Liberal Party of Australia leadership election, 2007

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An election for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia was held on 29 November 2007.[1] At the same time an election for the deputy leadership of the party was held. Under Liberal Party rules, all leadership positions were declared vacant after a general election, no matter what the outcome.

The Liberal-National coalition led by outgoing Prime Minister John Howard was defeated at the 2007 federal election by the Australian Labor Party led by Kevin Rudd.

Contents

[edit] Background

John Howard announced his resignation on election night after the coalition's defeat in the 2007 federal election. He had led the party since 1995 and been Prime Minister since 1996.

The deputy leader and outgoing treasurer Peter Costello had, for a long time, been publicly heralded as the planned successor to John Howard—and was publicly confirmed as such by Howard on 12 September.[2][3] However, on 25 November 2007 he 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.[4]

[edit] 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.[1] Due to this, questions within the party were raised over the rules and legitimacy of the ballot.[5] 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.

[edit] 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.[6] Abbott said that he did not have enough support among the remaining Liberal MPs.

Prominent outgoing ministers such as Alexander Downer and Joe Hockey ruled themselves out of the election.[7]

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.[8]

[edit] 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.[9]

Turnbull and Abbott proposed that the party should drop its support for the WorkChoices legislation following their defeat in the federal election.[10] However Nelson said he would not support undoing WorkChoices.[11]

[edit] Outcome

Prior to the vote Tony Abbott withdrew from the contest.[12] Brendan Nelson won the ballot for leader, against Malcolm Turnbull, by 45 to 42 votes[13]. Julie Bishop was elected deputy leader with 44 votes against 25 for Andrew Robb and 18 for Christopher Pyne.[14]

[edit] Leadership election

Candidate Votes %
Brendan Nelson 45 51.7
Malcolm Turnbull 42 48.4

[edit] Deputy leadership election

Candidate Votes %
Julie Bishop 44 50.6
Andrew Robb 25 28.7
Christopher Pyne 18 20.7

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Liberal leadership decided on Thursday
  2. ^ John Howard on the latest round of leadership turmoil
  3. ^ Hopefuls eye Liberal power vacuum
  4. ^ No more follow the leader as Costello calls it quits
  5. ^ Turnbull rules out challenge to Nelson – National – smh.com.au
  6. ^ Tony Abbott pulls out of Liberal leadership race
  7. ^ Downer says 'no enthusiasm' for Liberal leadership
  8. ^ Robb the frontrunner as Libs' second banana
  9. ^ Turnbull's tilt gains strength
  10. ^ Libs turn on Howard
  11. ^ Brendan Nelson will not support moves to undo WorkChoices
  12. ^ "Tony Abbott out of Liberal leadership race – for now", Herald Sun, 29 November 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-29. 
  13. ^ "Nelson wins Liberal leadership", The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 November 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-29. 
  14. ^ "Divided Liberals choose Nelson to lead", theWest.com.au, 29 November 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-29.