The early elections at the federal level were three cornered contests between the NSW free traders, the Victorian protectionists and the first organized political party in Australia: Labor. The NSW and Victorian contingent were not the tightly disciplined parties that we see today, they were more amorphous in the loyalties, but were of similar class, social standing and ideology. The Victorians, led by Alfred Deakin, and Labor, led by Chris Watson, agreed on many common political principles; protectionism, restricted immigration, unemployment benefits and minimum wages.
After numerous minority Victorian Protectionist governments, propped up by the support of Labor, finally the Deakinists split with Labor for good. Judith Brett argues that the reason for the schism wasn't policy, but instead principles of party organisation.
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The "bearded men" are fortunate they happened to shroud the history of Federation in a cloak of triumphalism. It has managed to hide their ineptitude for a century now. Their lost opportunities include a Bill of Rights, a High Court and a wet noodle of an informal Constitution amongst others. There was another battle lost, though this in the Commonwealth halls of Melbourne. It was an epic battle; New South Wales vs Victoria, George Reid vs Alfred Deakin - it was the battle between Free-trade and Protectionism. (more)
