Protectionist Party
Encyclopedia
The Protectionist Party was an Australian political party, formally organised from 1889 until 1909, with policies centred on protectionism
. It argued that Australia needed protective tariff
s to allow Australian industry to grow and provide employment. It had its greatest strength in Victoria
and in the rural areas of New South Wales
. Its most prominent leaders were Sir Edmund Barton
and Alfred Deakin
, who were the first and second prime ministers of Australia
.
In the main, the Protectionists formed government with the support of the Labor Party
, on the understanding that they would implement social reforms desired by Labor. Labor's program, however, was frequently too radical for the Protectionists, and compromises had to be made. Several changes of minority governments occurred.
The Protectionist vote had declined considerably by the 1906 federal election, and with Labor already having formed a minority government in 1904 under Chris Watson
, Labor had formed another in 1908 under Andrew Fisher
. A scandalised establishment pressured the two non-Labor parties to form an anti-socialist alliance, which saw Deakin and Free Trade
leader Joseph Cook
believe a merger was needed to counter Labor's increasing electoral dominance. The Protectionist Party ended up splitting, with the more liberal
Protectionists, such as Isaac Isaacs
and H. B. Higgins
, supporting Labor while Deakin and his supporters merged with the Anti-Socialist Party (formerly Free Trade Party) to become the Commonwealth Liberal Party
, who would form another minority government, before Fisher and Labor achieved Australia's first federal majority government, and the first Senate majority, at the 1910 election
.
In 2007, a new political party
was set up under the same name.
Protectionism
Protectionism is the economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, and a variety of other government regulations designed to allow "fair competition" between imports and goods and services produced domestically.This...
. It argued that Australia needed protective tariff
Tariff
A tariff may be either tax on imports or exports , or a list or schedule of prices for such things as rail service, bus routes, and electrical usage ....
s to allow Australian industry to grow and provide employment. It had its greatest strength in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and in the rural areas of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. Its most prominent leaders were Sir Edmund Barton
Edmund Barton
Sir Edmund Barton, GCMG, KC , Australian politician and judge, was the first Prime Minister of Australia and a founding justice of the High Court of Australia....
and Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin , Australian politician, was a leader of the movement for Australian federation and later the second Prime Minister of Australia. In the last quarter of the 19th century, Deakin was a major contributor to the establishment of liberal reforms in the colony of Victoria, including the...
, who were the first and second prime ministers of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
.
In the main, the Protectionists formed government with the support of the Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
, on the understanding that they would implement social reforms desired by Labor. Labor's program, however, was frequently too radical for the Protectionists, and compromises had to be made. Several changes of minority governments occurred.
The Protectionist vote had declined considerably by the 1906 federal election, and with Labor already having formed a minority government in 1904 under Chris Watson
Chris Watson
John Christian Watson , commonly known as Chris Watson, Australian politician, was the third Prime Minister of Australia...
, Labor had formed another in 1908 under Andrew Fisher
Andrew Fisher
Andrew Fisher was an Australian politician who served as the fifth Prime Minister on three separate occasions. Fisher's 1910-13 Labor ministry completed a vast legislative programme which made him, along with Protectionist Alfred Deakin, the founder of the statutory structure of the new nation...
. A scandalised establishment pressured the two non-Labor parties to form an anti-socialist alliance, which saw Deakin and Free Trade
Free Trade Party
The Free Trade Party which was officially known as the Australian Free Trade and Liberal Association, also referred to as the Revenue Tariff Party in some states and renamed the Anti-Socialist Party in 1906, was an Australian political party, formally organised between 1889 and 1909...
leader Joseph Cook
Joseph Cook
Sir Joseph Cook, GCMG was an Australian politician and the sixth Prime Minister of Australia. Born as Joseph Cooke and working in the coal mines of Silverdale, Staffordshire during his early life, he emigrated to Lithgow, New South Wales during the late 1880s, and became General-Secretary of the...
believe a merger was needed to counter Labor's increasing electoral dominance. The Protectionist Party ended up splitting, with the more liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
Protectionists, such as Isaac Isaacs
Isaac Isaacs
Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs GCB GCMG KC was an Australian judge and politician, was the third Chief Justice of Australia, ninth Governor-General of Australia and the first born in Australia to occupy that post. He is the only person ever to have held both positions of Chief Justice of Australia and...
and H. B. Higgins
H. B. Higgins
Henry Bournes Higgins , Australian politician and judge, always known in his lifetime as H. B. Higgins, was a highly influential figure in Australian politics and law.-Career:...
, supporting Labor while Deakin and his supporters merged with the Anti-Socialist Party (formerly Free Trade Party) to become the Commonwealth Liberal Party
Commonwealth Liberal Party
The Commonwealth Liberal Party was a political movement active in Australia from 1909 to 1916, shortly after federation....
, who would form another minority government, before Fisher and Labor achieved Australia's first federal majority government, and the first Senate majority, at the 1910 election
Australian federal election, 1910
Federal elections were held in Australia on 13 April 1910. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives, and 18 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
.
In 2007, a new political party
Australian Protectionist Party
The Australian Protectionist Party is an Australian minor political party with far–right–wing political views.-Ideology:The policies of the Australian Protectionist Party focus on economic protectionism, social conservatism, nationalism, and white nationalism...
was set up under the same name.