ACT Labor Party leadership elections

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The ACT Labor Party , the division of the Australian Labor Party in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), has held a number of leadership elections and deputy leadership elections. The most recent was held in November 2020, although the most recent leadership change was in December 2014.

Contents

1982 election

1982 ACT Labor Party leadership election
Australian-Labor-Party-stub.svg
23 June 1982 1983  →
  Labor Placeholder.png
Candidate Ken Doyle
Caucus voteWon
Seat Canberra
Leader before election

Peter Vallee

Elected Leader

Ken Doyle

The 1982 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 23 June 1982

On 28 April 1982, Peter Vallee announced he would resign as Labor leader to allow the party to have a female leader, which he said would "more closely reflect the wishes of the ACT Labor branch". [1] The same day, Labor MHA John Clements resigned from the party because of what he said was "faction fighting and the dominance of radical feminists". [1] [2]

The following day on 29 April, Canberra MHA Robyn Walmsley became the party's interim leader for the 1982 election, which was held on 5 June. [3] Labor won eight seats at the election, making them the largest party in the House of Assembly. [4]

After the election, Walmsley was succeeded by fellow Canberra MHA Ken Doyle, who was elected leader at a caucus meeting on 23 June 1982. [5] [6]

Results

1982 ACT Labor Party leadership election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labor Ken Doyle
Total votes8

1983 spill

1983 ACT Labor Party
leadership spill
Australian-Labor-Party-stub.svg
←  1982 7 March 1983 1983  →
  Labor Placeholder.png Labor Placeholder.png
Candidate Maurene Horder Ken Doyle
Caucus vote53
Percentage62.5%37.5%
Seat Canberra Canberra
Leader before election

Ken Doyle

Elected Leader

Maurene Horder

The 1983 ACT Labor Party leadership spill was held on 7 March 1983.

On the evening of 7 March, a leadership spill took place. The Hawke government had been elected just two days earlier, and it was believed that new leadership would be able to build a closer relationship with the federal government. [7]

Incumbent Labor leader Ken Doyle, who had led the party for less than a year, was defeated by fellow Canberra MHA Maurene Horder. [8] [9] Horder won the leadership five votes to three, becoming the first woman to lead a parliamentary Labor Party in any of the Australian states or territories, albeit in a parliament that only had an advisory role. [8] [10] Although Robyn Walmsley had headed the party for several months in 1982, she was only in an interim position. [11] [12]

Doyle said he was "caught by surprise", and told The Canberra Times that "I could see no substantive reason for change. It was unwarranted. I have been extremely dedicated in leading the Labor Party. I have promoted the ALP at every opportunity and have raised every issue which needed to be addressed". [8]

Barry Reid was elected deputy leader, Paul Whalan was elected caucus chairman and Robyn Walmsley was elected secretary of caucus and Assembly whip. [8]

Results

1983 ACT Labor Party leadership spill
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labor Maurene Horder 562.5
Labor Ken Doyle 337.5
Total votes8

1985 election

1985 ACT Labor Party leadership election
Australian-Labor-Party-stub.svg
←  1983 28 June 1985 1988  →
  Labor Placeholder.png Labor Placeholder.png Labor Placeholder.png
Candidate Paul Whalan unknownunknown
Caucus voteless than 5less than 5less than 5
Seat Canberra unknownunknown
Faction Right unknownunknown
Final ballot WonDefeated
Leader before election

Maurene Horder

Elected Leader

Paul Whalan

The 1985 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 28 June 1985.

On 24 June 1985, Labor leader Maurene Horder announced her resignation as leader and from the House of Assembly. [13] She was announced the following day as a federal ministerial advisor to Chris Hurford, the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs. [7] [14] [15]

At a caucus meeting on 28 June, at least three candidates contested the leadership, including caucus chairman Paul Whalan. [16] No candidate initially had a majority, but on the final ballot, Whalan emerged victorious. [16]

Results

1985 ACT Labor Party leadership election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labor Right Paul Whalan less than 5
Labor unknownless than 5
Labor unknownless than 5
Final ballot result
Labor Right Paul Whalan 5 or more
Labor unknown3 or less
Total votes8

1988 election

1988 ACT Labor Party
leadership election
Australian-Labor-Party-stub.svg
←  1983 17 December 1988 1988  →
  RosemaryFollett.jpg Labor Placeholder.png
Candidate Rosemary Follett Paul Whalan
Members voteWonDefeated
Faction Left Right
Leader before election

No leader

Elected Leader

Rosemary Follett

The 1988 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 17 December 1988.

