Liberal Party (Queensland, 1908)

The Liberals were formed after a period of flux in Queensland state politics in which multiple parties and factions had operated with both the 1907 and 1908 elections returning Legislative Assemblies with three groupings of approximately equal weight.However not all of the Kidstonite MLAs accepted the merger, and a group called the "Independent Opposition" emerged, headed by former Attorney General James Blair and including former Labor leaders Peter Airey and George Kerr.Rural Liberals organised internally as the Farmers' Parliamentary Union, expressing discontent that would later boil over and lead to the emergence of a separate party.[11] A liquor bill was blocked by the Queensland Legislative Council in 1911 and a major constitutional crisis and split in the Liberals was only averted due to a tramway and general strike in Brisbane that began in January 1912.An early election was called in April at which the Liberals increased their seats, albeit with losses in Brisbane.The government passed the Industrial Peace Act that took a hard line against the unions.
Liberal Party of Australia (Queensland Division)LeaderWilliam KidstonDigby DenhamEdward MacartneyJames TolmieConservative PartyKidstonitesNational PartyIdeologyLiberalismAustralianLiberal conservatismPolitical positionCentre-rightPolitics of AustraliaPolitical partiesElectionsQueenslandRobert PhilpCommonwealth Liberal Party1907 and1908 electionsLegislative AssembliesPremier of QueenslandLabor PartyAttorney GeneralJames BlairPeter AireyGeorge KerrSamuel Griffithanother state electionQueensland Legislative Counciltramway and general strikeBrisbaneAn early electioncompulsory voting1915 electionQueensland Farmers' UnionCountry PartyLegislative Assembly of QueenslandAustralian Labor Party split of 1916T. J. RyanMurphy, D.J.