29 March 1901

George Reid was elected member for East Sydney, one of 28 Free Trade members returned. Barton remained Prime Minister, with 31 Protectionists returned to the 75-member House of Representatives, and 14 Labor, and 2 ‘others’. In the Senate, the Free Trade Party dominated with 17 seats to 11 Protectionist and 8 Labor seats.

At this first federal election, voting was not compulsory and 56.68% of those enrolled cast their votes.

4 September 1903

This by-election for Reid’s East Sydney seat was held after he resigned from parliament as a protest against the government. He was, as usual, returned comfortably in this election.

16 December 1903

In this federal election, the first where women throughout the Commonwealth had the same legal right to vote as men, Reid’s Free Trade Party won 25 seats, while Alfred Deakin’s Protectionists won 26 seats in the House of Representatives, and Labor 23.

This made the 3 parties nearly equal in the House, and resulted in all 3 achieving a term in government, Deakin until April 1904, then Chris Watson until August 1904, then Reid until July 1905. Deakin then remained as Prime Minister to contest the election in 1906.

12 December 1906

George Reid led an Anti-Socialist Party at this federal election, with 27 members returned to the House of Representatives. Labor increased to 26 members, while Deakin’s Protectionists numbered only 16, with 4 breakaway ‘Independent Protectionists’. Despite Reid’s outright win, Deakin formed a government with Labor support.

Sources

These brief election results relate only to this Prime Minister. They are drawn from the online sources below, where further information can be found.

Australian Electoral Commission: Election results

University of Western Australia: Australian Government and Politics Database