Aussie Prime Ministers Flashcards

Question

William McMahon

Answer 1

March 1971 - Dec 1972 (20th) Liberal Lowe, NSW Govt minister for 21 years - longest continuous service Born and raised in Sydney Became PM at age 63 - oldest non-interim PM Longest time serving without winning an election Described as one of the worst PMs Got a law degree from Uni of Sydney 1930 Big inheritance when father died at 18 Only 5ft 7 in tall Became a solicitor at major Sydney law firm Partially deaf 1940 joined army, promoted to major by 1943 - not sent overseas due to hearing and knee injury Discharged in 1945 Travelled around Europe and N America for 18 months 1947 went back to Uni of Sydney for a bachelor of economics. 1949 elected to House of Rep for Lowe NSW 1951 became minister for navy and air under Menzies 1954 appointed Minister for social services 1956 - Minister for primary industry Poor relationship with Country Party 1958 - Minister for labor and national service > reintroduced conscription in 1964 1966 - Deputy leader under Holt and became Treasurer 1967 - when holt disappears, assumed to be successor, until John McEwan says Country Party will not support him, so John Gorton wins 1969 - challenges leadership unsuccessfully, demoted to Minister for external affairs 1971 - Fraser resigns and denounces Gorton > leadership spill, tie vote, Gorton resigns, McMahon becomes PM Gorton stays deputy, becomes Defence Minister, undermines govt, he forces him to resign 22 years of liberal govt = bad time, rising inflation, unpopular vietnam war, voice and appearance came across bad on tv Gough Whitlam was powerful opposition 1972 election - media had turned on McMahon, abandoned by own ministers (unheard of), conceded defeat ending longest unbroken run of liberal govt Described as devious, nasty, dishonest - a disgrace First PM to lose election, retained seat, and NOT become leader of opposition Billy Snedden became new leader Left parliament in 1982 His memoirs rejected by six publishers Died at 80 in Sydney Married Sonia Hopkins at age 57 Nicknamed Billy the Leak for leaking info to the media 1 of 3 to have baby in office (Lyons and Fisher the others)

Answer 2

Dec 1972 - Nov 1975 Labor Werriwa, NSW Longest serving federal leader of Labor party Born in Kew VIC, grew up in Sydney and Canberra Father was Commonwealth Crown Solicitor Name comes from a british soldier's last name Attended Uni of Sydney - bachelor of arts, then started a law degree 1941 - enlisted in air force, flew in the NT Joined the ALP in 1945, finished studies after war and admitted to bar in 1947 Built a house in Cronulla NSW with war loan and bought block with quiz show prize money 1952 won election in Werriwa NSW ALP was led by Ben Evatt from 51 to 60, then Arthur Calwell from 60 to 67 (led party to defeat in three elections) 1955 - The Split - Labor party splits regarding communism, conservative catholic anti communists become Democratic Labor Party and back Liberals 1960 - becomes Deputy leader Did not get along with Calwell 1966 - broke with party over federal assistance to schools, should have been expelled but survived vote - challenged Calwell for leadership. Faced another expulsion vote over stance to keep troops in Vietnam, Calwell resigns 1967 - becomes party leader, sought to shift ALP towards middle class folks, 1972 - Labor had clear lead in the polls, campaigned under slogan "It's Time" Won with majority in House and minority Senate Governor General - Sir Paul Hasluck, Deputy PM Lance Barnard. Two leaders sworn in and formed interim two man duumvirate for two weeks before full cabinet could be picked Established relations with China, cut with Taiwan, grant exemptions from conscription (Barnard exempted everyone), freed everyone jailed for dodging draft, reopened equal pay case and appointed woman (Elizabeth Evatt - first chief justice of family court, first female federal judge), eliminate tax on the pill, grants for the arts, barred racial discrimination sports teams from Aus, vote to sanction South Africa and Rhodesia, withdraw troops from Vietnam. Other big changes = abolish the death penalty, created Legal Aid, abolished university fees, establish Schools Commission, Dept of Urban Dev, National Sewerage program, grants for highways and train lines, Advance Aus Fair, created Order of Australia, 1973 bought Blue Poles by Jackson Pollock for $2mil (1/3 annual budget) first PM to visit china in office Opposition led by Billy Snedden, Senate sought to block most of legislation 1974 - Senate blocks 6 bills, triggers double dissolution and Gough wins again, only 2nd time in history Labor elected to second full term Deadlock broken by special joint sitting of both houses (section 57 of constitution) - bills passed created Medibank now Medicare and gave senate reps to NT and ACT 1973 Attorney General Murphy sent police to raid the offices of the ASIO for files on a yugoslavian pm, so silly 1974 - QLD senator Gair was due to retire if he could get an ambassador post, Whitlam agrees, Country Party members hear about it = Night of the Long Prawns, as Gair ate prawns, they told QLD premier to only issue writs for 5 vacancies 1974 - economic slump, oil crisis, recession, high inflation and unemployment, lots of spending Sought overseas loans, found Tirath Khemlani a pakistani financier to get loans leading to the Loans Affair (attempt to get loans from Middle East and bypass Aus Treasury, Rex Connor and Jim Cairns forced out of cabinet for roles, embarrassment) Malcolm Fraser challenges Snedden and wins 1975 - no fault divorce, ratify racial discrimination act, gave the Gurindji people title deeds to NT, granted independence to Papau New Guinea, Oct 1975 - Opposition blocks supply in Senate, no compromises, John Kerr dismisses Whitlam as PM and picks Fraser to replace 1975 election - public turns against Labor and Coalition wins largest majority govt in history with 91 seats and majority in Senate Resigns in 1977 after another Labor loss Served in UNESCO (UN Education, Science, Culture) Chairman of National Gallery, part of bid team to get Sydney 2000 olympics 2007 - made a life member of Labor Party (1st ever) Died in 2014 at 98 - longest lived PM

