| Election Name: | Liberal Party of Australia Leadership spill, 1994 |
| Flag Image: | Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg |
| Type: | presidential |
| Vote Type: | Caucus |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1993 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill |
| Previous Year: | 1993 |
| Next Election: | 1995 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill |
| Next Year: | 1995 |
| Election Date: | 23 May 1994 |
| Candidate1: | Alexander Downer |
| Colour1: | 0047AB |
| Popular Vote1: | 43 |
| Percentage1: | 54.4% |
| Candidate2: | John Hewson |
| Colour2: | 0047AB |
| Popular Vote2: | 36 |
| Percentage2: | 45.6% |
| 1Blank: | Seat |
| 1Data1: | Mayo (SA) |
| 1Data2: | Wentworth (NSW) |
| Leader | |
| Before Election: | John Hewson |
| After Election: | Alexander Downer |
A leadership spill of the federal parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party of Australia was held on 23 May 1994. The incumbent, John Hewson, was defeated by Alexander Downer in a vote of Liberal Party Members of Parliament (MPs) by 43 votes to 36 votes.[1] Downer thus became the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Australia.
After John Hewson lost the so called unlosable 1993 election he stayed on as Leader of the Opposition despite stating he would resign if he lost. Hewson stayed on to prevent John Howard being elected leader who Hewson defeated in a 1993 leadership challenge.However Hewson was undermined over the next 14 months amidst the Liberals having a hard time trying to fundraise and make a momentum against the Keating government and after being embarrassed on Lateline about negative Liberal party polling Hewson called a leadership spill.[2] [3]
| Election Name: | Liberal Party of Australia deputy leadership ballot, 1994 |
| Flag Image: | Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg |
| Type: | presidential |
| Vote Type: | Caucus |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1993 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill |
| Previous Year: | 1993 |
| Next Election: | 2007 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election |
| Next Year: | 2007 |
| 1Blank: | Vote |
| 2Blank: | Seat |
| Colour1: | 0047AB |
| Candidate1: | Peter Costello |
| 1Data1: | Unopposed |
| 2Data1: | Higgins (Vic.) |
| Colour2: | 0047AB |
| Candidate2: | Michael Wooldridge |
| 1Data2: | Withdrew |
| 2Data2: | Chisholm (Vic.) |
| Deputy Leader | |
| Before Election: | Michael Wooldridge |
| After Election: | Peter Costello |
The following table gives the ballot results:
| Name | Votes | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Downer | 43 | 54.4 | ||
| John Hewson | 36 | 45.6 | ||
Michael Wooldridge was replaced as Deputy leader by Peter Costello who became Shadow Treasurer.[5] Downer placed Hewson in his shadow ministry as Shadow Minister for Industry, Commerce, Infrastructure and Customs, however after less than three months he was sacked.