A leadership spill of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), then the opposition party in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 31 May 1977. Former Treasurer Bill Hayden unsuccessfully challenged Labor leader Gough Whitlam. Whitlam was narrowly re-elected by 32 votes to 30 (the smallest possible majority) leading him to later refer to many in his caucus as 'out of touch'.

Background

After his party's heavy defeat at the 1975 election Gough Whitlam was comfortably re-elected leader of the ALP. However over the following year his support began to fall away and many MPs lobbied his former Treasurer Bill Hayden to stand against him. In March 1977 Hayden announced his candidacy.

Candidates

* Bill Hayden, Shadow Minister for Economic Management, Member for

Oxley Oxley may refer to: Places Australia Australian Capital Territory * Oxley, Australian Capital Territory is a suburb of Canberra, Australia Queensland *Oxley, Queensland is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia **Oxley railway station, Brisbane ...

* Gough Whitlam, incumbent Leader, Member for

Werriwa The Division of Werriwa is an Australian electoral division in the state of New South Wales. The name Werriwa derives from a local Aboriginal name for Lake George, which was located in the division when it was established in 1900. The division ...

Potential candidates who declined to run

* Lionel Bowen, Shadow Attorney-General, Member for Kingsford Smith

Results

Leadership ballot

The following tables gives the ballot results:

Deputy leadership ballot

Aftermath

Despite surviving the vote the ALP only gained a handful of seats at the 1977 election, which prompted Whitlam to resign as leader with Hayden elected as his replacement.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1977 05 Australian Labor Party leadership spill Australian Labor Party leadership spills Gough Whitlam Australian Labor Party leadership spill Australian Labor Party leadership spill, 05 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, 05