Free Trade Party
The
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 Wales, where its leaders were
Sir Henry Parkes and
Sir George Reid. It dominated New South Wales colonial politics before
federation. Reid was Prime Minister of Australia in
1904-
05. The Free Trade Party merged with the
Protectionist Party to become the
Liberal Party in
1909.
