Before the opening of the second session on 17th November, 1908, the Kidston and Philp parties were fused into one on the common basis of the policy enunciated by Mr. Kidston in 1907 at Rockhampton. A reconstruction of the Cabinet preceded the meeting of Parliament. When the session closed on 22nd December very little legislative work had been done, most of the Government time being occupied with consideration of the Estimates, the Labour party, which had then become the Opposition proper, again offering obstruction to Government measures, and again compelling resort to the closure. An important measure of a non-party character was passed, however, for a revision of the statute law in many important details. The most significant measure of the session was the Loan Act of 1908, authorising the borrowing of £3,208,000, the vote affording proof of the determination of the Government and Parliament to enter upon a vigorous policy of railway and public works extension.
The third session of the seventeenth Parliament opened on 29th June, 1909. The two sides of the House were so evenly balanced, owing to several supporters of the Government having crossed to the Opposition benches, that the majority of the Government was reduced to one. Finding themselves impotent to transact public business, the Government advised the Lieutenant-Governor to grant a dissolution, provided the House would grant Supply. This was done, and His Excellency accordingly dissolved the Assembly on 31st August.
THE EIGHTEENTH PARLIAMENT: 2nd November, 1909.
The eighteenth Parliament met on 2nd November. The Address in Reply was adopted without division on the 5th, and Parliament at once proceeded to the business outlined in the Opening Speech of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, a laudable desire to transact business without unnecessary discussion being evinced. The most important measure was the University of Queensland Act, which was passed in time to enable the dedication ceremony to take place on 10th December, Queensland's jubilee day. Of vital importance to Brisbane and its suburbs was the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Act. An amendment of the Workers' Compensation Act and a Workers' Dwellings Act also became law. Resolutions were also passed approving of the construction of railways in various parts of the State.