1951 Australian Labor Party leadership election explained

Election Name:1951 Australian Labor Party
Leadership election
Country:Australia
Type:presidential
Vote Type:Caucus
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1945 Australian Labor Party leadership election
Previous Year:1945
Next Election:1954 Australian Labor Party leadership spill
Next Year:1954
Election Date:20 June 1951
Candidate1:H. V. Evatt
Colour1:DC241F
Popular Vote1:Unopposed
Leader
Before Election:Ben Chifley
After Election:H. V. Evatt

A leadership election in the Australian Labor Party, then the opposition party in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 20 June 1951. It saw the election of Leader H. V. Evatt as leader following the death of sitting leader Ben Chifley.

As deputy leader, Evatt became acting leader of the party upon Chifley's death on 13 June. Prior to the meeting, there was speculation that Arthur Calwell would also contest the leadership, however by 19 June he had decided not to run.[1] As a result, Evatt was elected unopposed. In the ballot for the deputy leadership, Calwell defeated Percy Clarey by nine votes on the third ballot, following the elimination of Eddie Ward and Allan Fraser:[2]

CandidateConstituency1st ballot2nd ballot3rd ballot
Arthur CalwellMelbourne (VIC)383645
Percy ClareyBendigo (VIC)182736
Eddie WardEast Sydney (NSW)1618
Allan FraserEden-Monaro (NSW)9

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Supporters of Evatt Confident. The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 June 1951.
  2. News: Labour's new head: Evatt unopposed. Sydney Morning Herald. 21 June 1951.