[8][9] The Victorian branch of the Nationalist Party, which was serving in opposition to the Labor government at the time, reflected this change several months later when it was renamed to the UAP on 15 September 1931.

[21][22] In a spill on 12 March 1935, Macfarlan lost his position and was replaced as UAP deputy leader by Wilfrid Kent Hughes.

[29] Argyle resigned as Premier on 2 April 1935 and Dunstan was sworn in, forming a ministry composed of UCP MPs with the support of Labor in parliament.

[32][33] The faction − which also included Harry Drew, Frederick Holden, Alfred Kirton, George Knox, Thomas Maltby and Clive Shields − reserved the right to support the Dunstan government on any measures that it approved, advocating conditional negotiation rather than rigid opposition.

[34][35] The state election on 2 October 1937 saw the UAP again emerge as the largest party with 21 seats, but the UCP continued to form government with the support of Labor.

[49][50] James Dillon was seen as the frontrunner to become the new deputy leader, but with George Knox and Trevor Oldham also contesting the position, it was left vacant.

[57][58] On 10 September 1943, the Dunstan government was defeated on the floor of parliament after Labor MPs voted for a motion of no confidence brought forward by Hollway on the issue of electoral redistribution.