Commonwealth Liberal Party

The Australian Liberal Union was established in November 1911, following a conference in Melbourne attended by representatives of liberal organisations in each state. The conference resolved that the state-based organisations should co-operate more closely during federal election campaigns. The council of the new body was to consist of three representatives from each state.[2]

A second interstate conference was held in Melbourne in May 1912, with Senator Joseph Vardon presiding.[3] A constitution for the Australian Liberal Union was adopted, where it was agreed that the organisation would be governed by an annual conference. The constitution provided that the union would regularly confer with the federal parliamentary party, and that its work would be confined to federal politics. The state organisations would remain in charge of state politics, but would select federal candidates.[4] The conference also debated a fighting platform for the next federal election,[5][6] which was not issued until 13 June. It comprised 20 planks.[7]

A third conference was held in Melbourne in August 1913, postponed and moved from Sydney due to a smallpox outbreak.[8] The inaugural address at the conference was given by the incumbent prime minister and parliamentary Liberal leader Joseph Cook.[9] David Gordon was elected president of the organisation.[10] An updated platform was issued in October.[11] Another meeting was held in March 1914,[12] and in October 1915 Joseph Cook stated that a meeting of the executive was planned to be held.[13]

In Victoria, the primary organisation supporting the parliamentary Liberals was named the Commonwealth Liberal Party, which Alfred Deakin launched with himself as president on 25 May 1909 at the Melbourne Town Hall.[14] According to Deakin's biographer Judith Brett, the CLP did not spread beyond Victoria and "in fact scarcely beyond Deakin and his family, who provided most of its office bearers".[15] His son-in-law Herbert Brookes was Deakin's "right-hand man",[16] serving as party treasurer and chief fundraiser, while Deakin's daughter Ivy Brookes was founder and secretary of the CLP women's section, intended to form a liberal counterpart to the more conservative Australian Women's National League. In 1911, the CLP renamed itself the People's Liberal Party, as part of an abortive merger with the People's Party (a rural liberal organisation).[15] In July 1911, the PLP launched a monthly magazine, the Liberal, which was financed and edited by Herbert Brookes. Deakin wrote anonymous articles for the publication, which was short-lived.[17]

The New South Wales Federal Liberal League was established in July 1909 to help elect Liberal candidates to federal parliament. It was established by delegates from the Liberal and Reform Association, the People's Reform League, the Liberal and Progressive League, and the three equivalent women's branches. Dugald Thomson was chosen as the organisation's president and Archdale Parkhill as its secretary. Joseph Cook was given the title of "leader".[18] The league began conducting preselection ballots and endorsing candidates for federal parliament later in the year.[19]