In 1901, Salmon won election to the new Australian House of Representatives as the Protectionist member for Laanecoorie, holding the seat until its abolition at the 1913 election.
 He was known for his support of the White Australia policy, a strong national defence (not including conscription), and the policy of New Protection.
 He served as chairman of committees from 1904 to 1905.

In 1909, when the Protectionists amalgamated with the Anti-Socialists, Salmon became a member of the resulting "Fusion" Liberal Party.
He was known as "an undistinguished but loyal personal follower" of Alfred Deakin, who began his third term as prime minister on 2 June.
On 23 July, the incumbent speaker Sir Frederick Holder suffered a fatal cerebral haemorrhage while in the chamber.
Salmon was elected as his successor on the same day, defeating Philip Fysh and Agar Wynne with the aid of Deakin's personal support.

Salmon's term as Speaker lasted less than a year, as the Labor Party won the 1910 federal election and elected one of its own members to the position, Charles McDonald.
This remained the shortest tenure for a Speaker until Ian Sinclair's term of 180 days in 1998.
Salmon attempted to transfer to the Senate in 1913 after his seat's abolition, but was defeated; he also declined preselection for the safe seat of Balaclava.
In 1915, however, he won the seat of Grampians from Labor in a by-election and joined the Nationalist Party upon its formation in 1916.

Salmon was a freemason and from 1914 was the grand master of the Grand Lodge of Victoria.
He was also a lieutenant-colonel in the Australian Army Medical Corps and commanded a base hospital in Melbourne in 1914.
He died on 15 September 1917 at his home in South Yarra and was buried with Masonic rites and full military honours.
His eulogy was delivered by Lowther Clarke, Archbishop of Melbourne, and both Prime Minister Billy Hughes and Leader of the Opposition Matthew Charlton attended his funeral.
In 1901, Salmon won election to the new Australian House of Representatives as the Protectionist member for Laanecoorie, holding the seat until its abolition at the 1913 election.  He was known for his support of the White Australia policy, a strong national defence (not including conscription), and the policy of New Protection.  He served as chairman of committees from 1904 to 1905.
In 1909, when the Protectionists amalgamated with the Anti-Socialists, Salmon became a member of the resulting "Fusion" Liberal Party. He was known as "an undistinguished but loyal personal follower" of Alfred Deakin, who began his third term as prime minister on 2 June. On 23 July, the incumbent speaker Sir Frederick Holder suffered a fatal cerebral haemorrhage while in the chamber. Salmon was elected as his successor on the same day, defeating Philip Fysh and Agar Wynne with the aid of Deakin's personal support.
Salmon's term as Speaker lasted less than a year, as the Labor Party won the 1910 federal election and elected one of its own members to the position, Charles McDonald. This remained the shortest tenure for a Speaker until Ian Sinclair's term of 180 days in 1998. Salmon attempted to transfer to the Senate in 1913 after his seat's abolition, but was defeated; he also declined preselection for the safe seat of Balaclava. In 1915, however, he won the seat of Grampians from Labor in a by-election and joined the Nationalist Party upon its formation in 1916.
Salmon was a freemason and from 1914 was the grand master of the Grand Lodge of Victoria. He was also a lieutenant-colonel in the Australian Army Medical Corps and commanded a base hospital in Melbourne in 1914. He died on 15 September 1917 at his home in South Yarra and was buried with Masonic rites and full military honours. His eulogy was delivered by Lowther Clarke, Archbishop of Melbourne, and both Prime Minister Billy Hughes and Leader of the Opposition Matthew Charlton attended his funeral.
Carty Salmon