With their support, Reid reduced tariffs, introduced income tax, and eliminated the property qualification for membership of the Legislative Council.

McGowen strongly favoured retaining appeals to the Privy Council from the High Court, but stressed this was his personal view.

[2] In December 1907, McGowan and the Labor Party—whose policy preference was nationalisation of the iron and steel industry[4]—moved a last minute amendment that, when carried, led indirectly to the collapse of William Sandford Limited, owners of the Eskbank Ironworks at Lithgow.

This threat antagonised most of the state ALP, and when Holman returned to Australia in June 1913, he organised McGowen's overthrow.

[1] The McGowen government carried out an active policy of subsidising hospitals and dispensaries in order to bring about the realisation of universal health care system.

Nevertheless, opposition by doctors to state control forced the government to concentrate on financing new and existing institutions, such as nursing services for remote bush districts, while Friendly Societies were financially supported and membership encouraged.

At the 1917 election McGowen was defeated by the official Labor candidate William McKell (himself a future Premier), but his career did not end there.

His old rival Holman, now himself an apostate from the ALP and leading a Nationalist administration, appointed McGowen to the then unelected Legislative Council in July 1917.

McGowen died of heart disease in the Sydney suburb of Petersham and was survived by his wife, five of their seven sons, and two daughters.

[2] A large crowd attended his funeral at St Paul's Church, Redfern, New South Wales on 8 April 1922; he was buried at Rookwood Cemetery.