Defections

• In 1933, Independent MP Sir Littleton Groom (Darling Downs) joined the United Australia Party.
• In 1934, Country Senator Robert Elliott (Victoria) lost preselection. He resigned from the party and sat as an Independent.
• In 1934, Labor Senator John Daly (South Australia) was expelled from the state branch of the party, and sat as an Independent.
• In 1934, a dispute between the federal Australian Country Party and the state-based United Country Party in Victoria saw the two parties endorse candidates separately. The UCP had demanded that sitting members sign a new pledge before being re-endorsed, which several MPs objected to. The two sitting members, deputy party leader Thomas Paterson (Gippsland) and Hugh McClelland (Wimmera), were endorsed by the federal party. The other Victorian Country Party MP, William Hill (Echuca), retired rather than sign the pledge.