bˈɑːɹwɛl lˈɔst ðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti fˈoːɹ ᵻlˈɛkʃən tə ðə dʒˈɑːn ɡˈʌn lˈɛd lˈeɪbɚ pˈɑːɹɾi ænd, ˈæftɚ bɹˈiːfli ˈæktɪŋ æz ˌɑːpəzˈɪʃən lˈiːdɚ, ɹɪzˈaɪnd fɹʌm stˈeɪt pˈɑːɹləmənt, sˈiːkɪŋ ɐ sˈiːt ɪnðɪ ɔːstɹˈeɪliən hˈaʊs ʌv ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntətˌɪvz wɪð ɐ vjˈuː tə bᵻkˈʌmɪŋ pɹˈaɪm mˈɪnɪstɚ.
Barwell lost the 1924 election to the John Gunn led Labor Party and, after briefly acting as Opposition Leader, resigned from state parliament, seeking a seat in the Australian House of Representatives with a view to becoming Prime Minister.