Liberal Union (South Australia)

The Liberal Union was a political party in South Australia resulting from a merger between the Liberal and Democratic Union (LDU) and the two independent conservative parties, the Australasian National League (ANL, formerly National Defence League (NDL)) and the Farmers and Producers Political Union (FPPU) as a response to Labor successes culminating in South Australia's first majority government at the 1910 election. The Liberal Union was created in 1910 after the election where the LDU, the ANL and the FPPU endorsed a shared "Liberal" slate of candidates. The parties readily approved the merger, however, the LDU which salvaged the fewest of their principles from the merger were more hesitant. LDU leader Archibald Peake persuaded a party conference that 'the day of the middle party is passed', and approved the merger by just one vote. The Liberal Union lasted until 16 October 1923 when it became the Liberal Federation after merging with the National Party.