William McMahon
Encyclopedia
Sir William "Billy" McMahon, GCMG, CH
(23 February 190831 March 1988), was an Australian Liberal
politician and the 20th Prime Minister of Australia
. He was the longest continuously serving government minister in Australian history (21 years and 6 months), as well as the longest serving Prime Minister to have never won an election.
McMahon's mother died when he was 9 and his father when he was 18.
He was educated at Sydney Grammar School
and at the University of Sydney
, where he graduated in law. He practised in Sydney with Allen, Allen & Hemsley (now Allens Arthur Robinson
), the oldest law firm in Australia. In 1940 he joined the Army, but because of a hearing loss he was confined to staff work. After World War II he travelled in Europe and completed an economics degree.
Billy McMahon was elected to the House of Representatives for the Sydney seat of Lowe
in 1949
, one of the flood of new Liberal
MPs known as the "forty-niners". He was capable and ambitious, and in 1951 Prime Minister Robert Menzies
made him Minister for Air
and Minister for the Navy
. Over the next 15 years he held the portfolios of Social Services
, Primary Industry
and Labour and National Service
, and he was also Vice-President of the Executive Council
. In 1966, when Harold Holt
became Prime Minister, McMahon succeeded him as Treasurer
and as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party.
Despite his steady advance, McMahon remained unpopular with his colleagues. He was highly capable, but seen as too ambitious and a schemer. He had never married, and there were frequent rumours throughout his life that he was homosexual. In 1965, aged 57, he married Sonia Rachel Hopkins
, who was then aged 32. They had three children: Melinda, Julian
(who would find fame in his own right as a model and an actor), and Deborah.
When Holt drowned in December 1967, McMahon was assumed to be his automatic successor. But John McEwen
, interim Prime Minister and leader of the Country Party
, announced that he and his party would not serve in a government led by McMahon. McEwen did not state his reasons publicly, but privately he told McMahon he did not trust him. There was also McEwen's personal dislike of McMahon due to his perceived homosexuality. McEwen, an arch-protectionist
, also correctly suspected that McMahon favoured policies of free trade
and deregulation
.
McMahon therefore withdrew, and John Gorton
won the party room ballot. McMahon became Foreign Minister
and waited for his chance at a comeback. He stood as a candidate for the Liberal Party leadership (and therefore Prime Minister, as the Liberal/Country Party coalition held a majority in the House of Representatives) after the 1969 election
but was defeated by Gorton. In January 1971 McEwen retired as Country Party leader and his successor, Doug Anthony
, did not continue the veto against McMahon. In March 1971 the Defence Minister, Malcolm Fraser
, resigned from Cabinet and denounced Gorton, who then called a party meeting. When the party room vote on a motion of no confidence was tied, Gorton declared that he lacked the confidence of the room and relinquished the leadership, and McMahon was elected leader.
McMahon found being Prime Minister an unenjoyable experience. The Vietnam War
and conscription
had become very unpopular. He was unable to match the performance of Labor
leader Gough Whitlam
, who campaigned on radical new policies such as universal health insurance. He was undermined by plotting from Gorton's supporters. He attacked Whitlam over his policy of recognising the People's Republic of China, then had to back down when President Nixon
announced his visit to China
.
His reputation for economic management was undermined by high inflation. His voice and appearance came across badly on television, and he was no match in parliamentary debates for Whitlam, a witty and powerful orator.
McMahon lost his nerve, and in the December 1972 election
campaign he was outperformed by Whitlam and subjected to further humiliation in the press. When Whitlam won the election McMahon resigned the Liberal leadership.
He had been a minister continuously for 21 years and 6 months, a record in the Australian Parliament. Only Sir George Pearce
and John McEwen had longer overall ministerial service, but their terms were not continuous.
, but was dropped after the 1974 election
. He retained his seat in Parliament in the 1975
, 1977
and 1980
elections, and was the last former Australian Prime Minister until Kevin Rudd
to recontest his seat. He became Joint Father of the House of Representatives with Clyde Cameron
in 1977, and sole Father in 1980 when Cameron retired. On the retirement of Senator Justin O'Byrne
in 1981, he became Father of the Parliament
. He resigned from Parliament in 1982.
McMahon died of cancer in Sydney on 31 March 1988, aged 80. His widow Lady (Sonia) McMahon
died aged 77 on 2 April 2010.
McMahon was appointed a Privy Counsellor
in 1966, a Companion of Honour in the New Year's Day Honours of 1972 and a Knight
Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1977.
Following the 2009 redistribution of New South Wales, the Division of Prospect
was renamed in his honour
with effect from the 2010 federal election.
Order of the Companions of Honour
The Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion....
