What is Free Trade Party?
{{Infobox Australian political party | party_name = Free Trade Party | party_logo = | party_wikicolourid = Free Trade | leader = [[George Reid]] | deputy = | foundation = 1889 | predecessor = | dissolution = 1909 | successor = [[Commonwealth Liberal Party]] | ideology = [[Free Trade]]<br>[[Conservatism]]<br>[[Liberalism]] | position = | international = }} The '''Free Trade Party''' was an [[Australia]]n [[political party]] from 1889 to 1909. It was officially known as the '''Australian Free Trade and Liberal Association'''. It was also called the '''Revenue Tariff Party''' in some states and renamed the '''Anti-Socialist Party''' in 1906. It wanted to remove [[tariff]]s ([[tax]]es on [[import]]s and [[export]]s) as well as other restrictions on trade. It argued that free trade would benefit everyone. However, many members also supported some tariffs to raise money for the government. The party was based in [[New South Wales]], where its leaders were [[Henry Parkes|Sir Henry Parkes]] and [[George Reid|Sir George Reid]]. It was the main party in New South Wales politics before [[Federation of Australia|federation]]. After the elections for the first [[Parliament of Australia|Commonwealth Parliament]], the Free Traders were the second largest group in the [[Australian House of Representatives]], with 25 seats. Reid became the Parliament's first [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|leader of the Opposition]]. He later became [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] in 1904-05. The deputy leader of the Free Trade Party was [[Willima McMillan]]. [[Joseph Cook]] became deputy leader of the party when McMillan retired in 1903. A separate [[Revenue Tariff Party (Tasmania)|Tasmanian Revenue Tariff Party]] took part in the 1903 federal election in [[Tasmania]] and won two seats. It joined with the Free Trade Party in federal parliament. After the question of tariffs had largely been settled, Reid looked around for another cause for his party. He settled on opposition to [[socialism]]. He criticised both the