Holman had earlier served as Deputy Leader in the ministry of James McGowen, before replacing McGowen as leader of the parliamentary Labor Party and serving as Labor Premier between 1913 and 1916.

[1] In November 1916 Labor split over conscription, when Premier Holman, and twenty of his supporters were expelled from the party for defying party policy and supporting conscription.

[2] Holman and his supporters joined a grand coalition with the members of the various conservative parties.

At the 1917 state election, Holman stood as a candidate for the Nationalist Party, and successfully retained his seat of Cootamundra.

[1] The ministry covers the period from 15 November 1916 until 12 April 1920,[4] when Holman lost his seat as serving Premier and his government was defeated at the 1920 state election by Labor's John Storey.