1983 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election

July 2019 none Liberal Party of Australia leadership election, 1983 Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg presidential Caucus no 1982 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 1982 1985 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 1985 11 March 1983 150x150px Andrew Peacock 0047AB 36 64.3% 150x150px John Howard 0047AB 20 35.7% Seat Kooyong (Vic.) Bennelong (NSW) Leader Malcolm Fraser Andrew Peacock An election for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia took place on 11 March 1983, following the resignation of Malcolm Fraser following his defeat at the 1983 federal election. The contest was won by Andrew Peacock over John Howard by 36 votes to 20.New Liberal Leadership The Canberra Times 12 March 1983 2 Candidates John Howard, incumbent deputy leader, former treasurer, member for Bennelong Andrew Peacock, former minister for industry, member for Kooyong Background Outgoing Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser resigned his leadership on the 6th of March after losing the 1983 election to Bob Hawke in order to allow the party to refresh and unite. Likewise, he would go on to resign his seat in parliament, at the relatively young, age of 52. Acknowledging he still had a strong and keen interest in politics but wanted to allow the party to grow under new leadership.PM takes blame for defeat - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 6 Mar 1983 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116372112?searchTerm=%22Liberal%20Party%20leadership%22 2025-05-07 Trove enParliament decision 'difficult, sad' - Fraser will resign on Thursday - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 28 Mar 1983 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116375892?searchTerm=%22Liberal%20Party%20leadership%22 2025-05-07 Trove en Results Liberal Party of Australia deputy leadership ballot, 1983 Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg presidential Caucus no 1982 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 1982 1985 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 1985 150x150px John Howard 0047AB 30 (53.6%) 150x150px Ian Macphee 0047AB 12 (21.4%) 150x150px Steele Hall 0047AB 9 (16.1%) 150x150px John Moore 0047AB 3 (5.4%) 150x150px Michael Hodgman 0047AB 2 (3.6%) Deputy Leader John Howard John Howard The following tables gives the ballot results:https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116373359 Peacock elected Opposition Leader Canberra Times (Act : 1926 - 1995) 12 March 1983 3 Leadership ballot Name Votes Percentage Andrew Peacock 36 64.3 John Howard 20 35.7 Deputy leadership ballot Candidate Votes % John Howard 30 53.6 Ian Macphee 12 21.4 Steele Hall 9 16.1 John Moore 3 5.4 Michael Hodgman 2 3.6 Aftermath The Liberal Party under the leadership of Peacock went on to lose the 1984 election to a politically and electorally strong Prime Minister Bob Hawke. The Liberal Party and Peacock Leadership had already been viewed by some as divided and fragile, as such would eventually result in Howard winning leadership in 1985Election Speeches · Bob Hawke, 1984 · Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House https://electionspeeches.moadoph.gov.au/speeches/1984-bob-hawke 2025-05-07 electionspeeches.moadoph.gov.auPeacock's leadership hold fragile, McMahon says - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 19 Sep 1984 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136916967?searchTerm=%22liberal%20leadership%22 2025-05-07 Trove enSaturday FORUM Tom Uren: the man who gave peace a chance - Boxer, athlete, POW on the Burma Railway and Labor Minister, Tom Uren's life story is a rich experience, JENNA PRICE reports. - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 20 Aug 1994 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118263804?searchTerm=%22john%20howard%20ballot%22 2025-05-07 Trove en See also 1983 Australian federal election References Category:Liberal Party of Australia leadership spills Liberal Party of Australia leadership election Liberal Party of Australia leadership election Liberal Party of Australia leadership election