Confusion: The Making of the Australian Two-Party SystemCONFUSION revisits the seminal moment when liberals threw in their lot with the conservatives. In CONFUSION, some of Australia's foremost political historians including Marian Quartly and Stuart Macintyre revisit the seminal moment when liberals threw in their lot with the conservatives. In May 1909, Alfred Deakin, the radical liberal doyen, struck an agreement for a controversial 'fusion' with the anti-Labor factions, with the new grouping later adopting the name 'Liberal Party'. After a heated campaign, Labor won the 1910 election, forming the first majority government in the history of the Commonwealth. How had this occurred? For most of the previous decade Labor and Deakin had been allies. Was the anti-Labor alliance the inevitable outcome of middle-class men rallying against the growing electoral might of the workers' party? What were the long-term consequences for both sides of politics? With Labor in power federally and in all but one state, the non-Labor side of politics has been plunged into a period of introspection about its coalition arrangements, and about the legitimate traditions of Australian liberalism. Can the current Liberals learn from the events of a century ago? |
Contents
Parties | 23 |
The Free Traders | 45 |
Labors View of Fusion | 70 |
Confusion | 109 |
an intensity of feeling such as I had never | 134 |
Political Housekeeping | 162 |
Other editions - View all
Confusion: The Making of the Australian Two-party System Paul Strangio,Nick Dyrenfurth No preview available - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
accessed achieved Alfred Deakin Alfred Deakin Papers alliance anti-Labor argued Association Australian British Call campaign caucus century cited claimed colonial Commonwealth conference conservative continued Cook Deakinite debate decade early economic effective election electoral federal fiscal Fisher forces Free Trade fusion George Reid History House Hughes Hume ideas independence individual industrial interests issue Item John join Judith Brett July June Labor Party later leader League Legislative less Liberal liberty major March means meeting Melbourne University Press ministry moved movement Nauze non-Labor November organisation parliament parliamentary party’s political politicians premier prime minister principles progress protection Protectionists question radical reform Reid’s Representatives result seats Senate social socialist South Wales success Sydney Morning Herald tariff tion tradition turned union Victorian vote Watson White women