Answer 3

Nov 1975 - March 1983 (22nd) Liberal Wannon VIC Born in Toorak VIC, went by middle name, first name was John, grew up on family sheep station in NSW, went to boarding school in Melbourne Studied philosophy, economics, politics at Oxford 1955 - elected to Wannon VIC, 25 years old, youngest sitting MP, first who was too young to serve in war, 1966 - Ministry for Army under Holt, presided over Vietnam conscription Under Gorton, became Minister for Education and Science and 1969 Minister for Defence 1971 - abruptly resigned in protest of Gorton's "interference" and denounced him on floor of House, leads to Gorton's removal Unsuccessful contest for leadership Gorton never forgives Fraser to the day he dies McMahon reinstates to Minister for Education and Science 1971 1972 shadow minister for labour under Whitlam, lost leadership again to Billy Snedden 1974 oversees party new industrial relations policy 1974 challenges Snedden, loses, 1975 challenges again and becomes leader of opposition 1975 - instructs senators to delay budget bills hoping to force election, Govenor General instead dismisses Whitlam, Fraser becomes caretaker and calls election 19 Nov 1975 - letter bomb sent to Fraser, Kerr, and Premier of QLD 1975 election - landslide victory for Liberal coalition and again in 1977 His 'razor gang' made cuts across public sector and the ABC, though not as fiscally conservative Supported campaign to end apartheid and opposed White minority rule in Rhodesia, recognized Indonesia's annexation of East Timor Expanded immigration from Asia, allowed more refugees, believer in multiculturalism and established the SBS (special broadcasting service) Give land rights back in NT 1980 election, majority is halved, Coalition lost the Senate, 1981 Minister for Industrial Relations, Andrew Peacock resigns and accuses Fraser of constant interference (echoes Fraser accusation of Gorton) and challenges leadership, survives 1982 suffers a back injury, labor party squabbles between Hayden and newcomer Hawke 1983 Fraser makes visit to Governor General Sir Ninian Stephen, but secretly Hayden had resigned and Hawke replaced as Labor leader. At the election on 5 March, Coalition heavily defeated (worst defeat by non labor govt) Resigned immediately and retired from parliament two months later. Last PM to represent a rural seat In retirement worked as chairman of the UN for various causes Critical of the Howard government Left the Liberal Party after Tony Abott won Married Tammie Beggs and had 4 kids Atheist, Died in 2015 at age 84 Between 1975 - 1982, 200K migrants from Asia, many Vietnamese refugees, grant entry to boat people, establish migrant resources and services

Answer 4

March 1983 - December 1991 (23rd) Labor Wills, VIC Born in Border Town, SA Attended UWA, then Oxford as a Rhodes scholar World record for downing a yard of ale in 11 sec 1956 joined Australian Council of Trade Unions and became president in 1969 1973 became president of Labor Party 1980 elected to House for Wills VIC, 1983 leader of Labor and led Labor to victory in election Also won PM in 1984, 1987, 1990 = most electorally successful labor PM ever Established Landcare (repair environment), reintroduce Medicare, create APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation), float the dollar, child allowance, sex discrimination act, superannuation, Advance Australia Fair, 1991 Leadership challenge from Treasurer Paul Keating, he survives but loses six months later Banned apartheid teams from Australia 1979 announces he has alcoholism 1980 wins seat, appointed to Shadow Cabinet for Minister of Industrial Relations Feb 1983 Hayden resigns labor leader, Hawke becomes leader, wins election in March 1983 Political partnership between Hawke and treasurer Keating Highest ever public opinion of 75% More globalised and services-oriented economy, sold off part of Commonwealth Bank Income tax rates reduced, increase funding for schools Landmark 1984 sex discrimination act, eliminates sex discrimination in workplace 1989 reintroduce uni fees and create HECS Veto Franklin Dam in Tas, Wet tropics of QLD became UNESCO site, ban drilling in Antartica, Granted asylum to 42K chinese students due to Tiannamen Square massacre First overseas military campaign since Vietnam with the Gulf War (Iraqi invasion of Kuwait) 1988 bicenntennial, welcomed QEII to new Parliament house Kirribilli Agreement - at Kirribilli House (PM residence in Sydney), 1988 secret meeting between Hawke and Keating to decide next leader, if Hawke won 1990 election he would step down and hand power to Keating. Hawke reneged on agreement after Keating speech belittled him. June 1991 Keating resigns to challenge for leadership, Hawke wins 1991 - Forced to sack treasurer after a gaffe, Keating challenged for leadership and wins Resigned from Parliament 1992 Married Hazel Masterson, 4 kids Divorced and married Blanche d'Alpuget Agnostic Never a minister in a cabinet Became PM after only 2 years in house Election slogan - bringing australia together

Answer 5

Dec 1991 - March 1996 (24th) Labor Blaxland, NSW Treasurer for Hawke from 1983-1991 and Deputy PM from 1990-91 Born in Sydney, left school at 14 First federal budget surplus in Aus history Native Title Act 1993, compulsory super, enterprise bargaining, privatised Qantas and Commonwealth bank, promoted republicanism Lowest satisfaction rating of any pm since 1985 Mentor was former NSW premier Jack Lang Elected to House at just 25 years old in 1969 Initially very socially conservative Minister for Northern Aus in Oct 1975 under Whitlam only for 1 month Shadow minister for minerals, resources, and energy from 75-83 Aggressive debater 1981 elected president of NSW Labor Party, leader of Labor Right 1983 Hawke wins election and he is appointed Treasurer Inherited a big budget deficit from Liberals, extensive macroeconomic reforms, floated the dollar (not tied to gold,etc), eliminate tariffs, privatise industry, Prices and Incomes accord (reduce demand for wage increase but upping social services) 1984 awarded Euromoney Finance Minister of the year, first australian to win Overhaul tax system, cut spending Recession Australia had to have in 1990 1990 started pressuring Hawke to retire, questioned leadership, June 1991 resigns and challenged Hawke, lost Dec 1991 - challenged again and won, sworn in as PM by Bill Hayden High Court handed down judgement in case of Mabo, right to Native Title existed 1992 Redfern Park speech addressing aboriginal reconcilliation 1993 Native Title Act (national system for protection of native land), created aboriginal social justice commissioner First cultural policy - Creative Nation, allocated millions to arts and culture Introduced mandatory detention for asylum seekers National Superannuation scheme 1992 economic package known as One Nation - new welfare to work schemes, national training authority, tax cuts for middle, first PM to visit Indonesia, APEC leader meeting, 1993 unexpected Labor election victor vs Hewson who struggled to defend GST, gave true believers victory speech, Liberal leader replaced to Alex Downer, resigned and replaced with Howard who had led Liberals from 85-89 1996 loses election to Howard, second worst defeat, resigned PM and from parliament Became business director and advisor,