(23 February 190831 March 1988), was an Australian Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
politician and the 20th Prime Minister of Australia
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...
. He was the longest continuously serving government minister in Australian history (21 years and 6 months), as well as the longest serving Prime Minister to have never won an election.
Early life
William McMahon was born in Sydney, where his father was a lawyer. He was of Irish ancestry.McMahon's mother died when he was 9 and his father when he was 18.
He was educated at Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
and at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, where he graduated in law. He practised in Sydney with Allen, Allen & Hemsley (now Allens Arthur Robinson
Allens Arthur Robinson
Allens Arthur Robinson is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region generally, it is considered to be one of the top commercial law firms.- Offices :...
), the oldest law firm in Australia. In 1940 he joined the Army, but because of a hearing loss he was confined to staff work. After World War II he travelled in Europe and completed an economics degree.
Politics
Division of Lowe
The Division of Lowe was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was located in the inner western suburbs of Sydney, on the south shore of the Parramatta River...
in 1949
Australian federal election, 1949
Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1949. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives, and 42 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, where the single transferable vote was introduced...
, one of the flood of new Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
MPs known as the "forty-niners". He was capable and ambitious, and in 1951 Prime Minister Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
made him Minister for Air
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
and Minister for the Navy
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
. Over the next 15 years he held the portfolios of Social Services
Minister for Human Services (Australia)
The position of Minister for Human Services within Australian politics is currently held by the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP. The Minister is responsible for a number of welfare agencies and administers her portfolio through the Department of Human Services and its component bodies:* Child Support...
, Primary Industry
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia)
The current Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig.-Portfolio responsibilities:The minister administers his portfolio through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and its component bodies:...
and Labour and National Service
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations is currently the Hon Senator Chris Evans.The Minister administers this portfolio, through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations....
, and he was also Vice-President of the Executive Council
Vice-President of the Executive Council
The Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council is a position in Australian federal governments, whose holder acts as presiding officer of the Federal Executive Council in the absence of the Governor-General....
. In 1966, when Harold Holt
Harold Holt
Harold Edward Holt, CH was an Australian politician and the 17th Prime Minister of Australia.His term as Prime Minister was brought to an early and dramatic end in December 1967 when he disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach near Portsea, Victoria, and was presumed drowned.Holt spent 32 years...
became Prime Minister, McMahon succeeded him as Treasurer
Treasurer of Australia
The Treasurer of Australia is the minister in the Government of Australia responsible for government expenditure and revenue raising. He is the head of the Department of the Treasury. The Treasurer plays a key role in the economic policy of the government...
and as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party.
Despite his steady advance, McMahon remained unpopular with his colleagues. He was highly capable, but seen as too ambitious and a schemer. He had never married, and there were frequent rumours throughout his life that he was homosexual. In 1965, aged 57, he married Sonia Rachel Hopkins
Sonia McMahon
Sonia McMahon, known from 1977 as Lady McMahon , was the wife of Sir William McMahon, Prime Minister of Australia, and a philanthropist and Sydney socialite.-Biography:...
, who was then aged 32. They had three children: Melinda, Julian
Julian McMahon
Julian Dana William McMahon is an Australian actor and former fashion model. He is best known for his portrayals of Cole Turner in The WB hit series Charmed, womanizing plastic surgeon Christian Troy on the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning TV show Nip/Tuck, and Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four and...
(who would find fame in his own right as a model and an actor), and Deborah.
When Holt drowned in December 1967, McMahon was assumed to be his automatic successor. But John McEwen
John McEwen
Sir John "Black Jack" McEwen, GCMG, CH , was an Australian politician and the 18th Prime Minister of Australia...
, interim Prime Minister and leader of the Country Party
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...
, announced that he and his party would not serve in a government led by McMahon. McEwen did not state his reasons publicly, but privately he told McMahon he did not trust him. There was also McEwen's personal dislike of McMahon due to his perceived homosexuality. McEwen, an arch-protectionist
Protectionism
Protectionism is the economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, and a variety of other government regulations designed to allow "fair competition" between imports and goods and services produced domestically.This...
, also correctly suspected that McMahon favoured policies of free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
and deregulation
Deregulation
Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or...
.
John Gorton
Sir John Grey Gorton, GCMG, AC, CH , Australian politician, was the 19th Prime Minister of Australia.-Early life:...
won the party room ballot. McMahon became Foreign Minister
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)
In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is responsible for overseeing the international diplomacy section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In common with international practice, the office is often informally referred to as Foreign Minister...
and waited for his chance at a comeback. He stood as a candidate for the Liberal Party leadership (and therefore Prime Minister, as the Liberal/Country Party coalition held a majority in the House of Representatives) after the 1969 election
Australian federal election, 1969
Federal elections were held in Australia on 25 October 1969. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Prime Minister of Australia John Gorton with coalition partner the Country Party led by John McEwen defeated the Australian...
but was defeated by Gorton. In January 1971 McEwen retired as Country Party leader and his successor, Doug Anthony
Doug Anthony
John Douglas Anthony, AC, CH , is a former Australian politician. He was leader of the National Party from 1971 to 1984, and Deputy Prime Minister from 1971 to 1972 and again from 1975 to 1983.-Early life:...
