Free Trade Party

The party advocated the abolition of protectionism, especially protective tariffs and other restrictions on trade, arguing that this would create greater prosperity for all.

At the 1901 elections for the first Commonwealth Parliament, the Free Traders, who campaigned in some states as the Revenue Tariff Party, formed the second largest group in the Australian House of Representatives, with 25 seats.

A separate Tasmanian Revenue Tariff Party contested the 1903 federal election in Tasmania and won two seats.

This attempt struck a chord with politicians who were steeped in the Westminster tradition and regarded a two-party system as very much the norm.

Joseph Cook was elected leader unopposed on 26 November,[9] and he led the party until the merger with the Protectionists.