2007 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election

none April 2022 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election 2007 Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg presidential Caucus no 1995 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 1995 2008 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 2008 29 November 2007 150x150px Brendan Nelson 0047AB 45 51.7% 150x150px Malcolm Turnbull 0047AB 42 48.3% Seat Bradfield (NSW) Wentworth (NSW) Leader John Howard Brendan Nelson A spill of the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia took place on 29 November 2007, following the defeat of the Howard government at the federal election five days earlier. The resulting ballot was an open race as outgoing prime minister John Howard had lost his own seat at the election, and his preferred successor Peter Costello refused to stand. An election for the deputy leadership of the party was held, as under Liberal Party rules, all leadership positions are declared vacant after a general election, no matter what the outcome. Background John Howard announced his resignation on election night after the coalition's defeat in the 2007 federal election, including the loss of his own seat of Bennelong. He had led the party since 1995 and been prime minister since the 1996 election. The deputy leader and outgoing Treasurer Peter Costello had for a long time been publicly heralded as the natural successor to John Howard, and was confirmed as such by Howard on 12 September.http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s2031023.htm John Howard on the latest round of leadership turmoil 7.30 Report (ABC) 12 September 2007 23 February 2012Uhlmann Chris http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/26/2101030.htm?site=elections/federal/2007 https://archive.today/20120721030500/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/26/2101030.htm?site=elections/federal/2007 dead 21 July 2012 Hopefuls eye Liberal power vacuum ABC Online 26 November 2007 23 February 2012 However, on 25 November, Costello announced he would not be a candidate for either leader or deputy leader of the party in opposition, saying that it was time for the party to move to the next generation, and that he himself intended to leave Parliament during the current term.http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/no-more-follow-the-leader-as-costello-calls-it-quits/2007/11/25/1195975870432.html No more follow the leader as Costello calls it quits The Sydney Morning Herald 25 November 2007 23 February 2012 Election rules Peter Costello announced on 27 November that the leadership and deputy leadership would be decided at a meeting held at midday on 29 November. All Liberal MPs and Senators were invited to attend, including those whose seats had yet to be decided, with the federal director deciding who would be eligible to vote based on the most up-to-date election results. Due to this, questions within the party were raised over the rules and legitimacy of the ballot.http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/turnbull-rules-out-challenge-to-nelson/2007/12/08/1196813081585.html Turnbull rules out challenge to Nelson The Sydney Morning Herald 9 December 2007 23 February 2012 The loss of John Howard in Bennelong meant that the election of a new leader had to be held much closer to the election than would normally occur. Candidates Outgoing Defence Minister Brendan Nelson and outgoing Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Malcolm Turnbull indicated they would run for the party leadership. Outgoing Minister for Health and Ageing Tony Abbott also initially indicated his intention to stand for leader, but on 28 November, one day before the leadership election, he announced that he would no longer be a candidate; he said that he had not found enough support among the remaining Liberal MPs.http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/abbott-out-of-lib-leadership-race/story-e6frfkp9-1111114984917 Tony Abbott pulls out of Liberal leadership race news.com.au 28 November 2007 23 February 2012 5 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110805042212/http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/abbott-out-of-lib-leadership-race/story-e6frfkp9-1111114984917 dead Prominent outgoing ministers such as former leader Alexander Downer and Joe Hockey ruled themselves out of the election.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/26/2101876.htm?section=justin https://archive.today/20120716120217/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/26/2101876.htm?section=justin dead 16 July 2012 Downer says 'no enthusiasm' for Liberal leadership ABC Online 2007-11-26 2012-02-23 Outgoing Minister for Education, Science and Training Julie Bishop, Minister for Ageing Christopher Pyne and Minister for Vocational and Further Education Andrew Robb indicated they would run for the deputy leadership.http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/robb-the-frontrunner-as-libs-second-banana/2007/11/26/1196036812259.html Robb the frontrunner as Libs' second banana The Sydney Morning Herald 26 November 2007 23 February 2012 Campaign Malcolm Turnbull was the first candidate to announce his intention to lead the party and was said to have the largest support from Liberal MPs going into the ballot.Maiden Samantha http://www.news.com.au/national/turnbulls-tilt-gains-strength/story-e6frfkvr-1111114978866 Turnbull's tilt gains strength The Australian 28 November 2007 23 February 2012 5 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110805042148/http://www.news.com.au/national/turnbulls-tilt-gains-strength/story-e6frfkvr-1111114978866 dead Biographer Paddy Manning regards Turnbull's decision to criticise Howard over not apologising to the Stolen Generation as sending votes to Nelson. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/paddy-manning-how-malcolm-turnbull-became-opposition-leader-20151021-gkfaru Bad blood and bastardry: how Malcolm Turnbull became opposition leader 23 October 2015 Turnbull and Abbott proposed that the party should drop its support for the WorkChoices legislation following their defeat in the federal election.http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/11/26/1196036812217.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 Libs turn on Howard The Sydney Morning Herald 26 November 2007 23 February 2012 However Nelson said he would not support undoing WorkChoices.http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22829973-662,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20071201155331/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22829973-662,00.html dead 1 December 2007 Brendan Nelson will not support moves to undo WorkChoices Herald Sun 27 November 2007 23 February 2012 Outcome Brendan Nelson won the ballot for leader against Malcolm Turnbull, by 45 votes to 42.Nelson wins Liberal leadership http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/nelson-wins-liberal-leadership/2007/11/29/1196037040072.html The Sydney Morning Herald 29 November 2007 29 November 2007 Julie Bishop was elected deputy leader with 44 votes, against 25 for Andrew Robb and 18 for Christopher Pyne.Sandra O'Malley Divided Liberals choose Nelson to lead http://news.smh.com.au/national/divided-liberals-choose-nelson-to-lead-20071129-1dka.html The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media AAP 29 November 2007 13 July 2007 Leadership ballot Liberal Party of Australia deputy leadership ballot, 2007 Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg presidential Caucus no 1994 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 1994 September 2015 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 2015 29 November 2007 150x150px Julie Bishop 0047AB 44 (50.6%) 150x150px Andrew Robb 0047AB 25 (28.7%) 150x150px Christopher Pyne 0047AB 18 (20.7%) Seat Curtin (WA) Goldstein (Vic.) Sturt (SA) Deputy Leader Peter Costello Julie Bishop CandidateVotes% Brendan Nelson 45 51.7 Malcolm Turnbull 42 48.4 Deputy leadership ballot CandidateVotes% Julie Bishop 44 50.6 Andrew Robb 25 28.7 Christopher Pyne 18 20.7 Following this leadership spill Liberal MP Christopher Pyne floated the idea of the party electing future leaders by all party members not just Liberal MPs but to this day parliamentary Liberal members still retain the sole right in electing the leader. See also Conservatism Australia Politics 2008 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill 2009 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill References 30em Liberal Party of Australia leadership election Category:Liberal Party of Australia leadership spills Liberal Party of Australia leadership election Liberal Party of Australia leadership election