December_1977_Australian_Labor_Party_leadership_election

December 1977 Australian Labor Party leadership election

December 1977 Australian Labor Party leadership election

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A leadership election of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), then the opposition party in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 22 December 1977. Following the resignation of Gough Whitlam former Treasurer Bill Hayden was elected Labor's new leader winning 36 votes to 28 over Lionel Bowen who was then elected deputy leader.[1]

Quick Facts Candidate, Caucus vote ...

Background

After losing the 1977 election Gough Whitlam finally resigned as party leader after more than 10 years.

Bill Hayden who in May had come within two votes of toppling Whitlam, announced the day after election that he would contest the leadership.[2]

Candidates

Results

Quick Facts Candidate, First ballot ...

Leadership ballot

The following tables gives the ballot results:

More information Name, Votes ...

Deputy leadership ballot

More information Candidate, 1st ballot ...

Paul Keating had previously announced that he would stand for the deputy leadership,[3] however he stood aside in favour of Bowen.[4]

Aftermath

Hayden led the party in on the 1980 election where they managed to halve Malcolm Fraser's majority.

References

  1. [1]
    Davidson, Gay (23 December 1977). "The Labor Leaders: Changes Mark a Swing to the Centre; Hayden Leader, Bowen deputy". The Canberra Times. p. 1.
  2. [2]
    Gay Davidson (12 December 1977). "Hayden will seek Labor leadership". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  3. [3]
    "Keating to nominate as deputy". The Canberra Times. 21 December 1977. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  4. [4]
    "Labor elects new Leader today". The Canberra Times. 22 December 1977. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
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