Watson government was the third federal executive government of the Commonwealth of Australia.
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14 Facts About Watson government
2.
The Watson government was the first Labor Party national government in both Australia and in the world.
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3.
Watson government was aged just 37 when he became Prime Minister of Australia, and remains the youngest person to have held the post.
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4.
The short-lived first Deakin Watson government failed to pass any legislation in the fledgling Australian Federal Parliament, and its shaky coalition with the Labour Party did not long survive the December 1903 Election.
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5.
John Christian Watson was a trade unionist, company director, and politician who led Australia's—and the world's—first Labor national government.
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6.
Watson government left school aged ten, worked as an assistant railway construction worker, farm hand, stable hand and compositor before becoming heavily involved in trade union politics.
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7.
Watson government was elected to the Trades and Labour Council in 1890, and the following year became involved with the newly formed Labor Party, entering the NSW Parliament as a Labour MP in 1894.
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8.
Watson government was active in arguing the Labour case for Federation, and joined Labor's opposition to the Australian Constitution put to referendum in the 1890s, though accepted the majority vote once obtained.
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9.
Watson government entered the new Federal Parliament as Member for Bland, and at the first meeting of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party in May 1901, he was elected leader.
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10.
Watson government was aged just 37 when he became Prime Minister of Australia, and remains the youngest person to hold the post.
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11.
Watson government Ministry was the third Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 27 April 1904 to 17 August 1904.
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12.
Watson government became Treasurer, and gave External Affairs to Billy Hughes.
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13.
Watson government commanded a majority in neither the House of Representatives, nor the Senate.
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14.
Deakin promised "the utmost fair play" to allow the new Watson government to operate, but his Protectionist Party was too divided to agree to serve in a Labour led alliance.
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