Deakin's supporters began to lobby him to seek a return to government in 1905.
He was reinvigorated by a trip to Western Australia early in the year, where he was struck by the development of the Eastern Goldfields and received encouragement from John Forrest and Austin Chapman.
Most importantly, Chris Watson wrote privately that he would have the "active support" of the Labor Party if he resumed office.

On 24 June 1905, the weekend before parliament resumed, Deakin delivered a two-hour speech to his constituents in Ballarat.
He claimed the pragmatic middle ground for his party, criticising the policies of Labor and the Free Traders as vague and impractical, and further accused Reid of breaking their fiscal truce.
The significance of his address was elevated two days later when The Age stated that "Mr Deakin's Ballarat speech, read in any light, is a notice to Mr Reid to quit".
Although Deakin denied that this interpretation was correct, Reid took it to mean he had withdrawn his support and stated as such in parliament.
Deakin then successfully moved an amendment to the address-in-reply, while denying it had been premeditated.
By convention, this was treated as a motion of no confidence.
Reid sought a dissolution and early election, but was refused by the Governor-General, Lord Northcote; Deakin was then commissioned to form a  new government.
Deakin's supporters began to lobby him to seek a return to government in 1905. He was reinvigorated by a trip to Western Australia early in the year, where he was struck by the development of the Eastern Goldfields and received encouragement from John Forrest and Austin Chapman. Most importantly, Chris Watson wrote privately that he would have the "active support" of the Labor Party if he resumed office.
On 24 June 1905, the weekend before parliament resumed, Deakin delivered a two-hour speech to his constituents in Ballarat. He claimed the pragmatic middle ground for his party, criticising the policies of Labor and the Free Traders as vague and impractical, and further accused Reid of breaking their fiscal truce. The significance of his address was elevated two days later when The Age stated that "Mr Deakin's Ballarat speech, read in any light, is a notice to Mr Reid to quit". Although Deakin denied that this interpretation was correct, Reid took it to mean he had withdrawn his support and stated as such in parliament. Deakin then successfully moved an amendment to the address-in-reply, while denying it had been premeditated. By convention, this was treated as a motion of no confidence. Reid sought a dissolution and early election, but was refused by the Governor-General, Lord Northcote; Deakin was then commissioned to form a  new government.
Alfred Deakin