John "Jack" Schmella (24 February 1908– 18 July 1960) was an Australian trade unionist and political party official who served as the National Secretary of the Australian Labor Party from 1954 to 1960 and as Secretary of Queensland Labor from 1952 to 1960. Prior to his elevation to party administration, Schmella worked as a miner, an industrial chemist and later as an industrial officer for the Australian Workers' Union.
Schmella played a key role in the Australian Labor Party split of 1955, having moved the successful motion to have the Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch) leader and premier Vince Gair expelled from the party, leading to the formation of the breakaway Queensland Labor Party and subsequent collapse of the state government.
See also Australian Labor Party National Executive Queensland Labor Party (1957) Australian Labor Party split of 1955
Further reading Campaign Professionals: party officials and the professionalisation of Australian political parties | PhD Thesis by Stephen Mills, University of Sydney Department of Government and International Relations, 2013
References