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1982 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill

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Liberal Party of Australia
leadership spill, 1982

← 1975 8 April 1982 1983 →
 
Candidate Malcolm Fraser Andrew Peacock
Caucus vote 54 27
Percentage 66.7% 33.3%
Seat Wannon (Vic.) Kooyong (Vic.)

Leader before election

Malcolm Fraser

Elected Leader

Malcolm Fraser

A spill of the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia took place on 8 April 1982, following former foreign minister Andrew Peacock's dissatisfaction with the party's direction under Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. Fraser beat Peacock's challenge for the leadership of the Liberal Party, 54 votes to 27.[1]

Background

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On 16 April 1981 Andrew Peacock suddenly resigned from the Cabinet, accusing Prime Minister Fraser of constant interference in his portfolio. This prompted much speculation that intended to challenge Fraser for the leadership.[2]

Almost exactly a year later, after a disappointing by election defeat and days after the party's defeat in the Victorian state election (losing power after 27 years), on 5 April 1982 Peacock declared his intention to challenge Fraser, saying "The results of recent elections have shown that the Liberal Party has lost the broad community support which it requires to govern effectively.".[3]

The day before the spill Deputy Leader Phillip Lynch announced his resignation stating that "I believe that this is the time to seek the talents of a younger man for the position." This prompted talk of a ticket of Peacock for leader and Treasurer John Howard for deputy[4]

Candidates

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Results

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Liberal Party of Australia
deputy leadership ballot, 1982

← 1980
1983 →
 
Candidate John Howard Michael MacKellar Michael Hodgman
First ballot 34 (42.0%) 18 (22.2%) 22 (27.2%)
Second ballot 56 (55.6%) 27 (33.3%) 9 (11.1%)

 
Candidate Ian Viner
First ballot 5 (6.2%)
Second ballot Eliminated

Deputy Leader before election

Phillip Lynch

Elected Deputy Leader

John Howard

The following tables gives the ballot results:[5]

Leadership ballot

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Name Votes Percentage
Malcolm Fraser 54 66.7
Andrew Peacock 27 33.3

Deputy leadership ballot

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Candidate First round Second round
John Howard 34 45
Michael MacKellar 18 27
Michael Hodgman 22 9
Ian Viner 5 Eliminated
Informal 1 0
Abstention 1 0

Aftermath

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Following his victory Fraser returned Peacock to the Cabinet, replacing the retiring Lynch. It was however not enough to maintain his prime ministership for long, 11 months later he lost a snap federal election to Bob Hawke's Labor Party and resigned, leaving Peacock to take the leadership.

References

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  1. ^ "Australian premier coasts past leadership challenge". The Christian Science Monitor. 9 April 1982. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Peacock denies plan to overthrow PM". Canberra Times. 16 April 1981.
  3. ^ "THE LIBERAL LEADERSHIP Peacock will challenge on Thursday". Canberra Times. 6 April 1982.
  4. ^ "Lynch quits as Deputy Leader". Canberra Times. 7 April 1982.
  5. ^ "Liberals decide Peacock not different enough". Canberra Times. 9 April 1982.