Answer 6

March 1996 - December 2007 (25th) Liberal Bennelong, NSW Second longest PM term - 11 years Born and raised in Sydney Father died when he was 16, had a hearing and speech impediment, played cricket and rugby, Got a law degree from Uni of Sydney and became a solicitor Joined Liberal Party in 1957, president of Young Liberals from 62-64 Ran in 1967 and lost Won in 1974 for Bennelong NSW 1975 became Minister for business and consumer affairs under Fraser Dec 1977 became Treasurer at age 38, youngest since Chris Watson in 1904, free market economics, 1982 elected deputy leader 1983 election loss, challenged leadership against Andrew Peacock and lost 1985 challenged again and became leader of liberal party Economic radical and social conservative Joh Bjelke-Peterson (longest serving premier of QLD) made bid for PM in 1987, Nationals broke off to support him ending Coalition support Controversial One Australia immigration policy opposing multiculturalism, oppose land rights 1989 surprise leadership coup, lost to Peacock, went to backbench and shadow ministry 1990 John Hewson becomes new leader 1993 challenge for leadership and lost to Alexander Downer 1995 Downer resigns and Howard elected unopposed 1996 win election and become PM, 29 seat swing 45 seat majority, second biggest in history Made Kirribilli House his main residence over the lodge Banned guns following Port Arthur massacre 1997 push for GST Sold part of Telstra 1998 barely won election 1998 host constitutional convention to decide if Australia should be a republic, he supported monarchy, 1999 referendum rejected republic 1999 motion for reconciliation, refused to say sorry, 2001 won election Howard was in Washington DC the morning of Sept 11 attacks, and invoked ANZUS treaty to commit troops to war 2002, first pm to attend a royal funeral - Queen mother Elizabeth 2004 won election, 2006 government controlled both houses, Industrial relations plan - Work Choices, stripped basic workers rights and restricted unions > led to election loss 2006 said paid off all debt, consecutive annual growth, Anointed Peter Costello as successor in 2007, 07 election lost to Rudd, 23 seat swing to Labor, lost MP seat (second PM to lose seat after Stanley Bruce) 2017 campaigned against same sex marriage First election in East Timor in 2002

Answer 7

Dec 2007 - June 2010 (26th) Labor Griffith, QLD Born in Nambour QLD, grew up on a farm, dad died at 11, two heart surgeries due to rheumatic fever Joined Labor Party at age 15 Went to boarding school, then public school, won a public speaking competition Studied Chinese at ANU and studied abroad in Taiwan Joined Dept of Foreign Affairs as a trainee in 1981 Served as embassy secretary in Stockholm and then Beijing 1988 appointed chief of staff for leader of opposition in QLD, 1992 became director-general for office of cabinet, implement teaching languages in schools 1996 lost mp election, won it in 1998 Became shadow minister of foreign affairs 2001 2005 shadow minister for trade Dec 2006 challenged leadership against Kim Beazley and won Nov 2007 election, overwhelming win for Labor against Howard, Ruddslide Sworn in by g-g Michael henry, first PM to make no mention of monarchy in oath of office Second QLD ever since Andrew Fisher, first PM since WW2 not from NSW or VIC Signed Kyoto Protocol (reduce emissions), Apology to stolen generations, 2020 summit Kept Aus out of 2008 recession, rollout of NBN, nationwide early childhood, develop National curriculum, construct cancer clinics, and paid parental leave Polls drop after senate refuse to pass carbon pollution reduction scheme, policy on asylum seekers, Climate change was key policy, committed to renewable energy, Australia was only country to avoid 08 recession, 2009 Fair Work passed Increased pension payment and child care tax rebate, NDIS First international visit was to Indonesia 2008 visited East Timor after assassination attempt on president Jose Ramos Horta 2009 Pacific Islands Forum - seasonal worker scheme to work horticulture 2009 withdraw troops from Iraq 2008 advised appointment of first female governor general - Quentin Bryce (previous governor of QLD) Previously opposed same sex marriage, changed mind in 2013, June 2010 support from MPs falling, Julia Gillard challenged leadership, he stood down, First pm to be removed from office by his own party in first term re-contested seat of Griffiths QLD for MP and won in 2010, appointed minister for foreign affairs under Gillard Feb 2012 resigned as foreign affairs minister citing Gillards failure to defend against personal attacks 2011 Graham Perrett from QLD announces if Labor replaces Gillard with Rudd he will resign and force a by election, cost Labor majority Feb 2012 Gillard announces leadership vote, she wins against Rudd March 2013 Gillard calls another vote, wins unopposed June 2013 gillard calls spill, she says loser should retire from politics, Bill Shorten announces support for Rudd, He wins and becomes PM Sworn in again on June 26 2013, second labor pm to have second non consecutive term (first was Andrew Fisher) Sept 2013 calls election, he loses and resigns Nov 2013 resigns from parliament 2014 moved to the US Oct 2020 launches petition for royal commission into murdoch media monopoly, got more than 500K signatures, most signed e-petition ever,

