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Woof Woof!

Jun 03, 2013

I can’t resist it. Whenever I hear someone say “woof woof”, I always think of a famous exchange between Gough Whitlam and Billy Snedden in 1975.

Today’s email from Crikey alerted me to this tweet from Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Saturday:

Gillard

At least Gillard was only expressing her delight at the 9-point victory by the Western Bulldogs over Port Adelaide.

In the House of Representatives on February 19, 1975, however, the same words were uttered by the Liberal Opposition Leader, Billy Snedden. They came during a discussion of one of the most contentious constitutional issues of the Whitlam years. Snedden was ridiculed by Whitlam and the incident contributed to Liberal unease over Snedden’s leadership. He was replaced by Malcolm Fraser a couple of weeks later. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Gillard, Opinion, Political History, Whitlam Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Sir Billy Snedden Retires From Parliament; Asserts Tradition Of Former Speakers Departing

Apr 21, 1983

Sir Billy Snedden resigned from the House of Representatives on its first day of sitting, following the 1983 election that brought the Hawke government to power.

SneddenSnedden had been Speaker of the House since 1976, following the appointment and subsequent election of the Fraser government.

He did not contest the election for a new Speaker when the House met for the first time on April 21, 1983. He told the House that he supported the tradition of former Speakers leaving the Parliament when they left the Speakership.

Snedden was first elected to Parliament in 1955 as the member for Bruce. He was Attorney-General under Prime Ministers Sir Robert Menzies and Harold Holt, between 1964-66. He was Minister for Immigration between 1966-69, Minister for Labour and National Service 1969-71, and Treasurer 1971-72. He became leader of the Liberal Party after its defeat in 1972 and led the Coalition to another defeat in 1974. In November of that year, his leadership was unsuccessfully challenged by Malcolm Fraser. He was defeated by Fraser in a second challenge in March 1975. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 1983 Federal Election, House of Reps, Parliamentary People Tagged With: , , ,

Malcolm Fraser Announces Date Of 1980 Federal Election

Sep 11, 1980

Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser announced the 1980 federal election in a ministerial statement to the House of Representatives on September 11.

Fraser announced that the House of Representatives election would be held on October 18, concurrent with a half-Senate election.

It was Fraser’s third election as prime minister, following his appointment on November 11, 1975 as a consequence of the Dismissal of the Whitlam Government. He was re-elected in 1977.

Fraser’s Labor opposition was led by Bill Hayden, who had succeeded Gough Whitlam in 1977 and was now facing his first election as leader. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 1980 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio, Fraser, House of Reps Tagged With: , ,

1974 Federal Election: Liberal Leader Billy Snedden’s Policy Speech

Apr 30, 1974

The Leader of the Opposition, Billy Snedden, delivered his 1974 federal election policy speech on behalf of the Liberal Party, in Sydney, on April 30, 1974.

SneddenSnedden was 47 when he gave this speech. He entered parliament in 1955 as the member for the eastern suburban Melbourne electorate of Bruce. Sir Robert Menzies appointed him Attorney-General in 1964. He subsequently became Minister for Immigration and then Minister for Labour and National Service. He became Treasurer when William McMahon became Prime Minister in 1971, and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in August 1971 after John Gorton was sacked.

Following the Coalition’s defeat in 1972, Snedden became the Liberal Party’s 5th leader and the nation’s 18th Leader of the Opposition. [Read more…]

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