Western Australian Party facts for kids
The Western Australian Party (WAP) was a political group in Australia. It existed for a short time in 1906. This party was a liberal group. It wanted to protect the rights of people in Western Australia. It also disagreed with the Labour Party.
Its supporters came from two other political groups. These were the Protectionist Party and the Anti-Socialist Party.
Contents
What Was the Western Australian Party?
The Western Australian Party (WAP) was a political party. It was active only in 1906. The party aimed to support the state of Western Australia. It was a liberal party, meaning it believed in individual freedoms.
Why Was the Party Formed?
The WAP was created to stand up for Western Australia. It wanted to make sure the state's needs were met. This was especially important as Australia was a new country. The party also wanted to oppose the Labour Party.
Who Led the Party?
John Forrest became the leader of the WAP. He was a government official. At the time, he worked for Prime Minister Alfred Deakin. The party chose people to run for election in every area.
What Did the Party Want to Do?
The party had a list of 12 main goals. Many of these goals were about helping Western Australia. They wanted the state to keep more government money. They also wanted to improve coastal defence. Building a railway to the eastern states was another key goal. The party also wanted to introduce a money system based on 10. They also wanted a simpler way to measure things.
How Did the Party Do in the Election?
By the time of the 1906 federal election, support for the WAP had stopped. John Forrest was elected, but not as a WAP member. However, one person from the party did win. This was William Hedges. He became the member for Fremantle. William Hedges was a WAP member. But he worked on his own in parliament. Later, both Forrest and Hedges joined the Commonwealth Liberal Party. This new party started in 1909.
