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Federal election major party leaders
1901 1903 1906
'Protectionist Party' 'Alfred Deakin' 'Prime Minister' 'Parliament': 2 years 'Leader since': 1903 'Division': Ballarat 'WIN'
'Labour Party' 'Chris Watson' 'Labour leader' 'Parliament': 2 years 'Leader since': 1901 'Division': Bland
'Free Trade Party' 'George Reid' 'Opposition leader' 'Parliament': 2 years 'Leader since': 1901 'Division': East Sydney

'Federal elections' were held in Australia on December 16, 1903. The incumbent Protectionist Party led by Prime Minister of Australia Alfred Deakin defeated the opposition Free Trade Party led by George Reid.

'House of Reps 1903-06 (FPTP) — Turnout 50.27% (Non-CV) — Informal 2.50%'

	'Party'	'Votes'	'%'	'Swing'	'Seats'	'Change'
	Free Trade Party	247,774	34.37	+4.33	25	-3	(4 elected unopposed)
	Federal Labour Party	223,163	30.95	+15.20	23	+9	(2 elected unopposed)
	Protectionist Party	214,091	29.70	-7.05	26	-5	(11 elected unopposed)
	Revenue Tariff Party	3,546	0.49	★	1	+1
	Independents/Others	32,364	4.49		0	-2
	Total	720,938			'75'
	'Prot/Labour coalition'	'WIN'			'49'	+4
	Free Trade Party				25	-3

'Senate 1903-06 (FPTP BV) — Turnout 46.86% (Non-CV) — Informal N/A'

	'Party'	'Votes'	'%'	'Swing'	'Seats Won'	'Seats Held'
	Free Trade Party	986,030	34.33	-5.11	4	12
	Federal Labour Party	854,628	29.76	+16.25	10	14
	Protectionist Party	503,586	17.53	-27.33	3	8
	Liberal Party (Qld)	136,727	4.76	★	0	0
	Tariff Reform Party (Tas)	25,310	0.88	★	1	1
	Independent	365,851	12.74		1	+1
	Total	2,872,132			19	36

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The election resulted in the Protectionist Party retaining government, however the Labour party made significant gains outside New South Wales and Victoria, and with three seats short of the incumbent Protectionist Party, made for an unstable minority government. Immediately after the election the Protectionist's governed with help from the Labour party, however the close results saw three changes in government before the next election was called in 1906.
The three parties that contested the 1901 election also contested the 1903 election, with only the Protectionist's changing leaders to Alfred Deakin as a result of Edmund Barton's appointment as an inaugural judge of the newly constituted High Court of Australia. The Free Trade Party was again lead by George Reid. The only significant difference in policy between these parties was on trade issues. The Protectionist's sought to protect Australian industry and agriculture by placing tariffs on imports. The Free Traders downgraded the view they had last election of having no tariffs to campaigning on minimal tariffs. The other major party contesting the election was the Labour Party, the workers party who wanted equality for all people in Australia. This election also saw the debut of Australia's first of many minor parties, the Revenue Tariff Party, whose sole elected member joined the Labor Party at the start of the first sitting of the new parliament.
Following a federal government act in 1902, women were given the vote in all states, leading to a significant increase in the number of votes cast in the 1903 election. Like the 1901 election, voting was voluntary and candidates were elected by the First-past-the-post system.

Contents

Electorates

References

Electorates

The same electorates used in the 1901 election were used again in this election with only minimal changes. So again there were 26 seats in New South Wales, 23 in Victoria, 9 in Queensland, 7 newly drawn electorates in South Australia and 5 in both Western Australia and Tasmania.
The most marginal electorates from the 1901 election are shown here.
New England 0.3% Pro to FT
Capricornia 1.0% Ind to ALP
Herbert 1.6% ALP to Pro
Werriwa 1.9% FT to Pro
Lannecorrie 2% Pro to IP
Yarra 2.3% ALP to Pro
Clarke 2.4% Pro to FT
Coolgardie 2.8% ALP to FT
Flinders 3% FT to Pro
Robertson 3% Ft to Pro
Oxley 3.2% Pro to ALP
Maranoa 3.3% ALP to FT
Riverina 3.5% Pro to FT
Bourke 4% Pro to FT
Echuca 4% Pro to FT
Macquerie 4% FT to Pro

References

★ State and federal election results in Australia since 1890