1989 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill

Declaration of a political vcacancy July 2019 Liberal Party of Australia Leadership spill, 1989 Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg presidential Caucus no 1987 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 1987 1990 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 1990 9 May 1989 150x150px Andrew Peacock 0047AB 44 62.0% 150x150px John Howard 0047AB 27 38.0% Leader John Howard Andrew Peacock A spill of the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia took place on 9 May 1989, following internal maneuverings by supporters of John Howard's long-time rival, Andrew Peacock. The spill was won by Peacock over Howard by 44 votes to 27.Malone Paul 10 May 1989 Draftees' double https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122261035/12987162 The Canberra Times 1 8 October 2023 Background During 1988 Liberal Party President John Elliott was the subject of much leadership speculation which undermined John Howard's leadership. This ended after the safe Liberal seat which Elliott sought, Higgins, didn't become available.Disunity is Death The Liberals: Fifty Years of the Federal Party Bruce Belsham Tim Clark ABC 1994 4 In February, Elliott said confidentially to former leader and current deputy leader Andrew Peacock, that he would support Peacock in a leadership challenge against Howard.Kelly Paul Paul Kelly (journalist) The End of Certainty: Power, Politics, and Business in Australia https://books.google.com/books?id=EKXBgmYeO2QC 5 October 2007 Allen & Unwin 1-86373-757-X 427, 457 1994 In late 1988 John Howard promoted his policy of One Australia which called for an end to Multiculturalism and called for the rate of Asian immigration to Australia to be reduced. There were widespread objections to the policy from within the Liberal Party, including from Victoria Opposition Leader and future Premier Jeff Kennett, New South Wales Premier Nick Greiner, former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, and former immigration ministers Ian Macphee and Michael MacKellar.Peter Mares Borderline: Australia's Response to Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the Wake of the Tampa UNSW Press 2002 113 https://books.google.com/books?id=XiPAMuTaQFEC&q=borderline 978-0-86840-789-0 Some political commentators later postulated that the dissent within the Liberal Party over immigration policy weakened Howard's leadership position, contributing to him being overthrown as Liberal Party leader by Peacock.Kelly Paul Paul Kelly (journalist) The End of Certainty: Power, Politics, and Business in Australia 1994 https://books.google.com/books?id=EKXBgmYeO2QC 5 October 2007 Allen & Unwin 978-1-86373-757-9 457 1994 A core group of Peacock supporters, nicknamed "The Cardinals", conceived plans in the Canberra apartment of one of the Cardinal's, John Moore. Elliott, unable to enter parliament, also lent his support to them to oust Howard. They worked behind the scenes for most of year to get the numbers to replace Howard with Peacock. By the time that former shadow minister Ian Macphee lost his pre-selection, followed soon after by Roger Shipton (who held out against Elliot in Higgins) also was defeated for pre-selection by Peter Costello. After these pre-selection's, it was decided that the time was right to move against Howard.Politics will get you The Liberals: Fifty Years of the Federal Party Bruce Belsham Tim Clark ABC 1994 5 Peacock wished for Howard's old friend, senator Fred Chaney, to become his deputy leader. It was arranged for on that weekend for Western Australian MP Peter Shack to visit Chaney's home and inform him that there was going to be a leadership challenge the following Tuesday, that the Cardinals had the numbers for it to be successful, and that Chaney could either be a part of it or not. He was shocked at the revelation, but had no hesitation in believing Shack. Reluctantly, after a discussion with his wife, Chaney decided to switch his support, rationalising that he could have remained loyal but it would inevitably precipitate a days long row, which would be very public and very damaging, or could instead remain silent and let it all happen as discreetly as possible. On the same day, Peacock was in Melbourne meeting Elliot's allies when he was informed, by phone, that Chaney had reticently agreed to back Peacock. On the following Monday, Peacock and Chaney cancelled a dinner engagement with Howard. After dinner, a delegation arrived at Howard's office in Parliament House. Peacock, Chaney, and Chaney's Senate deputy Austin Lewis, being other members of the leadership team, informed Howard that 40 members wanted the matter of leadership raised at the next party meeting. Despite being a key architect in Peacock's comeback,https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-12-15/wilson-ironbar-tuckey/1179750 Wilson 'Ironbar' Tuckey ABC News 15 December 2009 Wilson Tuckey stood for the deputy's position against Chaney, Peacock's declared choice of deputy. Candidates Andrew Peacock, incumbent Deputy Leader, Shadow Treasurer, Member for Kooyong John Howard, incumbent Leader, Member for Bennelong Results Liberal Party of Australia deputy leadership ballot, 1989 Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg presidential Caucus no 1987 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 1987 1990 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 1990 9 May 1989 First ballot Second ballot 150x150px Fred Chaney 0047AB 31 (43.7%) 44 (62.0%)] 150x150px Peter Reith 0047AB 23 (32.4%) 27 (38.0%) 150x150px Wilson Tuckey 0047AB 11 (15.5%) Eliminated 150x150px Ian Wilson 0047AB 6 (8.5%) Eliminated Deputy Leader Andrew Peacock Fred Chaney The following tables gives the ballot results:https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122261035/12987166 Draftees' double ambush Canberra Times (Act : 1926 – 1995) 10 May 1989 1 + Spill motion to vacate leadershipSupportVotes 15x15px Yes 43 15x15px No 28 Leadership ballot Name Votes Percentage Andrew Peacock 44 62.0 John Howard 27 38.0 Deputy leadership ballot Name First round Second round Fred Chaney 31 44 Peter Reith 23 27 Wilson Tuckey 11 Eliminated Ian Wilson 6 Eliminated Aftermath This spill saw Peacock return to the leadership almost four years after his resignation in September 1985. Chaney succeeded Peacock as Deputy Leader. Declining Peacock's offer of Shadow Minister for Education, Howard went to the backbenches. Howard expressed his doubts on a future leadership comeback famously saying it would be "like Lazarus with a triple bypass".https://www.theage.com.au/national/thoughts-of-a-bypassed-lazarus-20040229-gdxehy.html Thoughts of a bypassed Lazarus 29 February 2004 Later, in October, Howard did accept an offer to return to the frontbench as Shadow Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce. In the subsequent press conference after the ballot, Peacock was asked "Are you a recycled failed leader?" Peacock responded that it reminded him of his predecessor in Kooyong (Sir Robert Menzies) who once resigned the party leadership only to mount a comeback and "became the most resilient and longest serving prime minister" in Australia's history and he looked forward to repeating that. A new period of party disunity ensued and Peacock's victory was soured as highlighted by that weeks Four Corners episode detailing the coup against Howard.True Believers – 1989 ABC Four Corners 8 August 2011 Some of the Cardinals appeared on Four Corners detailing their dishonest methods with one saying "At times, I guess by downright lying" to which Peacock stated he found "quite tasteless" in a later interview about the episode. Howard gave multiple interviews detailing his displeasure that he had been removed from the leadership using dishonest tactics. Shack stated in a 1994 interview; "I think he used it mercilessly. John Howard basically hit the airwaves of Australia, basically television and radio, putting forward the view that he, honest John, had been robbed of his rightful leadership of the Liberal Party by a gang of thugs." Howard did eventually return to the leadership in January 1995 and became Prime Minister when he led the Coalition to victory at the 1996 election. References Category:Liberal Party of Australia leadership spills Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill