June 1991 Australian Labor Party leadership spill explained

Election Name:June 1991 Australian Labor Party
Leadership spill
Flag Image:Australian-Labor-Party-stub.svg
Type:presidential
Vote Type:Caucus
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1983 Australian Labor Party leadership spill
Previous Year:1983
Next Election:December 1991 Australian Labor Party leadership spill
Next Year:December 1991
Election Date:3 June 1991
Candidate1:Bob Hawke
Colour1:DC241F
Popular Vote1:66 (60.0%)
Candidate2:Paul Keating
Colour2:DC241F
Popular Vote2:44 (40.0%)
Leader
Before Election:Bob Hawke
After Election:Bob Hawke

A leadership spill in the Australian Labor Party, the party of government in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 3 June 1991. It was the first of two ballots that year with Prime Minister Bob Hawke surviving the ballot against Treasurer Paul Keating, who then went to the backbench.

Background

Bob Hawke had been leader of the Labor Party since 3 February 1983, and Prime Minister since the 1983 election, with Labor winning a record four elections under his leadership. However, the unexpectedly close win at the 1990 election, coupled with the deepening economic recession, fuelled tensions within the government over economic policy.

Furthermore, a re-energised Liberal opposition led by John Hewson, a qualified economist, gained ground in the opinion polls. Hawke had alienated key NSW Right faction powerbroker, Senator Graham Richardson by late 1990, with the latter bluntly telling Hawke he no longer had the support of the Right.

Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Paul Keating launched his first June challenge against Hawke after the latter apparently reneged on a Kirribilli agreement that he would hand over the leadership in 1990.[1]

Candidates

Results

Election Name:Australian Labor Party
Deputy Leadership spill, 1991
Flag Image:Australian-Labor-Party-stub.svg
Type:presidential
Vote Type:Caucus
Ongoing:no
Previous Year:1990
Next Year:1995
Candidate1:Brian Howe
Colour1:DC241F
Popular Vote1:81 (73.6%)
Colour2:DC241F
Popular Vote2:18 (16.4%)
Deputy Leader
Pretitle:Deputy Leader
before election
Posttitle:Deputy Leader
after election
Before Election:Paul Keating
After Election:Brian Howe

The following tables gives the ballot results:

Leadership ballot

NameVotesPercentage
Bob Hawke6660.0
Paul Keating4440.0

Deputy leadership ballot

CandidateFinal ballot%
Brian Howe8173.6
Graeme Campbell1816.4
Abstentions1110.0

Aftermath

Hawke's public support continued to decline before in December 1991, he called on another spill which Keating won 56–51.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Playing politics is playing for keeps . The Advertiser . 24 February 2012 . 27 February 2012.