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Sir Jonathon Braddock

The Right Honourable Sir Jonathon Anthony Lewis Braddock KNE KM EC (16 January 1959 - 19 March 2046), was First Minister of New England from 1 October 2012 until 6 March 2015 and Royal Chancellor from 1 November 2022 until 1 October 2026. Braddock was the first person to fill the offices of First Minister and Chancellor, having been instumnetal as the political leader of the United Militia of New England and the United Party of New England after independence.

• Early Life
• Civil War
• Premier & First Minister
• Later Life
• Ministry

Early Life

Jonathon Braddock was born in Armidale on the 16th January, 1959. The third of four children to Norm and Alice Braddock, and always known to his family and friends as Jon was brought up with his siblings on the family farm “Ripley Grange” near Hillgrove, about twenty-five kilometres east of Armidale. The Braddock's were predominantly sheep graziers, but also grazed a small number of cattle on forestry leases in the Hillgrove and Wollomombi areas.

In 1965, Braddock began his schooling at the Armidale Demonstration School. A smart and diligent pupil, Jon was destined from a young age to life away from the farm. In 1972, Braddock began his studies at TAS, where with increasingly good marks he matriculated in 1977 at the top of his class. After declining an offer to stay on the farm with his older brother, Jim, in 1978 Braddock began his law degree at the University of Sydney. His studies lasted a further five years before he graduated with honours in 1983. It was during his time at university that Braddock got involved with politics and upon returning home to Armidale in 1984 he joined the National Party. He did not participate further in any political activity until the 1990 Federal election, where he campaigned with the sitting National party members in New England, Ian Sinclair. Despite a poor showing across the country, the conservatives held New England and Braddock was praised his work during the campaign. In the years after leaving university, Braddock worked as a legal clerk in Armidale. He was well liked in his job and was praised as being a very capable worker with a sound legal mind. Braddock became a fully practising solicitor in 1989, was made a partner of the firm Turner, Braddock and McMahon in 1991.

In 1993, Braddock stood for election to Armidale City Council, but failed to gain enough votes. He then sought the party nomination for the 1995 State election, but since the party already held the seat, they were reticent to replace the sitting member, Ray Chappell, and Braddock was persuaded to abandon his campaign. At the same time the 1990s marked a period of disillusionment between Braddock and his conservative roots. After 1995 he became angry with the direction the party was taking, especially with its coalition partner, the Liberals. Braddock was particularly wary of populist policies of John Howard, then the Federal leader of the opposition. A true conservative, Braddock opposed the watering down of policies that compromise the integrity of the National Party, and he came increasingly of the opinion that while ever the coalition existed, the National Party was in danger of extinction.

Outside politics, Braddock married long-time partner, Janice Coulson, in 1996. Coulson had served time as break secretary at the law firm, although their romance did not blossom until after Coulson left Turner, Braddock and McMahon in 1994. Braddock's had two children, with John born in 1997 and Neil born in 1999. In his working life, Braddock became the senior partner of the firm in 1997, with the retirement of Roger Turner. With promotion to the top of his firm, Braddock was now faced with a choice, would he continue to be involved with the party or would he leave politics and focus on the firm. In the end, the choice is made for him.

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Civil War

Braddock had met Michael Williams as a child when they both went to high school together at The Armidale School. The two quickly formed a close friendship, which would remain for the rest of their lives. Like Braddock, Williams was a passionate political animal, and the two often combined their energies into a particular campaign or event in order to further their careers. Williams, unlike Braddock, preferred to go to university in Armidale, where he had studied agronomy. But they remained close throughout their university years and into adulthood. In 1996, Braddock purchased 500 acres a Jeogla, right beside the Williams family farm. The Braddock's often spent the weekend at the farm, with Saturday night dinners between the two families, event. It was at these events that Braddock and the future King would retire to the veranda or another room and talk about farming, their families, and most importantly about politics.

