632:
made it clear that a race based immigration policy would run "contrary to the general conceptions of equality which have ever been the guiding principle of
British rule throughout the Empire", so the Barton government conceived of the "language dictation test", which would allow the government, at the discretion of the minister, to block unwanted migrants by forcing them to sit a test in "any European language". Race had already been established as a premise for exclusion among the colonial parliaments, so the main question for debate was who exactly the new Commonwealth ought to exclude, with the Labor Party rejecting Britain's calls to placate the populations of its non-white colonies and allow "aboriginal natives of Asia, Africa, or the islands thereof". There was opposition from Queensland and its sugar industry to the proposals of the Pacific Islanders Bill to exclude "Kanaka" labourers, however Barton argued that the practice was "veiled slavery" that could lead to a "negro problem" similar to that in the United States and the Bill was passed.
156:
587:
295:
288:
25:
34:
442:
723:
655:. The Customs Tariff Act took some five months to debate, until finally receiving Royal Assent in September 1902. In the end it was less protectionist than the standard set in the new State of Victoria. The new federation had to establish uniform customs duties and end the trade barriers which had existed between the colonies.
631:
The new
Parliament quickly moved to restrict immigration to maintain Australia's "British character", and the Pacific Island Labourers Bill and the Immigration Restriction Bill were passed shortly before parliament rose for its first Christmas recess. Nevertheless, the Colonial Secretary in Britain
378:
Australia a population of three and a half millions, and the
American people numbered only between three and four millions when they formed the great commonwealth of the United States. The numbers were about the same, and surely what the Americans had done by war, the Australians could bring about
741:
According to political historian Brian
Carroll, Barton faced a serious crisis when Kingston resigned from his ministry in July 1902 over a dispute with Labor over the jurisdiction of the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill. Many were by this stage concerned as to Barton's fortitude for a political
686:
in South Africa. Britain sought further forces from the new
Commonwealth, and Barton secured the agreement of the new Parliament, though Australian Federal forces did not reach South Africa until the final stages of that war. Barton was an Imperial loyalist, and represented Australia at the 1902
618:
The Duke of York toured
Australia and opened the first Parliament in 1901. After an expenses dispute, Parliament refused to augment the income received by the Governor-General with an additional annual allowance, and Lord Hopetoun resigned, sailing for Britain in July 1902. South Australia's
702:
Barton received congratulations from the Pope on the tolerance shown to
Catholics within Australia, and Barton in return offered assurances that this would continue. The exchange prompted "strenuous disapproval" in the form of a petition from some thousands of Australian Protestants.
511:
of
Tasmania replaced Elliott Lewis as Minister without Portfolio. Lewis had decided not to be a candidate for federal parliament, and he and Sir James Dickson remain the only people to have served in a federal government without ever having been members of the Australian Parliament.
623:, became Australia's second Governor-General. The term of the first parliament was from May 1901 to October 1902. It enacted 59 acts, and, in accordance with the provisions of the new Constitution, established the legal, financial and administrative foundations of the Commonwealth.
742:
agenda beyond the establishment of a federation. Barton's health declined and in August 1903, he collapsed in his room at
Parliament and resigned the following month to take up a position with the newly established High Court of Australia.
761:
with three, rather than the five judges originally proposed. On 24 September 1903, Barton resigned as prime minister, to accept appointment to new Court, together with
Cabinet colleague Richard O'Connor. The gifted constitutional scholar
598:
The first Parliament was opened on 9 May 1901. Shortly before her death in January 1901, Queen Victoria had designated her grandson, the Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V) to preside over the opening of the first
563:) to preference British and European migrants. Other key issues included the need for the establishment of a transcontinental railway, a High Court, a system for arbitrating on industrial disputes, and the provision of an
574:. Reid's Free Trade supporters won 32 seats, leaving the Labor Party, on 16 seats, with the balance of power. Labor confirmed "support in return for concessions" and backed Barton, who became prime minister in a
614:
While much of its business was centred on establishing the machinery of government, among the most significant legislation passed by the first Parliament were immigration restrictions and tariff protections.
526:; selecting a site for a federal capital; setting up a revenue system through tariffs; establishing a system to adjudicate interstate labour disputes; and building an east–west railway across the continent.
