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1994 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill
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April 2022
Liberal Party of AustraliaLeadership spill, 1994 Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg presidential Caucus no 1993 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 1993 1995 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 1995 23 May 1994 File:Alexander Downer 1990s.jpg 150x150px Alexander Downer 0047AB 43 54.4% File:John Hewson in 1991.jpg John Hewson 0047AB 36 45.6% Seat Mayo (SA) Wentworth (NSW) Leader John Hewson 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.Canberra Times, 24 May 1994 Downer thus became the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Australia.
Background
December 2020
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 create momentum against the Keating government and after being embarrassed on Lateline about negative Liberal polling, Hewson called a leadership spill.John Hewson: John Howard's republican debate tactics threaten same-sex marriage John Hewson - Sydney Morning Herald 21 September 2017So Many Firsts - Liberal Women from Enid Lyons to the Turnbull Era Margaret Fitzherbert to the Turnbull Era
Candidates
Alexander Downer, Shadow Treasurer, Member for Mayo
John Hewson, incumbent Leader, Member for Wentworth
Potential candidates who declined to run
Peter Costello, Shadow Minister for Finance, Member for Higginshttp://www.theage.com.au/news/national/out-of-the-rough-kennett-and-kroger-end-feud/2005/06/21/1119321737624.html Out of the rough: Kennett and Kroger end feud The Age 21 June 2005 30 July 2012
John Howard, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Member for Bennelong
Results
Liberal Party of Australia deputy leadership ballot, 1994 Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg presidential Caucus no 1993 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 1993 1995 Vote Seat 150x150px 0047AB Peter Costello Unopposed Higgins (Vic.) 120px 0047AB Michael Wooldridge Withdrew Chisholm (Vic.) Deputy Leader Michael Wooldridge Peter Costello
The following table gives the ballot results:
Name Votes Percentage Alexander Downer 43 54.4 John Hewson 36 45.6
Aftermath
Michael Wooldridge was replaced as Deputy Leader by Peter Costello who became Shadow Treasurer.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118213498 Hewson will stay on the front bench Canberra Times 24 May 1994 Downer placed Hewson in his shadow ministry as Shadow Minister for Industry, Commerce, Infrastructure, and Customs, however he was sacked after less than three months.
References
Category:Liberal Party of Australia leadership spills
Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill
Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill
Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill