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Peter Harvey, Channel 9 Journalist, Dies, 68

Mar 02, 2013

Peter Harvey, best known as a Channel 9 journalist over nearly four decades, has died at the age of 68.

Harvey died from pancreatic cancer.

In a storied career, Harvey became famous for his “Peter Harvey – Canberra” sign-off. He reported politics from Canberra for two decades, starting in 1975 just before the Whitlam Dismissal.

In an interview shown tonight, Harvey remembered standing on the steps of Parliament House supporting his cameraman as Gough Whitlam famously delivered his “Kerr’s cur” speech.


Filed Under: Media, Political History, Video, Whitlam Dismissal Tagged With: ,

Peacock Defeats Howard In Surprise Challenge; Nationals Replace Sinclair With Blunt

May 09, 1989

The Liberal Opposition leader, John Howard, was replaced by Andrew Peacock on May 9, 1989, in a surprise leadership challenge that also led the National Party to replace Ian Sinclair with Charles Blunt.

The challenge to Howard was hatched in almost total secrecy. Peacock defeated Howard by 44 votes to 27.

The week after the leadership change, the anti-Howard plotters appeared in a remarkable Four Corners program on the ABC and detailed how they removed Howard.

Peacock had been leader of the Liberal Party between 1983 and 1985, until he was replaced by John Howard after a misjudged attempt to remove Howard as deputy leader. Howard led the Liberal Party to defeat against the Hawke Labor government in 1987.

Sinclair became leader of the National Party in January 1984, following the retirement of Doug Anthony. First elected to Parliament in 1963, Sinclair had been a minister in the Menzies, Holt, McEwen, Gorton, McMahon and Fraser governments. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Howard, Liberal Party, The Nationals Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Video Scenes From 1983 Federal Election Night

Mar 05, 1983

On election night, March 5, 1983, it soon became clear that Bob Hawke’s ALP had defeated Malcolm Fraser’s Liberal-National Coalition.

However, some Liberals, including Andrew Peacock and Ian MacPhee, were reluctant to give up hope that the government might hang on.

This video shows some scenes from the election counting. The media panel includes David Butler, Jim Waley, Max Walsh and George Negus. It features Andrew Peacock, Ian MacPhee and the incoming Treasurer, Paul Keating. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 1983 Federal Election, A.L.P., Environment, Fraser, Liberal Party, Video Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,