TheMcMahon governmentwas the period of federal executive government of Australia led by Prime MinisterWilliam McMahonof theLiberal Party.It was made up of members ofa coalitionbetween the Liberal Party and theCountry Party,led byDoug AnthonyasDeputy Prime Minister.The McMahon government lasted from March 1971 to December 1972, being defeated at the1972 federal election.Writing for theAustralian Dictionary of Biography,Julian Leeserdescribes McMahon's prime ministership as "a blend of cautious innovation and fundamental orthodoxy".
McMahon government | |
|---|---|
 | |
| In office | |
| 10 March 1971 – 5 December 1972 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| PrimeMinister | William McMahon |
| Deputy | Doug Anthony |
| Parties | Liberal Country |
| Origin | McMahon wins1971 Liberal leadership election |
| Demise | Lost1972 election |
| Predecessor | Gorton government |
| Successor | Whitlam government |
Background
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John GortonbecamePrime Minister of Australiaon 10 January 1968.He was chosento lead theLiberal Partyin place ofHarold Holt,who had drownedin rough surf off the Victorian coast. William McMahon was then serving as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, butCountry PartyleaderJohn McEwenruled out maintaining the Coalition if McMahon became Prime Minister. McMahon as Treasurer had resisted McEwen's support for high levels of protection for manufacturing.[1]Defence and Australia's commitment to theVietnam Warwas a prominent issue during the term of the Gorton government; funding for the arts was expanded, rates of pay were standardised between the men and women and the mining industry grew during the period. A policy of economic centralisation led to friction with State leaders and difficulties within thecoalition.Gorton departed the office of Prime Minister on 10 March 1971 after a tied Liberal party room vote of confidence in his leadership.[2]
The Liberal-Country Party Coalition had been in office continually since 1949. In April 1967,Gough WhitlamreplacedArthur Calwellas leader of theLabor Partyand Leader of the Opposition. Labor reduced theGorton government's majority and came within four seats of government at the1969 election;McEwen dropped his veto against McMahon, and McMahon subsequently andunsuccessfully challengedGorton for the leadership. The government also performed poorly in the1970 half-Senate election,adding to pressures on Gorton's leadership. Defence ministerMalcolm Fraserdeveloped an uneasy relationship with Gorton and in early 1971, Fraser accused Gorton of being disloyal to him in a conflict with Army officials over progress in South Vietnam.[3]On 8 March 1971, Fraser resigned and announced in parliament the following day that Gorton was "not fit to hold the great office of Prime Minister".[2]
On 10 March,the Liberal party room moved to debate and vote on a motion of confidence in Gorton as party leader, resulting in a 33–33 tie. In response Gorton said ‘that is not a vote of confidence’ and resigned as leader. McMahon replaced Gorton as Prime Minister. Gorton was elected deputy leader. His relations with Fraser did not recover.[4]
William McMahon had joined the Parliament in 1949 and by 1951 had been promoted to Minister for the Navy and for the Air. He had served as a major during theSecond World War,and worked on home defence.[1]He served as Minister for Primary Industry (1956–58) and Minister for Labour and National Service (1958–66) in theMenzies government,then as Treasurer (1966–69) in theHolt governmentandGorton government,and finally as Minister for External Affairs (1969–71) in the Gorton government. He was married toSonia McMahon,who maintained a high public profile.[4]
Term in office
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William "Bill" McMahon became Prime Minister of Australia on 10 March 1971, at the age of 63. TheMcMahon Ministrywas sworn in by Governor-GeneralPaul Hasluckwith Country Party leaderDoug Anthonyas Deputy Prime Minister. McMahon moved Gorton's Treasurer,Leslie Buryto the Ministry for External Affairs and installedBilly Sneddenas Treasurer.[4]
After taking office, McMahon told the press in March 1971:[1]
I am a party man. I believe in the Liberal Party and I believe it is the organ by which the national will and conscience will be put into effect.
Disunity continued to affect the government, following the replacement of Gorton. Gorton had taken the senior Cabinet position of Minister for Defence but was forced to resign from Cabinet in August 1971, after McMahon accused him of breaching Cabinet solidarity.
