| Election Name: | 1972 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election |
| Flag Image: | Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg |
| Type: | presidential |
| Vote Type: | Caucus |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1971 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill |
| Previous Year: | 1971 |
| Next Election: | 1975 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill |
| Next Year: | 1975 |
| Election Date: | 20 December 1972 |
| 1Blank: | First Ballot |
| 2Blank: | Second Ballot |
| 3Blank: | Third Ballot |
| 4Blank: | Fourth Ballot |
| 5Blank: | Fifth Ballot |
| 6Blank: | Seat |
| Candidate1: | Billy Snedden |
| Colour1: | 0047AB |
| 1Data1: | Uncertain |
| 2Data1: | Uncertain |
| 3Data1: | Uncertain |
| 4Data1: | 29 (50.0%) |
| 5Data1: | 30 (50.9%) |
| 6Data1: | Bruce (Vic.) |
| Candidate2: | Nigel Bowen |
| Colour2: | 0047AB |
| 1Data2: | Uncertain |
| 2Data2: | Uncertain |
| 3Data2: | Uncertain |
| 4Data2: | 29 (50.0%) |
| 5Data2: | 29 (49.1%) |
| 6Data2: | Parramatta (NSW) |
| Candidate3: | Malcolm Fraser |
| Colour3: | 0047AB |
| 1Data3: | Uncertain |
| 2Data3: | Uncertain |
| 3Data3: | Uncertain |
| 4Data3: | Eliminated |
| 5Data3: | Eliminated |
| 6Data3: | Wannon (Vic.) |
| Candidate4: | John Gorton |
| Colour4: | 0047AB |
| 1Data4: | Uncertain |
| 2Data4: | Uncertain |
| 3Data4: | Eliminated |
| 4Data4: | Eliminated |
| 5Data4: | Eliminated |
| 6Data4: | Higgins (Vic.) |
| Candidate5: | James Killen |
| Colour5: | 0047AB |
| 1Data5: | Uncertain |
| 2Data5: | Eliminated |
| 3Data5: | Eliminated |
| 4Data5: | Eliminated |
| 5Data5: | Eliminated |
| 6Data5: | Moreton (Qld.) |
| Leader | |
| Before Election: | William McMahon |
| After Election: | Billy Snedden |
An election for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia took place on 20 December 1972, following former Prime Minister William McMahon's resignation after his defeat at the 1972 federal election. Billy Snedden was successful in winning the leadership, narrowly beating Nigel Bowen by 30 votes to 29 on the fifth ballot. The previous ballot was tied at 29 each, with one MP not voting. James Killen, John Gorton, and Malcolm Fraser had earlier been eliminated from contention, in that order.[1]
| Election Name: | Liberal Party of Australia deputy leadership ballot, 1972 |
| Flag Image: | Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg |
| Type: | presidential |
| Vote Type: | Caucus |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1971 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill |
| Previous Year: | 1971 (Aug) |
| Next Year: | 1977 |
| 1Blank: | Fifth Ballot |
| 2Blank: | Seat |
| Candidate1: | Phillip Lynch |
| Colour1: | 0047AB |
| 1Data1: | >30 |
| 2Data1: | Flinders (Vic.) |
| Candidate2: | Andrew Peacock |
| Colour2: | 0047AB |
| 1Data2: | <29 |
| 2Data2: | Kooyong (Vic.) |
| Deputy Leader | |
| Before Election: | Billy Snedden |
| After Election: | Phillip Lynch |
The following table gives the ballot result:[2]
| Name | Final ballot | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Snedden | 30 | 50.85 | ||
| Nigel Bowen | 29 | 49.15 | ||
| Name | Final ballot | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phillip Lynch | <30 | |||
| Andrew Peacock | >29 | |||
Other candidates in order of elimination: