1959 Australian Labor Party leadership spill

A leadership spill of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), then the opposition party in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 16 February 1959.

1959 Australian Labor Party
Leadership spill
16 February 1959
 
Candidate H. V. Evatt Eddie Ward
Caucus vote 46 32
Percentage 58.97 41.03
Leader before election

H. V. Evatt

 Elected Leader

H. V. Evatt

Background

Senior Labor left-winger Eddie Ward unsuccessfully challenged ALP leader H. V. Evatt following Evatt's third defeat at the polls in the 1958 election. Evatt was re-elected by a lower than expected margin of only 14 votes.[1] The closeness of the ballot further highlighted the dissatisfaction with Evatt's leadership.

At the same caucus, Arthur Calwell was re-elected as deputy leader unopposed.

Results

The following table gives the ballot results:

Name Votes Percentage
H. V. Evatt 46 58.97
Eddie Ward 32 41.03

See also

References
  1. "Dr. Evatt Back as Party Leader". The Canberra Times. 17 February 1959. p. 1.
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