1901: The Forgotten Election

Examining the state of Australian democracy in 1901, this account demonstrates how the election was managed in all six of the country's states. South Australia was the paradise of liberalism, Queensland and the West scored low on political trust and discriminated against Aborigines and Pacific Islanders, New South Wales and Victoria had longer histories and instited on identity papers for voters, and Tasmania experimented with proportional representation. All leaders supported a White Austrtalia Policy. Political parties still in their infancy were forced to develop formal rules and preselection procedures for the election. Labour was strongest in New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland. There were few self-proclaimed conservatives and the forces of liberalism were largely split into Free Traders and Protectionists. The election resulted in the 'three elevenses' described by Deakin. However, had the result been Free Trade rather than Protectionist in a mere handful of seats, then the Australian settlement—Protection, Arbitration and White Australia—could have looked very different.

It was the only Australian election held under the pre-existing laws of the six colonies, and the Members and Senators first elected would necessarily determine much of the character of successive generations of parliamentary democracy and the relationship between the legislature and an executive that already existed ahead of responsible government. The authors are named but not otherwise identified. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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It was the only Australian election held under the pre-existing laws of the six colonies, and the Members and Senators first elected would necessarily determine much of the character of successive generations of parliamentary democracy and the relationship between the legislature and an executive that already existed ahead of responsible government. The authors are named but not otherwise identified. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Marian Simms is a political science lecturer at the Australian National University. She is a former president of the Australasian Political Studies Association, a former editor of the association's journal, and the coeditor of 2001: The Centenary Election and Howard’s Agenda: The 1998 Australian Election.