1983 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election

Liberal Party of Australia
leadership election, 1983
11 March 1983
 
Candidate Andrew Peacock John Howard
Caucus vote 36 20
Percentage 64.3% 35.7%
Seat Kooyong (Vic.) Bennelong (NSW)
Leader before election

Malcolm Fraser

 Elected Leader

Andrew Peacock

An election for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia took place on 11 March 1983, following the resignation of Malcolm Fraser following his defeat at the 1983 federal election. The contest was won by Andrew Peacock over John Howard by 36 votes to 20.[1]

Candidates

Background

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser resigned his leadership on the 6th of March after losing the 1983 election to Bob Hawke in order to allow the party to refresh and unite. Likewise, he would go on to resign his seat in parliament, at the relatively young, age of 52. Acknowledging he still had a strong and keen interrest in politics but wanted to allow the party to grow under new leadership.[2][3]

Results

Liberal Party of Australia
deputy leadership ballot, 1983
 
Candidate John Howard Ian Macphee Steele Hall
Caucus vote 30 (53.6%) 12 (21.4%) 9 (16.1%)
 
Candidate John Moore Michael Hodgman
Caucus vote 3 (5.4%) 2 (3.6%)
Deputy Leader before election

John Howard

 Elected Deputy Leader

John Howard

The following tables gives the ballot results:[4]

Leadership ballot

Name Votes Percentage
Andrew Peacock 36 64.3
John Howard 20 35.7

Deputy leadership ballot

Candidate Votes %
John Howard 30 53.6
Ian Macphee 12 21.4
Steele Hall 9 16.1
John Moore 3 5.4
Michael Hodgman 2 3.6

Aftermath

The Liberal Party under the leadership of Peacock went on to lose the 1984 election to a politically and electorally strong Prime Minister Bob Hawke. The Liberal Party and Peacock Leadership had already been viewed by some as divided and fragile, as such would eventually result in Howard winning leadership in 1985[5][6][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "New Liberal Leadership". The Canberra Times. 12 March 1983. p. 2.
  2. ^ "PM takes blame for defeat - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 6 Mar 1983". Trove. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Parliament decision 'difficult, sad' - Fraser will resign on Thursday - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 28 Mar 1983". Trove. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Peacock elected Opposition Leader". Canberra Times (Act : 1926 - 1995). 12 March 1983. p. 3.
  5. ^ "Election Speeches · Bob Hawke, 1984 · Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House". electionspeeches.moadoph.gov.au. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Peacock's leadership hold fragile, McMahon says - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 19 Sep 1984". Trove. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Saturday FORUM Tom Uren: the man who gave peace a chance - Boxer, athlete, POW on the Burma Railway and Labor Minister, Tom Uren's life story is a rich experience, JENNA PRICE reports. - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 20 Aug 1994". Trove. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
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