492:
was the only other member of the original Cabinet who had not served as a premier but, like Barton, he had been a strong advocate for Federation. Barton appointed two other honorary Cabinet positions:
695:(KGCMG). He also secured support for an expanded British naval squadron at Sydney which would assist with training a local force and lobbied for preferential treatment for Australian trade within the
465:(an opponent of Federation), but the other members of Cabinet and the general population saw Barton as the logical choice. The appointment was temporary, to organise the first general election.
393:
There is one great thing which above all activates me in my political life, and will activate me until it is accomplished, and that is the question of the union of the Australian colonies.
546:
nation. Prior to Federation, the Colony of Victoria had settled on Protectionism, while New South Wales had favoured Free Trade. In the absence of strong party affiliations outside the
658:
Barton travelled to Britain for the Coronation of King Edward VII and the Colonial Conference of 1902 where he came up against the push for "free trade within the Empire".
757:
One of the most important issues dealt with by the new parliament was the establishment of a High Court. The Judiciary Act 1903, enacted in August, established the
550:(which was divided on the question), candidates tended to be defined in relation to their attitude to trade, and while Barton sought compromise, the Free Trader
515:
The vast new Federation had a population of just 3.8 million, was yet to elect a Parliament, and had not settled on a location for a capital city.
1010:
384:
Known himself as the "Father of Federation", Parkes would die before the project was completed. Shortly before his death in 1896, Parkes called on
319:
248:
651:
The occasion of the first federal Budget saw the Protectionist supporters of the Barton government clash with the Free Trade Opposition led by
1238:
1248:
767:
954:
1243:
468:
Barton was sworn in as prime minister and Minister for External Affairs and his Cabinet consisted of a number of ex-premiers: Sir
1003:
710:, for which Barton managed to secure the approval of the Australian Parliament and the gratitude of Japan in the form of the
481:
469:
399:
271:
461:
before an estimated crowd of 250,000 people. Hopetoun had first offered the position to the Premier of New South Wales Sir
635:
The restrictive measures established by the first parliament gave way to multi-ethnic immigration policies only after the
826:
620:
571:
312:
365:
The background to the Barton government saw the six British colonies of Australia vote to federate as one Commonwealth.
1118:
1098:
640:
557:
Meanwhile, the candidates generally agreed on the need to establish a restrictive immigration system (recalled as the
348:, from 1 January 1901 until 24 September 1903, when Barton resigned to become one of the three founding judges of the
1233:
1075:
1065:
1060:
1055:
1050:
1035:
996:
692:
535:
454:
235:
225:
1163:
671:
458:
422:
240:
113:
578:. The 36 seat Senate meanwhile held just 14 Senators declaring themselves in support of the Barton government.
305:
518:
Thus, in January 1901, in an election speech, Barton set out such priorities for the nation as: providing for
430:
139:
745:
He was succeeded as prime minister by his friend, colleague and co-campaigner in the cause of Federation,
730:
608:
453:
Edmund Barton became the newly Federated Australian nation's first prime minister at a grand ceremony in
341:
67:
918:
900:
674:. Prior to Federation, women had already gained these rights in South Australia and Western Australia.
497:
507:
joining Cabinet as Postmaster-General, and Forrest shifting to Defence. Following the first election,
604:
457:, Sydney, on 1 January 1901. He and his cabinet were sworn in by Australia's first Governor-General,
407:
403:
337:
873:
504:
682:
Prior to Federation, Britain's Australian colonies had dispatched forces to assist Britain in the
758:
711:
707:
600:
591:
570:
Following the March election, Barton's Protectionists won 27 seats in the newly formed 75-member
523:
349:
294:
936:
1173:
749:, who also became Minister for External Affairs in a Cabinet which remained largely unchanged.
559:
547:
369:
was among the leading voices calling for Federation and had kick-started the movement with his
1019:
414:
287:
51:
803:
958:
784:
426:
96:
8:
1193:
1188:
1183:
667:
575:
493:
370:
257:
101:
86:
821:
155:
1168:
1153:
1138:
1133:
1113:
201:
388:
to take up the struggle of leading the push for Federation. Barton in turn announced:
1178:
1158:
1143:
1128:
1108:
1103:
1080:
1040:
264:
1148:
1093:
1085:
636:
473:
190:
586:
1123:
1070:
1045:
779:
763:
603:. The ceremony took place with much British pomp and circumstance in Melbourne's
564:
519:
278:
230:
611:
for some 26 years, while a suitable site for a federal capital was established.