Following the dissolution of the House of Assembly on 30 June 1986, Labor was left without a formal leader. [17] [18]

Ahead of the 1989 ACT election, the first under self-government, Labor held a preselection to decide its 11 candidates. [19] 18 candidates ran for preselection, with around 600 rank-and-file party members were able to vote. [20]

Left faction leader Rosemary Follett narrowly defeated Paul Whalan, the leader of the Right faction and the former Labor House of Assembly leader, by a margin of just 14 votes. [20] [21] [22] This was a surprise victory, as Whalan was seen as a favourite based on the Right's strength within the party, although the majority of members did not belong to any faction. [23] [24] [25] Whalan became Labor's deputy leader. [21]

Just days before the 1989 election, Whalan planned to challenge Follett for the leadership if enough Right faction members were elected, even if Labor won government. [26] However, he instead decided to let Follett handle the difficulties of the first term, after which he would mount a challenge in the lead up to the next election. [26]

Ultimately, Whalan never officially challenged Follett and resigned from the Legislative Assembly on 30 April 1990, criticising Follett outside of parliament. [27] [28]

Results

1988 ACT Labor Party leadership election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labor Left Rosemary Follett
Labor Right Paul Whalan
Total votesc. 600

2014 election

2014 ACT Labor Party
leadership election
Australian-Labor-Party-stub.svg
←  2011 10 December 2014
  Andrew Barr.jpg
Candidate Andrew Barr
Caucus voteUnopposed
Seat Molonglo
Faction Right
Leader before election

Katy Gallagher

Elected Leader

Andrew Barr

The 2014 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 10 December 2014.

On 5 December 2014, chief minister and Labor leader Katy Gallagher announced she would resign in order to contest a Senate vacancy caused by the resignation of Kate Lundy. [29] She endorsed deputy chief minister Andrew Barr as her successor. [30]

At a caucus meeting on 10 December, Barr was elected unopposed as leader. [31] [32] He was officially sworn in as chief minister the following day on 11 December, becoming the first openly LGBTI head of government in Australia. [33] [34] [35]

Simon Corbell, a member of the Left faction, was elected as deputy leader. [36]

Candidates

CandidateElectorateFactionAnnounced
  Andrew Barr.jpg Andrew Barr Molonglo Right [37] 6 December 2014

Results

2014 ACT Labor Party leadership election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labor Right Andrew Barr unopposed
Total votes8

2016 election

2016 ACT Labor Party
leadership election
Australian-Labor-Party-stub.svg
←  2014 24 October 2016 2020  →
  Andrew Barr.jpg
Candidate Andrew Barr
Caucus voteUnopposed
Seat Kurrajong
Faction Right
Leader before election

Andrew Barr

Elected Leader

Andrew Barr

The 2016 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 24 October 2016. [38] [39]

Following the 2016 ACT election, in which Labor won 12 seats, the party's caucus voted on its leadership team. [40] [41] [42]

Andrew Barr was re-elected unopposed as Labor leader, while Left faction member Yvette Berry became the new deputy leader following the retirement of Simon Corbell, having received Berry's endorsement. [43]

Candidates

CandidateElectorateFactionAnnounced
  Andrew Barr.jpg Andrew Barr Kurrajong Right [37] 24 October 2016

Results

2016 ACT Labor Party leadership election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labor Right Andrew Barr unopposed
Total votes12

2020 election

2020 ACT Labor Party
leadership election
Australian-Labor-Party-stub.svg
←  2016 2 November 2020
  Andrew Barr (cropped 3 by 4).jpg
Candidate Andrew Barr
Caucus voteUnopposed
Seat Kurrajong
Faction Right
Leader before election

Andrew Barr

Elected Leader

Andrew Barr

The 2020 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 2 November 2020.

Following the 2020 ACT election, in which Labor won 10 seats, the party's caucus voted on its leadership team.

Andrew Barr and Yvette Berry were re-elected as leader and deputy leader respectively. [44] [45]

Candidates

CandidateElectorateFactionAnnounced
  Andrew Barr (cropped 3 by 4).jpg Andrew Barr Kurrajong Right [37] 2 November 2020

Results

2020 ACT Labor Party leadership election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labor Right Andrew Barr unopposed
Total votes10

