AK's Australian Election Series

After two elections where they were the second party in the Parliament, Labour not only became the largest party at the 1907 election, but also became the first majority government in Australian history, and with a large majority too - 52 seats over the Anti-Socialist Party's 19 seats, with the Protectionists down to a mere four seats. This made for a Labour majority of 29 seats. George Reid, Anti-Socialist leader, resigned from the leadership post-election, and Joseph Cook became the new Anti-Socialist leader. The Protectionists suffered a crushing defeat, being reduced to a mere four seats in the new Parliament, although Alfred Deakin, the only Protectionist MP left in Victoria, retained the leadership.

The 1907 referendum also passed by a margin of 60-40%, passing in all 6 states as well, meaning Senators now took their seats on the 1st of July, as opposed to the 1st of January.
Summary:
Labour - 52 (+20)
Anti-Socialist - 19 (-10)
Protectionist - 4 (+10)

Buoyant on their large victory, Labour, under the new Prime Minister Andrew Fisher, wasted no time getting their legislative agenda through Parliament - with an increase in referenda, minimizing the chance of double dissolutions, two referenda were already planned for the next election. Higher tariffs, a guaranteed nationwide aged pension, compulsory arbitration, more powers over wages and prices, and a larger defense force were also legislated in this term. The Bureau of Meteorology was also founded this term of Parliament, and in 1908, Theodore Roosevelt's Great White Fleet was invited to Australia from the USA, as a symbolic act of Australian independence.

Going back to the Trans-Australia raliway, it was decided that the railway would be built with a uniform gauge from Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta, and construction commenced early in this term of Parliament.

The Australian currency, called the Australian pound, was introduced towards the end of the Parliament in 1910, replacing the pound sterling. Melbourne, which had been the de facto interim capital of Australia since Federation, was to be superseded as capital sometime in the next decade or two, no name for this new city had been given to it.

An election and two referenda have been called for the 27th of April, 1910.

Party platforms at this election:

Labour Party - Labour's campaign for a second term in government is based around conscription, disability pensions, workers' compensation, forming a national Navy, and founding a government owned bank.

Commonwealth Liberal Party - Joseph Cook and the Commonwealth Liberal Party, as a united right-wing force, are calling for the repeal of the compulsory arbitration legislation, lowering of tariffs, abolishment of the price and wage controls, and have pledged to continue building the Trans Australia Railway. The Commonwealth Liberals have also pledged to keep banking private, and are opposed to preferential treatment for trade union members.

Revenue Tariff Party - Alfred Deakin, the sole Protectionist from Victoria, did not want to join his rivals in the newly merged Commonwealth Liberal Party, and thus created his own party, the Revenue Tariff Party. While more or less keeping Labour's increased tariffs, they also support a toning down of the compulsory arbitration legislation, although not to the extent of the Commonwealth Liberals, and have a harder line on conscription than Labour. It is uncertain who Deakin and the Revenue Tariff Party would support in the event of a hung Parliament.

Voting is open for 72 hours.

Me: Commonwealth Liberal.

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