Joh for Canberra
Encyclopedia
The Joh for Canberra or Joh for PM campaign was an attempt by the Queensland
branch of the National Party of Australia
to install Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen
as Prime Minister
of Australia.
In 1986, the National Party won an outright majority in an election for the only time ever in a state election, and Bjelke-Petersen almost immediately set his sights on becoming Prime Minister. Soon afterward, "Joh for PM" bumper stickers appeared throughout Queensland.
The campaign was financed by a number of prominent Gold Coast
property developers (commonly known as the "white shoe brigade"), many of whom had benefited from favourable treatment from the Bjelke-Petersen state government. Although many of the white shoe brigade had been successful in business, they were ignorant of the realities of Federal politics.
Joh's populist
appeal did not reach into Sydney
and Melbourne
, Australia's two largest cities and home to close to half the Australian population, to any great extent. Bjelke-Petersen had no party base outside the Queensland National Party, and since Australia's Westminster system
requires the Prime Minister to be capable of commanding a majority in the House of Representatives, in practice Bjelke-Petersen would have required the support of the Liberal Party and other state branches of the National Party, who were in any case in no position to do so without first winning the 1987 election. Although for a time Bjelke-Petersen looked to have the support of former Opposition Leader Andrew Peacock
, and prominent National Farmers Federation President Ian McLachlan
, this did not eventuate.
At one point, Bjelke-Petersen attracted 20 percent support in opinion polls. Even at this point, federal Liberal leader John Howard
was not prepared to accommodate Bjelke-Petersen. However, Bjelke-Petersen, as leader of the Nationals' most powerful state branch, was able to persuade federal Nationals leader Ian Sinclair
to tear up the Coalition
agreement. Bob Hawke
saw this, and dropped the writ
for the election a few months before it was due. Bjelke-Petersen was forced to shelve the campaign as he was overseas visiting Disneyland at the time. While Bjelke-Petersen did not run as a candidate in that election himself, a number of candidates ran as "Joh's Nationals", in some cases on separate tickets from the official National Party.
The campaign proved to be spectacularly misguided. Due to several three-way contests, the governing Australian Labor Party
won another term on a four-seat swing. The campaign weakened the conservative
forces both nationally and within Queensland, and resulted in severe internal divisions within the Queensland branch of the National Party. Another reason often given for Labor's victory is that swing vote
rs across the country, uncomfortable with the possibility of Bjelke-Petersen becoming so much as a power broker
in the event of a hung parliament
, chose to stay with Labor instead of switching to Coalition candidates. Labor's federal electoral victory, reliant largely on gains of seats in Queensland, was attributed to the Joh for PM campaign. "We couldn't have done it without Joh," State Secretary of the Queensland ALP Peter Beattie
remarked.
The drive proved to be the last hurrah for Bjelke-Petersen, as he was forced out of politics altogether in December 1987.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
branch of the National Party of Australia
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
to install Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Sir Johannes "Joh" Bjelke-Petersen, KCMG , was an Australian politician. He was the longest-serving and longest-lived Premier of Queensland, holding office from 1968 to 1987, a period that saw considerable economic development in the state...
as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
of Australia.
In 1986, the National Party won an outright majority in an election for the only time ever in a state election, and Bjelke-Petersen almost immediately set his sights on becoming Prime Minister. Soon afterward, "Joh for PM" bumper stickers appeared throughout Queensland.
The campaign was financed by a number of prominent Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
property developers (commonly known as the "white shoe brigade"), many of whom had benefited from favourable treatment from the Bjelke-Petersen state government. Although many of the white shoe brigade had been successful in business, they were ignorant of the realities of Federal politics.
Joh's populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
appeal did not reach into Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia's two largest cities and home to close to half the Australian population, to any great extent. Bjelke-Petersen had no party base outside the Queensland National Party, and since Australia's Westminster system
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
requires the Prime Minister to be capable of commanding a majority in the House of Representatives, in practice Bjelke-Petersen would have required the support of the Liberal Party and other state branches of the National Party, who were in any case in no position to do so without first winning the 1987 election. Although for a time Bjelke-Petersen looked to have the support of former Opposition Leader Andrew Peacock
Andrew Peacock
Andrew Sharp Peacock AC, GCL , is a former Australian Liberal politician. He was a minister in the Gorton, McMahon and Fraser governments, and was federal leader of the Liberal Party of Australia 1983–1985 and 1989–1990...
, and prominent National Farmers Federation President Ian McLachlan
Ian McLachlan
Ian Murray McLachlan AO is an Australian landowner, former first-class cricketer, and former member of the Australian House of Representatives.-Early life:...
, this did not eventuate.
At one point, Bjelke-Petersen attracted 20 percent support in opinion polls. Even at this point, federal Liberal leader John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
was not prepared to accommodate Bjelke-Petersen. However, Bjelke-Petersen, as leader of the Nationals' most powerful state branch, was able to persuade federal Nationals leader Ian Sinclair
Ian Sinclair
Ian McCahon Sinclair AC , is an Australian politician and former leader of the National Party of Australia.Sinclair was born in Sydney, the son of a suburban accountant. He was educated at Knox Grammar School and at the University of Sydney, where he graduated in arts and law...
to tear up the Coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
agreement. Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
saw this, and dropped the writ
Dropping the writ
Dropping the writ is the informal term for a procedure in some parliamentary government systems, where the head of government goes to the head of state and formally advises him or her to dissolve parliament...
for the election a few months before it was due. Bjelke-Petersen was forced to shelve the campaign as he was overseas visiting Disneyland at the time. While Bjelke-Petersen did not run as a candidate in that election himself, a number of candidates ran as "Joh's Nationals", in some cases on separate tickets from the official National Party.
The campaign proved to be spectacularly misguided. Due to several three-way contests, the governing Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
won another term on a four-seat swing. The campaign weakened the conservative
Conservatism in Australia
Conservativism in Australia covers similar political issues as found in other Western democracies.In Australia political conservatism is primarily represented by the Liberal Party of Australia, and its rural-based coalition partner, the National Party...
forces both nationally and within Queensland, and resulted in severe internal divisions within the Queensland branch of the National Party. Another reason often given for Labor's victory is that swing vote
Swing vote
Swing vote is a term used to describe a vote that may go to any of a number of candidates in an election, or, in a two-party system, may go to either of the two dominant political parties...
rs across the country, uncomfortable with the possibility of Bjelke-Petersen becoming so much as a power broker
Power broker
Power broker may refer to:* Power Broker - a fictional corporation and character in the Marvel Universe* Power broker - a political term* The Power Broker - a book by Robert Caro...
in the event of a hung parliament
Hung parliament
In a two-party parliamentary system of government, a hung parliament occurs when neither major political party has an absolute majority of seats in the parliament . It is also less commonly known as a balanced parliament or a legislature under no overall control...
, chose to stay with Labor instead of switching to Coalition candidates. Labor's federal electoral victory, reliant largely on gains of seats in Queensland, was attributed to the Joh for PM campaign. "We couldn't have done it without Joh," State Secretary of the Queensland ALP Peter Beattie
Peter Beattie
Peter Douglas Beattie , Australian politician, was the 36th Premier of the Australian state of Queensland for nine years and leader of the Australian Labor Party in that state for eleven and a half years...
remarked.
The drive proved to be the last hurrah for Bjelke-Petersen, as he was forced out of politics altogether in December 1987.