June_1991_Australian_Labor_Party_leadership_spill

June 1991 Australian Labor Party leadership spill

June 1991 Australian Labor Party leadership spill

Ballots to select the new party leader

A leadership spill in the Australian Labor Party, the party of government in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 3 June 1991. It was the first of two ballots that year with Prime Minister Bob Hawke surviving the ballot against Treasurer Paul Keating, who then went to the backbench.

Quick Facts Candidate, Caucus vote ...

Background

Bob Hawke had been leader of the Labor Party since 3 February 1983, and Prime Minister since the 1983 election, with Labor winning a record four elections under his leadership. However, the unexpectedly close win at the 1990 election, coupled with the deepening economic recession, fuelled tensions within the government over economic policy.[citation needed]

Furthermore, a re-energised Liberal opposition led by John Hewson, a qualified economist, gained ground in the opinion polls.[citation needed] Hawke had alienated key NSW Right faction powerbroker, Senator Graham Richardson by late 1990, with the latter bluntly telling Hawke he no longer had the support of the Right.[citation needed]

Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Paul Keating launched his first June challenge against Hawke after the latter apparently reneged on a Kirribilli agreement that he would hand over the leadership in 1990.[1]

Candidates

Results

Quick Facts Candidate, Caucus vote ...

The following tables gives the ballot results:

Leadership ballot

More information Name, Votes ...

Deputy leadership ballot

More information Candidate, Final ballot ...

Aftermath

Hawke's public support continued to decline before in December 1991, he called on another spill which Keating won 56–51.

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Playing politics is playing for keeps". The Advertiser. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
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