By 1999, both men were dissatisfied with the political environment facing New England. Their beloved party had let them down, and although Williams was the branch president, he was not well liked by the party and did not enjoy support outside of Armidale. Braddock, twice unsuccessful for preselection also felt the party was out of touch. Both tendered their resignation at the annual general meeting of the local branch of the National party in late 1999. In 2003, both men joined together to form the New Australia Party, with Williams as president and Braddock as secretary. Their motives were honourable, with the movement aiming to establish itself as a broad community minded body committed to fair and open representation of the people of New England. The movement call the government reform in the way New England was represented in Parliament and this included an investigation into statehood for the region. The movement also advocated a slowing down of the process of globalisation to allow small and uncompetitive farmers enough time to leave the land at their own choosing. The NAP also opposed the burden of the GST on small business, and called for complete reform of the taxation system to better manage the collection of tax.

After leaving the party he had supported firm much of his adult life, Braddock now embarked on a mission to strengthen the New Australia Party, and in light of terrorist attacks overseas, he also sought to give the movement legal status that would ensure it was not labelled inappropriately. His attempts proved to be in vain, when changes to the law in 2004 made the NAP a subversive group. The federal attorney-general placed the movement on a list of prescribed groups and began a more thorough investigation of Braddock and Williams. In early 2006, during the first ructions of the Civil War, Braddock was captured in Armidale and imprisoned without charge for two months. He would remain in gaol to the duration of the conflict. His last action before arrest was organise evacuation of his family to New Zealand. There, his two sons were sent to boarding school, and his wife found work as a legal secretary in Christchurch. This separation was common amongst many of the leaders of the movement who risked imprisonment during the civil war. Rather than have their families subjected to abuse and indoctrination, most militia members elected to send their spouses and children to safety abroad.

In gaol, Braddock languished without any charge to two months before charges are brought in March 2006. He was charged with sedition, conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism, and possession of illegal firearms. The case was suspended in April 2006, when all out war broke out in the region. Riots and protests in the major centres made it impossible to carry out a trial without disruption. When the UMNE was driven into the bush in the winter, the trial resumed. Convicted on all counts, Braddock was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with no option for parole. He was held in Tamworth Gaol. By 2010, the fortunes of war turned in favour of the militia and it was obvious that a peaceful resolution of the war was desirable. Part of the negotiations included the release of prisoners held by both sides, including Braddock. When the agreement, now known as the Treaty of Wellington, was signed in 2011, it was agreed all prisoners would be exchanged within seven days. After having spent several years behind bars, Jonathon Braddock walked free on the 30 June 2011.

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Premier and First Minister

After being reunited with his family, Braddock immediately sought to launch a campaign to ratify the treaty. The vote on the treaty took place in August 2011 and was carried in a number of districts, but not as many as the movement would have hoped for. Accusations of electoral interference were found to be without basis, but a lingering resentment among many people remained. With the vote on the treaty carried, elections were now held for the provisional assembly of the new Territory of New England. Braddock formed the United Party for these elections and won in a landslide. He appointed Michael Williams as the territory's administrator, making him the equivalent of governor of the territory. The new territory had authority over most domestic matters and was, within the confines of the treaty, an external territory of Australia. The main focus of the Premier, as Braddock was now known, was to prepare the nation from independence and initiate the reconstruction of many of New England's towns and cities. The little destruction was heaviest in Armidale, where about half the central city was destroyed. Repatriation grants from the Australians allowed for a cleanup of many of the destroyed buildings and the reconstruction of utilities to those building sites took place over the summer of 2011 and 2012.

