Australian legislative election, 1903
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The 1903 Australian Legislative election was the second held in Australia after the federation of the colonies.
The election resulted in the Protectionist Party retaining government, however the Labour party made significant gains outside New South Wales and Victoria, making for an unstable minority government.
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[edit] Voting and Enrolment
Following a federal government act in 1902, women were given the vote in all states, leading to a significant increase in the number of votes cast in the 1903 election. Like the 1901 election, voting was voluntary and candidates were elected by the First-past-the-post system.
[edit] Parties
The three parties that contested the 1901 election also contested the 1903 election, with only the Protectionist's changing leaders to Alfred Deakin as a result of Edmund Barton's appointment as an inaugural judge of the newly constituted High Court of Australia.
The Free Trade Party was again lead by George Reid. The only significant difference in policy between these parties was on trade issues. The Protectionist's sought to protect Australian industry and agriculture by placing tariffs on imports. The Free Traders downgraded the view they had last election of having no tariffs to campaigning on minimal tariffs.
The other party contesting the election was the Labour Party, the workers party who wanted equality for all people in Australia.
[edit] Electorates
The same electorates used in the 1901 election were used again in this election with only minimal changes. So again there were 26 seats in New South Wales, 23 in Victoria, 9 in Queensland, 7 newly drawn electorates in South Australia and 5 in both Western Australia and Tasmania.
The most marginal electorates from the 1901 election are shown here.
New England 0.3% Pro to FT
Capricornia 1.0% Ind to ALP
Herbert 1.6% ALP to Pro
Werriwa 1.9% FT to Pro
Lannecorrie 2% Pro to IP
Yarra 2.3% ALP to Pro
Clarke 2.4% Pro to FT
Coolgardie 2.8% ALP to FT
Flinders 3% FT to Pro
Robertson 3% Ft to Pro
Oxley 3.2% Pro to ALP
Maranoa 3.3% ALP to FT
Riverina 3.5% Pro to FT
Bourke 4% Pro to FT
Echuca 4% Pro to FT
Macquerie 4% FT to Pro
[edit] 1903 Results
Before polling day even started 8 Protectionist, 4 Free Traders and 2 Labour candidates were elected unopposed. Early on in counting it was clear that state division that was important in the 1901 election was even more important in this one. The Protectionist's won 16 of their 26 in Victoria after losing 4 seats in New South Wales. The Free Trade Party become only strong in New South Wales with 16 of their 24 seats in this state. The Labour party became the main party in the other states winning only 9 of the 49 seats in NSW and Victoria but winning 13 of the 26 seats in the rest of the country. Therefore the structure of the 2nd parliament was;
- Protectionist 26
- Free Trade 24
- Labour 22
- Independents 3
Immediately after the election the Protectionist's governed with help from the Labour party, however the close results saw three changes in government before the next election was called in 1906.
