William Kidston - Premiership

Premiership

By 1905 Kidston's collaboration with non-Labor elements had provoked criticism from sections of the Labor movement, and when the ALF's convention in May endorsed a socialist objective, Kidston protested vigorously. Morgan's death in early 1906 led to Kidston's ascension as Premier. In May 1907 he announced the formation of his own political party, to which a majority of the Labor members in parliament declared allegiance.

The early years of Kidston's Premiership were dominated by his fight with the Legislative Council, which rejected much of his legislation. When Kidston requested the Governor, Lord Chelmsford, in 1908 to appoint more members to secure passage of his legislation, Lord Chelmsford refused and Kidston resigned in protest. Robert Philp was commissioned as Premier, but without a majority in the Legislative Assembly, could not govern. Chelmsford attempted to dissolve the Assembly, but before he could do so, the Assembly blocked supply. The paralysis was ended when Lord Chelmsford dissolved the Assembly, guaranteed Supply in his capacity as Governor, and called an election.

Kidston won the subsequent election and immediately acted to curtail the Council's powers. Kidston also proceeded with laws enacting electoral reform and the establishment of Wages Boards, with the support of the Labor Party. He lost Labor's support when he established private railway construction in the state, but was supported by Philp. In late 1908, presaging the Fusion in the Commonwealth Parliament, Kidston's and Philp's parties merged into one anti-Labor force. With several of his former supporters deserting him, Kidston called another election in October 1909. His Liberal Party won comfortably.

Kidston succeeded, after lengthy negotiations, to ensure amendments to the Commonwealth Constitution to provide the States with returned customs and excise revenue. Kidston enacted further electoral reform by redistributing electorate boundaries, abolishing dual-member electorates, and entrenching one vote one value, though this would later be undone in the gerrymandering of subsequent Premiers.

In 1911, he resigned to take up a position as President of the Land Court, which he maintained until 1919. He died in October that year in Coorparoo and was buried in Rockhampton.