1982 Video Flashback: Fraser Challenged by Peacock; Cain Labor Government Takes Office in Victoria

Sep 09, 2020

This video is a recording of the ABC News in Melbourne on Thursday, April 8, 1982.

On that day, Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, in office for 6 years and 5 months, beat off a challenge from his former Foreign Minister, Andrew Peacock. Fraser defeated Peacock by 54 votes to 27 in the Liberal partyroom. Treasurer John Howard was chosen as deputy leader, replacing Phillip Lynch.

The challenge to Fraser had been brewing for some time but was brought to a head by the defeat of the 27-year-old Liberal government in Victoria on April 3. On this day, the John Cain ministry was sworn into office, the first Labor government since John Cain snr in 1955.

Watch the news item (8m):

Filed Under: Companion Links, Video Tagged With: , , ,

On This Day In 1966: Menzies Retires, Holt Government Takes Office

Jan 26, 2016

Having announced his retirement on January 20, Sir Robert Menzies officially departed the prime ministership on this day in 1966. Harold Holt’s first ministry was sworn in at the same time.

It was a historic moment 50 years ago that brought to an end the political career of Australia’s longest-serving prime minister. Menzies had been Prime Minister for two years between April 1939 and August 1941. He formed the Liberal Party in 1944 and served for six years as Opposition Leader before defeating the Chifley Labor government in December 1949.

Menzies went on to win six more elections in 1951, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1961 and 1963. When he retired, he had been prime minister for 16 years and 5 weeks.

Holt

Harold Holt took office at the age of 57 with a ministerial career that had started 26 years earlier. He had first served under Menzies in 1940 and had been Treasurer since 1958. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Liberal Party, Ministries, Political History Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Liberal Party Climate Change Policy: 1990 vs 2007

Nov 20, 2007

This is a leaflet produced during the 2007 Federal Election campaign, attacking the Liberal Party’s climate change policy.

The leaflet compares the party’s policy in the 1990 election when Andrew Peacock was leader with the policy under Prime Minister John Howard in 2007.

In 1990, Peacock’s Shadow Minister for the Environment and the Arts was Senator Chris Puplick, a prominent moderate in the party.

In 2007, Howard’s Minister for Environment and Water Resources was Malcolm Turnbull, also a prominent moderate. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 1990 Federal Election, 2007 Federal Election, Climate Change, Election Literature, Howard, Liberal Party Tagged With: ,

The Opposition Leader As A Factor Influencing Voting Behaviour

Dec 05, 2001

Australia’s parliamentary elections are increasingly focused around perceptions and packaging of the leaders of the various parties.

The election of Senator Natasha Stott Despoja as the leader of the Australian Democrats in 2001 was an indication of the importance political parties place on leadership as a determinant of the voting patterns of electors.

Prime Minister John Howard’s attacks on Kim Beazley’s supposed lack of “ticker” in the 1998 election was another indication that Opposition leadership can be a factor in elections. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 1972 Federal Election, 1974 Federal Election, 1975 Federal Election, 1977 Federal Election, 1980 Federal Election, 1983 Federal Election, 1984 Federal Election, 1987 Federal Election, 1990 Federal Election, 1993 Federal Election, 1996 Federal Election, 1998 Federal Election, 2001 Federal Election, Electoral Behaviour, Howard, Opposition, Whitlam Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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