696:
418:
56:
402:
and referendums, the colonies agreed to federate as a new "commonwealth": the
1227:
746:
734:
726:
539:
496:
of New South Wales, to serve as Vice-President of the Executive Council, and
489:
446:
385:
345:
171:
76:
417:, was endorsed by the Imperial Parliament in Britain and signed into law by
24:
988:
485:
477:
462:
366:
639:, with the "dictation test" itself being finally abolished in 1958 by the
1213:
1209:
652:
551:
508:
503:
A reshuffle was necessitated by the death of Dickson on 10 January, with
379:
in peace, without breaking the ties that held them to the mother country.
1205:
706:
Towards the end of his term in office, Britain and Japan concluded the
688:
543:
60:
411:
441:
683:
770:
and was instrumental in the shaping of Australia's legal system.
529:
33:
943:. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
810:. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
693:
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and St George
863:
Brian Carroll; From Barton to Fraser; Cassell Australia; 1978
538:
was to be whether or not Australia would be established as a
433:, and the appointment of the first Cabinet was put in train.
895:
893:
891:
889:
887:
722:
476:
of South Australia was Minister for Trade and Customs, Sir
1216:(1967–1968), see their respective biographical articles.
884:
554:
pushed for the question to be a central election issue.
1204:
For information about the caretaker governments led by
607:
on 9 May 1901 and Parliament was to sit at Victoria's
670:
throughout the Commonwealth was enacted entitled the
691:. Whilst in Britain, he was honoured with the title
425:, a Lord-in-waiting to Queen Victoria and a former
488:was Minister for Home Affairs. Other than Barton,
449:(sitting second from left), with his Cabinet, 1901
336:was the first federal executive government of the
480:of Western Australia was Postmaster-General, Sir
1225:
814:
484:of Queensland was Minister for Defence, and Sir
1004:
859:
857:
677:
530:First election: Protectionists v Free Traders
410:, with its provision for the foundation of a
313:
1018:
855:
853:
851:
849:
847:
845:
843:
841:
839:
837:
768:Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia
1011:
997:
320:
306:
981:LBC Nutshell: The Australian Legal System
834:
721:
585:
440:
937:"Hopetoun, seventh Earl of (1860–1908)"
804:"Barton, Sir Edmund (Toby) (1849–1920)"
717:
445:The first Prime Minister of Australia,
1226:
249:Justice of the High Court of Australia
992:
536:first general election of March 1901
429:, was selected as Australia's first
1249:1903 disestablishments in Australia
827:Australian Broadcasting Corporation
712:Order of the Rising Sun First Class
661:
581:
572:Australian House of Representatives
13:
941:Australian Dictionary of Biography
808:Australian Dictionary of Biography
427:Governor of the Colony of Victoria
46:1 January 1901 – 24 September 1903
14:
1260:
666:In 1902, a historic law granting
1244:1901 establishments in Australia
1239:History of Australia (1901–1945)
436:
293:
286:
236:Immigration Restriction Act 1901
226:1901 Australian federal election
154:
32:
23:
672:Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902
272:New South Wales vs Commonwealth
241:Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902
973:
947:
929:
911:
866:
796:
708:Anglo–Japanese naval agreement
626:
220:Term of government (1901–1903)
1:
790:
752:
360:
355:
7:
773:
737:, the second Prime Minister
731:Prime Minister of Australia
609:Parliament House, Melbourne
500:, the Premier of Tasmania.
472:of Victoria was Treasurer,
213:Prime Minister of Australia
10:
1265:
678:Foreign policy and defence
646:
400:constitutional conventions
1202:
1026:
923:primeministers.naa.gov.au
905:primeministers.naa.gov.au
878:primeministers.naa.gov.au
605:Royal Exhibition Building
408:Constitution of Australia
404:Commonwealth of Australia
338:Commonwealth of Australia
135:
127:
119:
108:
92:
82:
66:
50:
45:
40:
31:
20:
1234:Governments of Australia
1020:Governments of Australia
163:This article is part of
759:High Court of Australia
601:Parliament of Australia
592:Parliament of Australia
534:The major issue of the
524:High Court of Australia
350:High Court of Australia
983:; third Edition; 1999.