Answer 8

June 2010 - June 2013 (27th) Labor Lalor, VIC Born in Barry Wales, moved to Adelaide in 1966 Studied at Uni Adelaide and Melbourne with Bachelor of Arts and Laws 1983 became president of Australian Union of Students, also secretary of Socialists Forum Joined Slater and Gordon law firm and became firms first partner and first woman in 1990 1996 became chief of staff to John Brumby, leader of opposition in VIC, drafted affirmative action rules 1998 elected MP for Lalor VIC 2001 shadow cabinet for population and immigration, 2003 reconciliation, shadow minister for health Dec 2006 challenged for deputy leadership against Jenny Macklin with Kevin Rudd, won 2007 election became first ever female Deputy PM, super ministry - dept of education, employment, workplace relations Launched Digital Education Revolution to give laptops to all secondary students, and $16 billion to build new classrooms, implemented NAPLAN in 2008, June 2010, Rudd falling in popularity, felt he didn't have support to win challenge so resigned and Julia wins unopposed. sworn in as 27th PM by Quentin Bryce. Deputy Wayne Swan First PM never to have married, and first since Billy Hughes to be born overseas August 2010 election, Labor and Coalition both won 72 seats = hung parliament. First since 1940. Four crossbench MPs supported Labor so they stay in power 2012 delivered a budget surplus, cut defence and foreign aid spending Increase funding for doctor and nurse education, suicide prevention package, funding for rural hospitals, 2013 apology for forced adoptions Oct 2012 - misogyny speech reaction to Tony Abbott accusing her of sexism Feb 2012 leadership ballot against rudd, she wins March 2013 leadership, wins unopposed June 2013 leadership ballot against rudd, rudd wins, she resigns as PM and retires

Answer 9

Sept 2013 - Sept 2015 (28th) Liberal Warringah, NSW Born Nov 1957 in London England Moved to Sydney at age 3 with family, father established what would become largest orthodontic practice in city Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, Bachelor and Master of Arts 1977 charges of common and indecent assault against a teacher, charges dropped Student boxer 1984 age 26 entered seminary in Manly, left in 1987 without completing Journalist for the Australian 1993 renounced UK citizenship 1990 became press secretary for liberal leader John Hewson 1993 executive director for Australians for Constitutional Monarchy 1994 won seat for Warringah NSW, and again in 1996 1998 Minister for employment 2002-07 leader of the house 1998 established trust fund to bankroll civil cases against One Nation party 2003 Minister for Health 2005 was in Bali during bali bombings 2006 controversially opposed abortion drug and parliament voted to strip ministers of this power 2007 shadow minister for families and indigenous 2009 elected leader of opposition Sept 2013 election, wins over Kevin Rudd, only one woman in cabinet Replealed carbon tax and stop boat people Royal commission into trade unions, March 2014 advised queen to reinstate knight and dame system, outgoing GG Quentin Bryce and her successor Peter Cosgrove became first recipients, Australia Day 2015 knighted Prince Phillip - Nov 2015 Turnbull removes knighting Feb 2015 motion for leadership spill fails July 2015 Speaker of House Bronwyn Bishop under scrutiny for using public funds on charter helicopter rides - Choppergate, she resigned Opposed same sex marriage Sept 2015 Turnbull, Minister for Comms, resigns and challenges leadership, he wins Returned to backbench, no portfolio in Turnbull govt 2018 envoy on Indigenous Affairs under Scomo 2019 election lost seat of Warringah to olympic skier Zali Steggal, first lost by Liberals since creation 1922 2020 Advisor to UK board of trade, Climate change denier

