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Liberal Party of Australia
leadership election 2007

← 1995 29 November 2007 2008 →

Candidate Brendan Nelson Malcolm Turnbull Caucus vote 45 42 Percentage 51.7% 48.3% Seat Bradfield (NSW) Wentworth (NSW)

Leader before election John Howard Elected Leader Brendan Nelson

A spill of the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia took place on 29 November 2007, following the defeat of the Howard government at the federal election five days earlier. The resulting ballot was an open race as outgoing prime minister John Howard had lost his own seat at the election, and his preferred successor Peter Costello refused to stand.

An election for the deputy leadership of the party was held, as under Liberal Party rules, all leadership positions are declared vacant after a general election, no matter what the outcome.

Background

John Howard announced his resignation on election night after the coalition's defeat in the 2007 federal election, including the loss of his own seat of Bennelong. He had led the party since 1995 and been prime minister since the 1996 election.

The deputy leader and outgoing Treasurer Peter Costello had for a long time been publicly heralded as the natural successor to John Howard, and was confirmed as such by Howard on 12 September. However, on 25 November, Costello 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, and that he himself intended to leave Parliament during the current term.

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. Due to this, questions within the party were raised over the rules and legitimacy of the ballot. 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.

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; he said that he had not found enough support among the remaining Liberal MPs.

Prominent outgoing ministers such as former leader Alexander Downer and Joe Hockey ruled themselves out of the election.

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.

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. Biographer Paddy Manning regards Turnbull's decision to criticise Howard over not apologising to the Stolen Generation as sending votes to Nelson.

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

Outcome

Brendan Nelson won the ballot for leader against Malcolm Turnbull, by 45 votes to 42. Julie Bishop was elected deputy leader with 44 votes, against 25 for Andrew Robb and 18 for Christopher Pyne.

Leadership ballot

Liberal Party of Australia
deputy leadership ballot, 2007

← 1994 29 November 2007 2015 →

Candidate Julie Bishop Andrew Robb Christopher Pyne Caucus vote 44 (50.6%) 25 (28.7%) 18 (20.7%) Seat Curtin (WA) Goldstein (Vic.) Sturt (SA)

Deputy Leader before election Peter Costello Elected Deputy Leader Julie Bishop

Deputy leadership ballot

Following this leadership spill Liberal MP Christopher Pyne floated the idea of the party electing future leaders by all party members not just Liberal MPs but to this day parliamentary Liberal members still retain the sole right in electing the leader.

See also

• 2008 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill
• 2009 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill

References

1. "John Howard on the latest round of leadership turmoil". 7.30 Report (ABC). 12 September 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
2. Uhlmann, Chris (26 November 2007). "Hopefuls eye Liberal power vacuum". ABC Online. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
3. "No more follow the leader as Costello calls it quits". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 November 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
4. "Turnbull rules out challenge to Nelson". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 December 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
5. "Tony Abbott pulls out of Liberal leadership race". News.com.au. 28 November 2007. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
6. "Downer says 'no enthusiasm' for Liberal leadership". ABC Online. 26 November 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
7. "Robb the frontrunner as Libs' second banana". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 November 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
8. Maiden, Samantha (28 November 2007). "Turnbull's tilt gains strength". The Australian. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
9. "Bad blood and bastardry: how Malcolm Turnbull became opposition leader". 23 October 2015.
10. "Libs turn on Howard". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 November 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
11. "Brendan Nelson will not support moves to undo WorkChoices". Herald Sun. 27 November 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
12. "Nelson wins Liberal leadership". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 November 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
13. O'Malley, Sandra (29 November 2007). "Divided Liberals choose Nelson to lead". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. AAP. Retrieved 13 July 2007.

• 2007 elections in Australia
• Liberal Party of Australia leadership spills
• 2007 political party leadership elections
• November 2007 events in Australia