From federation to war (19011914) thumb|Edmund Barton (left), the first Prime Minister of Australia, with Alfred Deakin, the second Prime Minister The Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed by the Governor-General, Lord Hopetoun on 1 January 1901, and Barton was sworn in as Australia's first prime minister. The first Federal elections were held in March 1901 and resulted in a narrow plurality for the Protectionist Party over the Free Trade Party with the Australian Labor Party (ALP) polling third. Labor declared it would support the party which offered concessions to its program, and Barton's Protectionists formed a government, with Deakin as Attorney-General.
From FEDeRaTIon To waR (19011914) thuMB|edMund barton (leFt), the first Prime MinISteR of aUstralia, WiTh alfReD deakin, The SeCond pRimE ministER The comMonwEALTh oF AusTralia WAs prOclaimed by the GoveRnor-generaL, LOrd hopetoun on 1 jANuarY 1901, and BArtoN WAS swoRN iN as aUstRalia'S FirsT PRIme miNIsTeR. ThE First fedERAl elecTions wERe heLd in mARcH 1901 and ResUlTed In a nArroW pluRALitY for thE pRotectionIst pArty OVeR the free trADe Party witH the aUstraliAN LAbor pArty (alp) polLing ThIRd. LaBor dEclAREd IT woULd SUPporT the ParTy whicH oFfeRED ConcEsSIons TO itS proGrAm, anD bARToN'S prOTECtIoNIsts fORMed a GOvernment, with dEakiN as ATtOrnEy-gEneRAl.