Can You Help?

This website is in imminent danger of being shut down. It has been online since 1995, but the personal circumstances of the owner, Malcolm Farnsworth, are such that economies have to be made. Server costs and suchlike have become prohibitive. At the urging of people online, I have agreed to see if Patreon provides a solution. More information is available at the Patreon website. If you are able to contribute even $1.00/month to keep the site running, please click the Patreon button below.


Become a Patron!


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: , , , , , ,

John Howard Takes Liberal Leadership As Andrew Peacock Miscalculates

Sep 05, 1985

John Howard became leader of the Liberal Party for the first time at a bizarre meeting of the parliamentary party called to remove him as deputy leader.

The party meeting was called by leader Andrew Peacock in an attempt to remove Howard from the deputy leadership. Peacock had demanded an assurance from Howard that he would not challenge for the leadership but Howard refused to give one.

A contest between Howard and John Moore saw Howard re-elected deputy leader by 38 votes to 31. Peacock then resigned and Howard was elected leader, defeating Jim Carlton by 57 votes to 6. Neil Brown became deputy leader. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Howard, Liberal Party, Video Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Snedden Acknowledges Whitlam Victory But Won’t Concede He Lost

May 29, 1974

Eleven days after the 1974 Federal Election, the Leader of the Opposition, Bill Snedden, finally acknowledged that he had not won the election, but he claimed he hadn’t lost either.

Snedden said: “We were not defeated. We did not win enough seats to form a government.”

In years to come, Snedden would claim he said, “We didn’t win but we didn’t lose all”, although there is no evidence from the recording that he actually said that. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 1974 Federal Election, Audio, Liberal Party, Whitlam Tagged With:

ABC Election Count: 1974 Federal Election

May 18, 1974

The audio clip below contains 90 minutes from the ABC television coverage of the 1974 Federal Election count.

It includes the speeches by Opposition Leader Bill Snedden and Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

The broadcast was hosted by Ken Begg. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 1974 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio, Liberal Party, The Count, Whitlam Tagged With: ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »