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| 1907, Nov. 8 |
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| The “Harvester Judgement” (commonwealth) established the basic wage, the basis of Australian wage-fixing systems for the next 60 years. | 1 |
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| 1908–9 |
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| Second Labour cabinet (Fisher). The government was much preoccupied by foreign affairs and defense. The new tariff (1908) gave British goods a 5 percent preference, and other efforts were made to draw closer the bonds to Great Britain, chiefly in view of the rising naval power of Germany and the gradual withdrawal of British naval forces from the Pacific. The Australian colonies had all taken part with the mother country in the South African War, and contributions had been made since 1890 to the maintenance of a naval squadron in the South Pacific. In 1908 the Australian government decided on the construction of a naval force of its own and began work on a 22-year program. | 2 |
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| 1908, Oct.–Nov |
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| The commonwealth capital was finally fixed at Canberra (New South Wales), the state government ceding the necessary territory, with a separate strip of coast. | 3 |
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| 1909–10 |
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| Another Deakin government, based on fusion with the following of Reid and his successor, Joseph Cook. | 4 |
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| 1909 |
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| Federal old-age pensions were established for those over 65 years of age and resident in Australia at least 25 (later 20) years. | 5 |
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| 1909–10 |
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| Defense Acts. After a visit and recommendations by Lord Kitchener, in 1911 the Australian government introduced a system of compulsory military training and began to organize a regular military force. | 6 |
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| 1910 |
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| Australia's first coinage was introduced (first postage stamps, 1913). | 7 |
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| 1911, Jan. 1 |
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| The Northern Territory, administered by South Australia, became a federal possession. | 8 |
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| April |
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| In the general election the Labour Party for the first time won a clear majority of seats in the House of Representatives, thus ending the system of three minority parties working in combination. Fisher formed his second government, which lasted until 1913. Continuation of the social program (heavy tax on large and absentee properties, etc.). In order to make “White Australia” more secure, the government resumed the system of assistance to desirable white immigrants, especially with the view of settling the Northern Territory. | 9 |
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