Answer 10

Sept 2015 - August 2018 (29th) Liberal Wentworth NSW Born in Sydney, parents divorced, raised by dad as only child. Went to Uni of Sydney then Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar Worked as a barrister, established own law firm, Established an investment banking firm Managing director of Goldman Sachs Bought a stake in OZ email and sold it for $57 mil 1993 Chair of Republic Advisory committee, active campaigner for 1999 republic vote 2004 won election in Wentworth NSW 2006 became parliamentary secretary under Howard 2007 Minister for Environment and Water 2007 election loss, ran for leadership and lost to Brendan Nelson, became shadow treasurer 2008 challenged leadership and became leader of opposition 2009 Ozcar affair, Godwin Grech faked emails saying Rudd misused funds to benefit mate = embarrassing Supported Rudds Carbon reduction scheme, colleagues disagreed 2009 Abbott challenged for leadership and won by a single vote 2010 shadow minister for comms 2013 Abbott PM, becomes minister for comms, began implementing new NBN strategy Sept 2015 resigned and challenged leadership, won and became PM Appointed first female defence minister, Marise Payne July 2016 double dissolution election - Coalition only retained majority by one seat, closest since 1961, 2017 plebiscite on same sex marriage, eligibility crisis - govt lost majority due to resignations, but gained due to by elections 2018 leadership challenge by Dutton, wins, second challenge, loses to scomo Aug 2018 resigned from parliament Married Lucy Hughes, former lord mayor of Sydney Estimated $133 mil - richest in govt

Answer 11

Aug 2018 - May 2022 (30th) Liberal Cook NSW First PM since Howard to complete a term in office Born in Sydney child actor in commercials and local shows Worked in Tourism for NZ and Australia - scotty from marketing Elected to Cook NSW in 2007 2008 shadow minister for housing and local govt under Turnbull 2009 shadow minister for immigration 2013 Minister for immigration under Abbott, operation sovereign borders, 2014 Minister for social services, 2015 appointed Treasurer under Turnbull Aug 2018 challenged leadership and won, minority govt 2019 election, won due to unpopular labor Bill shorten, Dec 2019 faced criticism for vacationing during bushfires 2021 sexual misconduct allegations, bad response to floods Aug 2022 investigation into how Scomo appointed self to 5 cabinet positions 2022 election lost to Albo,

Answer 12

May 2022 - Labor Grayndler NSW First Italian pm, last under QEII Parents met on voyage from Sydney to England, dad worked on boat Fairsky - same boat Julia Gillard emigrated to Aus on Did not meet father until 2009 Grew up in a council home, abusive step father, mother on disability pension Elected in 1996 for Grayndler NSW Passionate about entitlement to superannuation for gays 1998 appointed parliamentary secretary, 2001 shadow cabinet for aging and seniors, then education, 2004 for environment, 2005 for water, 2007 labor victory, minister for infrastructure, regional dev, leader of the house Established infrastructure australia 2010 helped swing support of independents for Gillard 2013 became deputy pm under Rudd After election loss challenged leader of opposition bill shorten, lost became shadow minister for infrastructure, tourism, cities 2019 election defeat, Shorten resigns, wins unopposed, age 56 was oldest leader of opposition since Arthur Calwell in 1960 2022 election, won. Richard Marles deputy pm, majority govt, Penny Wong dept of foreign affairs Married Carmel Tebbutt (future deputy premier of NSW) and have one son. Separated in 2019 - first divorcee PM

Aussie Prime Ministers Flashcards

(36 cards)