William Russell (Australian politician)

Russell was elected to the Legislative Council as a liberal for the North-Eastern District at the 1894 election.^[6][7] He supported women's suffrage, adult suffrage for the House of Assembly and an increased franchise for the Legislative Council.^[2] He was a member of a Taxation Commission investigating the state Taxation Department, and opposed the introduction of an income tax, viewing it as unjust.^[4] He sought re-election as a Labor candidate at the May 1900 election, but was defeated.^[6][4] Russell returned to politics a year later when he won a 1901 by-election for the House of Assembly seat of Burra upon the resignation of Frederick Holder, but lost his seat at the 1902 election. He unsuccessfully contested a Legislative Council by-election in 1903 and the 1905 election.^[2][4][6][8]

Russell was elected to the Senate for the Labor Party at the 1906 federal election.^[1][9] The Observer wrote that "Russell was not a cultured speaker, but his addresses on the hustings and in Parliament were forceful, and characterized by a rugged native eloquence."^[10] In June 1912, he was campaigning with Alexander Poynton at Lipson when he began experiencing heart problems; he was taken to a private hospital at Tumby Bay, but died there on 28 June.^[11] He was buried at Payneham Cemetery.^[2] His death necessitated an appointment to replace him in the Senate; the South Australian Parliament, controlled by the Liberal Union, successfully installed Liberal John Shannon, the first instance when a Senator of a different party was appointed.^[9][a]