The second half of Braddock's term as Premier centred on the upcoming elections of the first Parliament, which were due to be held in September 2012. With the formation of United, Braddock now had a firm supporter base from which he could launch his campaign. The elections were held as planned and Braddock and United were elected in another landslide. With independence on the 1st October 2012, Jonathon Braddock became First Minister of New England and Associate Minister of Finance. At 9 a.m. that day, Braddock took the oath of office before the King at Saumarez House. The Braddock Ministry was formed the same day and Parliament met later that afternoon with great celebrations across the city. The first weeks as FM proved to be eventful. Utterly damaged by the war, the domestic economy was moribund. Access to water and electricity was erratic, with many communities forced to suffer rationing and austerity measures the first few months. Population growth remained negative to the first few months, with the coronation of King Michael proving to be a turning point in the drain of people abroad. From then on, Braddock was able to master the political environment and with the support of Parliament, he was able to turn the country around.

By mid-2013, a diverse range of new legislation had been passed by the Parliament. The government found many of the existing laws were unworkable and too expensive for a small nation to enforce. Between 2012 in late 2014 more legislation was repealed or amended than new laws passed. Reforms were made to create new agencies, and changes were made to existing law to reorganise regulation of industry, commerce, agriculture, telecommunications, media and transport. Many private assets were nationalised and converted into government authorities. Braddock's penchant the radical reform took place at a time of deteriorating relations with Australia. The Access Dispute in particular soured matters considerably and made it harder for both sides to work together.

By early 2014, Braddock decided against seeking a further term as leader of the United Party. In his own words to the party room on the 16th February, he “was tired and it was now time for change”. While haggling now began in earnest between members of the government to the choice of his successor, Braddock instead focused on the business of government like a man with nothing to lose. He pursued the Australians over energy trading, roadway access and water licences. He sought to modernise the national education curriculum, and was a leading figure in the language reforms that came about from it. With his successor chosen and his reputation growing by the day as a hard-working leader, Braddock now decided it was time to go. He drove the Saumarez House on the 6th March 2015 and resigned.

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Later Life

With the election of Jason Olsen as his successor, Braddock retired to the backbench and took a backseat role in the business of government. He did it is vacant and committees, and tried hard to reconcile Olsen was Alex Fendalton, but seeing a need to give his successors in space he remained largely out of the limelight. Braddock left Parliament at the 2015 general election. His seat was easily won by the National Party without need to go to preferences. Deciding not to re-enter the legal profession, Braddock retired to his property at Jeogla and became a hobby farmer of sheep and chickens. He was happy to spend time with his family instead of the hustle and bustle of his old life in Armidale. He did however meet weekly with his old friend the King at Jeogla Station and the two often caught up at dinners and other social occasions.

In 2022, Braddock was named Chancellor and became chair of the newly formed Witan. He had participated in the convention the year before which had led to some minor changes in the Constitution. Braddock would be the longest serving Chancellor, and served under United and National governments until 2026. The loss of his close friend, King Michael in 2036, was a painful blow, but Braddock continued on his various part-time activities. In the same year, Braddock was made Chancellor of the New England National University, a position he filled until 2043. He served on various community groups in the Jeogla and Wollomombi area, and was occasionally called upon by the media to comment on an issue of the day. The support Braddock gave to the then First Minister, John Tudor, during the height of Five Day War was well received and widely published. In later years Braddock was rarely seen in public. In 2041 he was diagnosed Parkinson syndrome, and despite surgery he was unable to gain a satisfactory improvement in life. He attended the funeral of King James in 2045, which proved to be his last public appearance. Whilst being very frail, Braddock was very active in the service, reading passages from the Bible on several occasions. He retired to the farm job and died of pneumonia, a common complication of Parkinsons, on the 15th July 2046. He was 87 years old.

His legacy was enormous. Braddock was one of the creators of an independent New England. He oversaw the transition of New England from an isolated regional backwater to a vibrant an independent state. With the assistance of his close friend King Michael, Braddock led the people of New England through their darkest days and into a very bright future. A suburb of the city of Armidale is named after him, as are many roads and buildings.

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Ministries

The Braddock Ministry was the first cabinet ministry, and ran from the 1 October 2012 to the 6 March 2015. The ministry was entirly composed of members belonging to the United Party.

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