738:
595:
560:White Australia Policy
548:Australian Labor Party
450:
396:
395:
382:
381:
725:
590:Opening of the first
589:
444:
415:Australian Parliament
391:
390:
376:
375:
140:Deakin government (I)
785:History of Australia
718:Barton's resignation
104:(from 30 March 1901)
961:on 1 September 2006
576:minority government
371:Tenterfield Oration
123:Barton's retirement
919:"Barton Elections"
901:"Barton in Office"
739:
729:(left), the first
641:Menzies government
596:
451:
398:After a series of
99:(to 30 March 1901)
1221:
1220:
830:. 13 August 2023.
766:became the first
334:Barton government
330:
329:
265:Blundell v Vardon
206:
181:
180:
145:
144:
77:Sir Edmund Barton
21:Barton government
1256:
1013:
1006:
999:
990:
989:
984:
977:
971:
970:
968:
966:
957:. Archived from
951:
945:
944:
933:
927:
926:
915:
909:
908:
897:
882:
881:
870:
864:
861:
832:
831:
818:
812:
811:
800:
668:women's suffrage
662:Women's suffrage
637:Second World War
582:First Parliament
520:female franchise
494:Richard O'Connor
474:Charles Kingston
431:Governor-General
367:Sir Henry Parkes
340:. It was led by
322:
315:
308:
297:
290:
258:D'Emden v Pedder
198:
191:Hopetoun Blunder
177:
176:
174:
167:
166:
158:
151:
150:
147:
146:
71:
36:
27:
18:
17:
1264:
1263:
1259:
1258:
1257:
1255:
1254:
1253:
1224:
1223:
1222:
1217:
1198:
1022:
1017:
987:
978:
974:
964:
962:
953:
952:
948:
935:
934:
930:
917:
916:
912:
899:
898:
885:
872:
871:
867:
862:
835:
820:
819:
815:
802:
801:
797:
793:
780:Barton ministry
776:
764:Samuel Griffith
755:
720:
680:
664:
649:
629:
584:
565:old age pension
532:
522:; setting up a
455:Centennial Park
439:
363:
358:
326:
291:
284:
279:Farey v Burvett
245:
231:Barton ministry
217:
209:
195:
172:
170:
169:
168:
164:
162:
161:
100:
69:
59:
22:
12:
11:
5:
1262:
1252:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1219:
1218:
1203:
1200:
1199:
1197:
1196:
1191:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1027:
1024:
1023:
1016:
1015:
1008:
1001:
993:
986:
985:
979:Michael Meek;
972:
946:
928:
910:
883:
874:"Barton Index"
865:
833:
813:
794:
792:
789:
788:
787:
782:
775:
772:
754:
751:
719:
716:
697:British Empire
687:Coronation of
679:
676:
663:
660:
648:
645:
628:
625:
583:
580:
531:
528:
438:
435:
419:Queen Victoria
362:
359:
357:
354:
342:Prime Minister
328:
327:
325:
324:
317:
310:
302:
299:
298:
283:
282:
275:
268:
261:
244:
243:
238:
233:
228:
208:
207:
194:
193:
188:
183:
182:
179:
178:
165:a series about
159:
143:
142:
137:
133:
132:
129:
125:
124:
121:
117:
116:
110:
106:
105:
94:
90:
89:
84:
80:
79:
74:
64:
63:
54:
48:
47:
43:
42:
38:
37:
29:
28:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1261:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1231:
1229:
1215:
1211:
1207:
1201:
1195:
1192:
1190:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1107:
1105:
1102:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1028:
1025:
1021:
1014:
1009:
1007:
1002:
1000:
995:
994:
991:
982:
976:
960:
956:
955:"Fact Sheets"
950:
942:
938:
932:
924:
920:
914:
906:
902:
896:
894:
892:
890:
888:
879:
875:
869:
860:
858:
856:
854:
852:
850:
848:
846:
844:
842:
840:
838:
829:
828:
823:
817:
809:
805:
799:
795:
786:
783:
781:
778:
777:
771:
769:
765:
760:
750:
748:
747:Alfred Deakin
743:
736:
735:Alfred Deakin
732:
728:
727:Edmund Barton
724:
715:
713:
709:
704:
700:
698:
694:
690:
685:
675:
673:
669:
659:
656:
654:
644:
642:
638:
633:
624:
622:
621:Lord Tennyson
616:
612:
610:
606:
602:
593:
588:
579:
577:
573:
568:
566:
562:
561:
555:
553:
549:
545:
541:
540:Protectionist
537:
527:
525:
521:
516:
513:
510:
506:
501:
499:
498:Elliott Lewis
495:
491:
490:Alfred Deakin
487:
483:
482:James Dickson
479:
475:
471:
470:George Turner
466:
464:
460:
459:Lord Hopetoun
456:
448:
447:Edmund Barton
443:
437:First cabinet
434:
432:
428:
424:
423:Lord Hopetoun
420:
416:
413:
409:
405:
401:
394:
389:
387:
386:Edmund Barton
380:
374:
372:
368:
353:
351:
347:
346:Edmund Barton
343:
339:
335:
323:
318:
316:
311:
309:
304:
303:
301:
300:
296:
292:
289:
281:
280:
276:
274:
273:
269:
267:
266:
262:
260:
259:
255:
254:
253:
252:
250:
242:
239:
237:
234:
232:
229:
227:
224:
223:
222:
221:
216:
215:
214:
205:
203:
197:
196:
192:
189:
187:
186:
185:
184:
175:
173:Edmund Barton
160:
157:
153:
152:
149:
148:
141:
138:
134:
130:
126:
122:
118:
115:
114:Lord Hopetoun
111:
107:
103:
98:
95:
91:
88:
87:Protectionist
85:
81:
78:
75:
73:
65:
62:
58:
55:
53:
49:
44:
39:
35:
30:
26:
19:
16:
1030:
980:
975:
963:. Retrieved
959:the original
949:
940:
931:
922:
913:
904:
877:
868:
825:
816:
807:
798:
756:
744:
740:
705:
701:
681:
665:
657:
650:
634:
630:
617:
613:
597:
569:
558:
556:
533:
517:
514:
502:
486:William Lyne
478:John Forrest
467:
463:William Lyne
452:
397:
392:
383:
377:
364:
333:
331:
285:
277:
270:
263:
256:
247:
246:
219:
218:
212:
211:
210:
199:
15:
1214:John McEwen
1212:(1945) and
1210:Frank Forde
965:27 December
822:"ABC Rural"
653:George Reid
627:Immigration
552:George Reid
509:Philip Fysh
505:James Drake
251:(1903–1920)
204:(1901–1903)
200:Member for
128:Predecessor
1228:Categories
1206:Earle Page
1119:Menzies II
1076:Fisher III
1061:Deakin III
791:References
753:High Court
689:Edward VII
619:Governor,
544:Free Trade
361:Federation
356:Background
112:Chosen by
61:Edward VII
1099:Menzies I
1066:Fisher II
1051:Deakin II
412:bicameral
373:of 1889:
136:Successor
97:Caretaker
41:In office
1208:(1939),
1194:Albanese
1189:Morrison
1184:Turnbull
1056:Fisher I
1036:Deakin I
774:See also
684:Boer War
102:Minority
72:Minister
57:Victoria
1174:Rudd II
1169:Gillard
1154:Keating
1139:Whitlam
1134:McMahon
1114:Chifley
1090:Scullin
733:, with
647:Tariffs
594:in 1901
52:Monarch
1179:Abbott
1164:Rudd I
1159:Howard
1144:Fraser
1129:Gorton
1109:Curtin
1104:Fadden
1081:Hughes
1041:Watson
1031:Barton
406:. The
202:Hunter
120:Demise
109:Origin
93:Status
70:
1149:Hawke
1094:Lyons
1086:Bruce
83:Party
68:Prime
1124:Holt
1071:Cook
1046:Reid
967:2011
344:Sir
332:The
542:or
131:N/A
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886:^
876:.
836:^
824:.
806:.
714:.
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