoria, and was buried in Box Hill Cemetery, survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter, and his mother. His estate, which included a fine library, was sworn for probate at £2,552. In a eulogy, Australian Prime Minister John Curtin referred to Blackburn as "one of the great servants of the people of the Commonwealth of Australia". His widow, Doris, won Bourke as an Independent Labour candidate at the 1946 election and spent much of her time in Parliament promoting similar policies to those that Blackburn had supported. References External links Maurice Blackburn Lawyers history of Maurice Blackburn Victorian Parliament Profile of Former Speakers: Maurice Blackburn |- 1880 births 1944 deaths Australian Anglicans Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia Australian socialists Independent members of the Parliament of Australia Spouses of Australian politicians 20th-century Australian lawyers Victoria (Australia) state politicians Members of the Australian House of Representatives Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Bourke Speakers of the Victorian Legislative Assembly Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly Melbourne Law School alumni Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Victoria Burials at Box Hill Cemetery People from Inglewood, Victoria 20th-century Australian politicians