Bill Hayden’s 1980 Federal Election ALP Policy Speech

Oct 01, 1980

Bill Hayden delivered the ALP’s 1980 federal election policy speech at the Greek Community Centre in South Brisbane on October 1, 1980.

It was the Leader of the Opposition’s only election campaign as leader. With the ALP positioning NSW Premier Neville Wran and ACTU President Bob Hawke alongside Hayden for the campaign, it was hardly a vote of confidence in his leadership. Despite winning 13 seats and reducing Malcolm Fraser’s majority to 23, Hayden did not survive to fight the next election. He was replaced by Hawke, who entered the Parliament at this election.

Transcript of Opposition Leader Bill Hayden’s 1980 federal election policy speech.

Fellow Australians,

The policies I am privileged to put to you tonight are proposals for all Australians. They are policies we believe will begin the task of restoring equality of opportunity and national pride to our country, and dignity and fair play to all our people.

They are policies to bring Australians together, not drive them apart, policies that unite our country, policies that allow all Australians to share our national good fortune and to play their part in the development of our future. And that, I suggest, is really the great issue before us in the elections on October 18. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 1980 Federal Election, A.L.P., Policy Speech Tagged With: , ,

Malcolm Fraser’s 1980 Liberal Party Policy Speech

Sep 30, 1980

This is the policy speech delivered by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser on behalf of the Liberal Party for the 1980 Federal Election.

Fraser

The speech was delivered on September 30, 1980 at the Moorabbin Town Hall, in Melbourne, and was broadcast live on ABC television.

This was Fraser’s third election as Liberal leader. After becoming prime minister on November 11, 1975, following the Governor-General’s dismissal of Gough Whitlam, Fraser won a landslide victory at the 1975 Federal Election. He repeated the victory in 1977.

However, in 1980 the Liberal-National Party coalition polled 50.4% of the two-party-preferred vote at the election, swing against it of 4.2%. It suffered a net loss of 12 seats, winning 74 to the ALP’s 51. The ALP’s primary vote rose 5.5% to 45.15%. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 1980 Federal Election, Audio, Fraser, Hawke, Liberal Party, Policy Speech Tagged With: , , ,

Bill Hayden Profiled By 60 Minutes

Sep 28, 1980

This is a 60 Minutes profile of Opposition Leader Bill Hayden, telecast during the 1980 federal election.

Hayden was contesting his first and only election as leader of the ALP. He had succeeded Gough Whitlam as ALP leader in 1977. A former policeman, Hayden had survived the Whitlam years with his reputation intact. He had been Minister for Social Security and had introduced Medibank, the forerunner of today’s Medicare. He was Treasurer in the final months of the government in 1975.

The ALP lost the 1980 election, although it picked up 13 seats and reduced Fraser’s majority. Hayden was replaced by Bob Hawke in February 1983, on the very day that Fraser called an early election. Hayden went on to serve as Minister for Foreign Affairs until 1988. He was Governor-General from 1989 until 1996.

The profile was reported by George Negus. It was telecast on September 28, 1980, three weeks before the October 18 poll.

  • Watch the 60 Minutes report (14m)
Filed Under: 1980 Federal Election, A.L.P., Video Tagged With: , , ,

ALP 1980 Federal Election Advertisement: Mick Young On Jobs And Unemployment

Sep 23, 1980

This is an ALP election advertisement telecast on the ABC during the 1980 federal election.

The broadcast was one of the free spots made available by law to the major political parties. It went to air on September 23, 1980.

The advertisement features Mick Young, the ALP’s member for Port Adelaide. Young was a former National Secretary of the party who was a key figure in Gough Whitlam’s campaigns. He went on to become Special Minister of State and then Minister for Immigration in the Hawke government. He retired from politics in 1988 and died in 1996.

  • Watch the ALP advertisement (7m)
Filed Under: 1980 Federal Election, A.L.P., Election Advertisements, Video Tagged With: , , ,
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