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

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…]


Final Television Broadcasts: 1983 Federal Election

This is the audio of the final television broadcasts by the major political parties for the 1983 Federal Election.

Each broadcast was shown on the ABC as part of its statutory requirement to provide time to the parties during an election.

They were shown on the Wednesday night before the election, a few hours before the electronic blackout on election material. [Read more…]


National Party Advertisement: Doug Anthony

This is the audio of a National Party television advertisement broadcast during the 1983 Federal Election.

It features the National Party leader Doug Anthony in one of his last appearances. [Read more…]


Doug Anthony: National Party 1983 Federal Election Policy Speech

This is the audio of National Party leader Doug Anthony’s policy speech for the 1983 Federal Election.

Anthony had been the member for Richmond (NSW), since succeeding his father in 1957. He was a minister in the final government of Sir Robert Menzies, as well as in the governments of Harold Holt, John McEwen, John Gorton and William McMahon.

He was Deputy Prime Minister under Malcolm Fraser and Minister for Trade and Resources between 1975-83. [Read more…]