Defence Policy
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McMahon maintained Australia's diminishing commitment to Vietnam and criticised Opposition leader, Gough Whitlam, for visiting thePeople's Republic of Chinain 1972 – only to have the US PresidentRichard Nixonannounce a planned visit soon after. Anticipating a US withdrawal, the McMahon government announced an 'accelerated withdrawal' of Australian troops in Vietnam in July 1971.[4]
Indigenous Affairs
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Bill Wentworthoccupied the new post ofMinister for Aboriginal Affairs.[4]During McMahon's period in office,Neville Bonnerjoined the Senate and became the firstIndigenous Australianin theAustralian Parliament.[5]Bonner was chosen by the Liberal Party to fill a Senate vacancy in 1971 and celebrated his maiden parliamentary speech with a boomerang throwing display on the lawns of Parliament. Bonner went on to win election at the 1972 election and served as a Liberal senator for 12 years. He worked on Indigenous and social welfare issues and proved an independent minded senator, often crossing the floor on parliamentary votes.[6]Land rights were a topical issue during the term of the McMahon government and in 1972, Aboriginal protestors set up aTent Embassyon the lawns in front ofParliament House.The government accepted the recommendations of the Gibb committee on Aboriginal employment, which included the lease of land at Wattie Creek to theGurindjipeople, who had been staging a strike on a section of the Vestey company lease since 1966.[4]
Foreign policy
editFormer treasurerLes Burysucceeded McMahon in the foreign affairs portfolio. In his first statement as foreign minister, Bury "stressed the paramount importance of Asia to Australia", warned against complacency over the Soviet naval presence in the Indian Ocean, and called on Japan to play a greater role in regional affairs. He also reiterated Australian support for theNixon Doctrine.[7]In May 1971, he stated thatTaiwanshould be separately represented in the United Nations and that theRepublic of China's claims to Mainland China were "somewhat fictional".[8]After the announcement ofNixon's visit to Chinain July 1971, he reaffirmed the Australian government's long-standing policy of non-recognition of thePeople's Republic of Chinaand stated that he would not visit Beijing, but suggested Australia might formalise relations with the PRC at a later point.[9]
In June 1971, Bury publicly denouncedFrench nuclear testing in the South Pacific,stating the tests were "a matter of considerable regret to the government of Australia" and that he supported aComprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.[10]
Economy
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As the 1972 election approached, inflation and unemployment were increasing and the world economy was entering the 1970s decline.[1][4]In 1971, the government delivered a deflationary budget in response to economic conditions - but in 1972, faced with the challenge ofGough Whitlam's vast program of expenditure, Treasurer Snedden delivered a more election-friendly high spending budget.[1]
1972 election
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The McMahon government ended whenGough Whitlamled theAustralian Labor Partyout of its 23-year period in Opposition at 2 December 1972 election. The charismatic Whitlam led an effective campaign that resulted in Labor securing 67 seats to the Coalition's 58, leaving McMahon as the first non-Labor leader to suffer an election defeat since 1946.[1]
Aftermath
editMcMahon did not recontest the leadership of the Liberal Party and became a backbencher. Several candidates ran for the party leadership, including John Gorton, but the party settled on Billy Snedden with Phillip Lynch as Deputy.[1]McMahon remained in the parliament as a backbencher for 10 years after losing office as Prime Minister. He retired in 1982.[11]Snedden led the Coalition to the 1974 Election.Malcolm Fraserbecame leader of the Liberals and led the Coalition to a landslide victory againstGough Whitlam's Labor Party, following the 1975 Dismissal of theWhitlam government.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcdefgBrian Carroll; From Barton to Fraser; Cassell Australia; 1978
- ^abGorton in officenaa.gov.au
- ^Fraser. Before officenaa.gov.au
- ^abcdefgMcMahon in officenaa.gov.au
- ^Resultsnaa.gov.au
- ^"Civics | Neville Bonner (1922–1999)".Archived fromthe originalon 30 April 2012.Retrieved21 June2012.
- ^"Australia looks to Asia – Bury".Papua New Guinea Post-Courier.7 April 1971.
- ^"Taiwan stand on China unreal – Bury".Papua New Guinea Post-Courier.18 May 1971.
- ^"No change on China: Bury".The Canberra Times.19 July 1971.
- ^"Protest on nuclear tests".Papua New Guinea Post-Courier.4 June 1971.
- ^McMahon after officenaa.gov.au