Free Trade Party
The Free Trade Party (officially Australian Free Trade and Liberal Association ), renamed the Anti-Socialist Party in 1906 , was a historic political party in Australia that existed from 1880 to 1909.
History and politics
The party campaigned for the abolition of all tariffs and trade restrictions, as this - according to the Free Trade Party - would increase prosperity for everyone. The party was based in New South Wales , where party leaders Henry Parkes and George Reid lived. Before the individual states in Australia united to form a common federation, the party dominated the colonial policy of New South Wales.
In the first federal elections in 1901, the party became the second largest force in the country with 25 seats. Reid became the first opposition leader of Parliament and was from 1904 to 1905 as party leader Prime Minister of Australia.
After the collective bargaining in the country had largely been settled, Reid was looking for a new unique selling point for his party. As a result, the party's stance against socialism followed . From then on, Reid criticized the Australian Labor Party and the Protectionist Party , led by Alfred Deakin, for their support. A little later the Free Trade Party was renamed the Anti-Socialist Party (ASP) . This happened before the federal elections in 1906. At the expense of the Protectionist Party, both the Labor Party and the FTP / ASP were able to gain votes, which is why some Protectionists joined the two determining parties.
Eventually Reid managed to convince his adversary Deakin of a common future, and the ASP merged with the Protectionist Party in 1909 to form the Commonwealth Liberal Party .
Individual evidence
- Australian Dictionary of Biography