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References

  1. 1 2 Longhurst, Frank (29 April 1982). "MHA blames feminists as he quits ALP". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  2. ↑ "Woman stalwart quits ACT ALP". The Canberra Times. 3 May 1982. p. 3. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  3. ↑ "ALP leader". The Canberra Times. 30 April 1982. p. 3. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  4. ↑ "Assembly coalition faces hard task". The Canberra Times. 22 July 1982. p. 3. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  5. ↑ "Doyle to lead Labor MHAs". The Canberra Times. 24 June 1982. p. 3. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  6. ↑ "Labor will urge early inquiry". The Canberra Times. 26 June 1982. p. 3. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Horder, Maurene". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Labor Members change leader". The Canberra Times. 8 March 1983. p. 3. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  9. ↑ "CORRECTION". The Canberra Times. p. 3. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  10. ↑ "Uren to work toward ACT 'home rule'". The Canberra Times. 12 March 1983. p. 3. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  11. ↑ "ALP leader". The Canberra Times. 30 April 1982. p. 3. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  12. ↑ "Henderson, Robyn Lyn". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  13. ↑ Waterford, Jack (23 June 1985). "Horder tipped to resign". The Canberra Times. p. 3. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  14. ↑ "Maurene Horder formally announces Assembly resignation". The Canberra Times. 25 June 1985. p. 7. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  15. ↑ "Whalan set to head ALP ticket". The Canberra Times. 22 November 1988. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  16. 1 2 "Whalan new ALP leader in Assembly". The Canberra Times. 29 June 1985. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  17. ↑ Longhurst, Frank (18 June 1986). "The ACT's Assembly is laid to rest". The Canberra Times. p. 3. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  18. ↑ "Whalan is appointed adviser on ACT". The Canberra Times. 30 July 1986. p. 3. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  19. ↑ Campbell, Rod (19 December 1988). "ALP candidates accused of Left bias". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  20. 1 2 Fraser, Andrew (17 December 1988). "ALP's self-government team selection today". The Canberra Times. p. 5. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  21. 1 2 Fraser, Andrew (18 December 1988). "Follett leads Labor's ACT team". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  22. ↑ Clack, Peter (26 May 1991). "Follett tops the poll". The Canberra Times. p. 2. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  23. ↑ Fraser, Andrew (22 November 1988). "Whalan set to head ALP ticket". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  24. ↑ Fraser, Andrew (22 November 1988). "Whalan set to head ALP ticket". The Canberra Times. p. 2. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  25. ↑ Zakharov, Jeannie (27 December 1988). "Candidates discussing ACT coalition". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  26. 1 2 Cumming, Fia (12 March 1989). "Whalan will not challenge now". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  27. ↑ "MEMBERS OF THE ACT LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY" (PDF). ACT Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  28. ↑ Bird, Megan (6 August 1990). "'Disgusted' with ACT Labor Left". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  29. ↑ "ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher to resign, run for the Senate". ABC News. 5 December 2014. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  30. ↑ Owens, Jared (6 December 2014). "First gay leader Andrew Barr as ACT chief Katy Gallagher departs". The Australian. Archived from the original on 22 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  31. ↑ Colley, Clare (10 December 2014). "Canberra Mornings Live: Wednesday December 10". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  32. ↑ Jahshan, Elias (10 December 2014). "Incoming openly-gay ACT Chief Minister: "It's a great deal of pride"". Star Observer. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  33. ↑ McIlroy, Tom (11 December 2014). "Andrew Barr won't give up fight for same-sex marriage". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  34. ↑ Gilbert, Ewan (8 October 2014). "ACT election: Who is the real Andrew Barr?". ABC News. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  35. ↑ "Andrew Barr elected ACT Chief Minister, seventh in history". Australia: ABC News. 11 December 2014. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  36. ↑ "ACT's new Cabinet all male". Australian Financial Review. 7 November 2001. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  37. 1 2 3 johnboy (13 November 2008). "Factional analysis of ACT Labor". Riotact. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  38. ↑ "2016 ACT election" (PDF). Hawker Britton. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  39. ↑ "Barr confirmed as Labor's leader". Canberra CityNews. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  40. ↑ "ACT election 2016: Yvette Berry backed for Labor deputy as Greens weigh up coalition or crossbench". The Canberra Times. 16 October 2016. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  41. ↑ "ACT election: Yvette Berry 'very likely' to be deputy of Labor Party, Andrew Barr says". ABC News. 17 October 2016. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  42. ↑ "New ACT MLAs Rachel Stephen-Smith and Gordon Ramsey leapfrog into Cabinet". ABC News. 24 October 2016. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  43. ↑ "Yvette Berry named sixth ACT Minister". ABC News. 19 January 2015. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  44. ↑ Samaras, Denholm (24 October 2020). "ACT election 2020 final results in". Canberra Daily. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  45. ↑ Mannheim, Markus (3 November 2020). "Three new ministers in ACT cabinet as Labor-Greens Government focuses on climate action". ABC News. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
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