Home > Liberalism in Australia
This article gives an overview of liberalism in Australia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.
1 Introduction
The orginal liberal current, united since 1909 in the Commonwealth Liberal Party, became the leading right-wing party in Australia and developed into a conservative direction.
In Australia the usage of the world Liberalism is complicated by the fact that the Liberal Party of Australia is a right-of-centre party encompassing thought from both conservative and classical liberal traditions (although as of 2004 the conservative wing, represented by John Howard, is dominant). The use of the word "liberal" in reference to right wing politics in Australia can, perhaps, be traced back to Australia's first federal parliament. There, the political debate was about whether the fledgling nation should pursue a protectionist or free market trade policy, with the right wing vote divided between these two parties.
Yet liberalism continues to be used in the sense of "social liberalism" in Australia. Thus the label "small l-liberal" is often used to distinguish such uses of the word 'liberal' from its use as a proper noun (ie Liberal). It generally refers in Australia to someone who champions civil liberties and progressive causes such as Australian republicanism and Aboriginal reconciliation, while maintaining a non-interventionist approach in economics. Some "small-l liberals", such as Malcolm Turnbull find a home among the Liberal Party, but many, such as Greg Barns , have moved to the Democrats.
Nowadays one can distinguish the conservative Liberal Party of Australia and the left of center liberal Australian Democrats, of which the more center oriented Australian Progressive Alliance separated itself.
2 The timeline
2.1 From Protectionist Party to Liberal Party of Australia
- 1880s: The Protectionist Party is formed
- 1908: The PP merged with ⇒ Free Trade Party into the Commonwealth Liberal Party
- 1917: The party merges with a faction of the Australian Labor PartyThe Australian Labor Party or ALP is Australia's oldest political party. It is so-named because of its origins in and close links to the trade union movement. While Australians normally spell Labour with an "-our" ending, in the name of the party it is sp into the conservative Nationalist Party of AustraliaThe Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party formed in 1917 from a merger of pro-conscription members of the Labor Party (who had been operating under the banner 'National Labor' after their earlier split with the Labor party) with
- 1932: The party absorbs dissidents of the Australian Labor PartyThe Australian Labor Party or ALP is Australia's oldest political party. It is so-named because of its origins in and close links to the trade union movement. While Australians normally spell Labour with an "-our" ending, in the name of the party it is sp and is renamed United Australia PartyUnited Australia Party or UAP was an Australian political party that was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia. It was formed in 1932 when Joseph Lyons, a Labor MP, and his supporters crossed the floor to bring down the Scullin Lab.
- 1945: The party is reorganized into the Liberal Party of Australia.
2.2 Free Trade Party
- 1880s: The Free Trade PartyThe Free Trade Party was a political party in Australia from the 1880s until 1909. It favoured the abolition of protective tariffs and other restrictions on trade, arguing that this would create greater prosperity for all. It was centred in New South Wale is formed
- 1909: The FTP merged with the ⇒ Protectionist Party into the ⇒ Commonwealth Liberal Party