, did not continue the veto against McMahon. In March 1971 the Defence Minister, Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
, resigned from Cabinet and denounced Gorton, who then called a party meeting. When the party room vote on a motion of no confidence was tied, Gorton declared that he lacked the confidence of the room and relinquished the leadership, and McMahon was elected leader.
Prime minister
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
had become very unpopular. He was unable to match the performance of Labor
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...
leader Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
, who campaigned on radical new policies such as universal health insurance. He was undermined by plotting from Gorton's supporters. He attacked Whitlam over his policy of recognising the People's Republic of China, then had to back down when President Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
announced his visit to China
1972 Nixon visit to China
U.S. President Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to the People's Republic of China was an important step in formally normalizing relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China. It marked the first time a U.S. president had visited the PRC, who at that time considered the U.S. one...
.
His reputation for economic management was undermined by high inflation. His voice and appearance came across badly on television, and he was no match in parliamentary debates for Whitlam, a witty and powerful orator.
McMahon lost his nerve, and in the December 1972 election
Australian federal election, 1972
Federal elections were held in Australia on 2 December 1972. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. The Liberal Party of Australia had been in power since 1949, under Prime Minister of Australia William McMahon since March 1971 with coalition partner the Country Party...
campaign he was outperformed by Whitlam and subjected to further humiliation in the press. When Whitlam won the election McMahon resigned the Liberal leadership.
He had been a minister continuously for 21 years and 6 months, a record in the Australian Parliament. Only Sir George Pearce
George Pearce
Sir George Foster Pearce KCVO was an Australian politician who was instrumental in founding the Australian Labor Party in Western Australia....
and John McEwen had longer overall ministerial service, but their terms were not continuous.
Later life
McMahon served in the Shadow Cabinet under his successor Billy SneddenBilly Snedden
Sir Billy Mackie Snedden, KCMG, QC was an Australian politician representing the Liberal Party. He was Leader of the Opposition at the 1974 federal election, failing to defeat the Labor incumbent Gough Whitlam.-Early life:...
, but was dropped after the 1974 election
Australian federal election, 1974
Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 May 1974. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, due to a double dissolution...
. He retained his seat in Parliament in the 1975
Australian federal election, 1975
Federal elections were held in Australia on 13 December 1975. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 64 seats in the Senate were up for election following a double dissolution of both Houses....
, 1977
Australian federal election, 1977
Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1977. All 124 seats in the House of Representatives, and 34 of the 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election....
and 1980
Australian federal election, 1980
Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 October 1980. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and 34 of the 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Malcolm Fraser with coalition partner the National Country Party led by Doug...
elections, and was the last former Australian Prime Minister until Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
to recontest his seat. He became Joint Father of the House of Representatives with Clyde Cameron
Clyde Cameron
Clyde Robert Cameron, AO , Australian politician, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives for 31 years from 1949 to 1980, a Cabinet minister in the Whitlam government and a leading figure in the Australian labour movement for forty years.-Biography:Cameron was born in Murray Bridge,...
in 1977, and sole Father in 1980 when Cameron retired. On the retirement of Senator Justin O'Byrne
Justin O'Byrne
Justin Hilary O'Byrne, AO was a long-serving Australian Labor Party politician who represented Tasmania in the Federal Senate from 1947 to 1981, acting as President of the Senate from 1974 to 1975.-Biography:...
in 1981, he became Father of the Parliament
Father of the Australian Parliament
This is a list of Fathers of the Australian Parliament.The Father of the Parliament is the more senior of the Father of the Senate and the Father of the House of Representatives...
. He resigned from Parliament in 1982.
McMahon died of cancer in Sydney on 31 March 1988, aged 80. His widow Lady (Sonia) McMahon
Sonia McMahon
Sonia McMahon, known from 1977 as Lady McMahon , was the wife of Sir William McMahon, Prime Minister of Australia, and a philanthropist and Sydney socialite.-Biography:...
died aged 77 on 2 April 2010.
Honours
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
in 1966, a Companion of Honour in the New Year's Day Honours of 1972 and a Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1977.
Following the 2009 redistribution of New South Wales, the Division of Prospect
Division of Prospect
The Division of Prospect was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales from 1969 to 2010. It was located in the western suburbs of Sydney, and included the suburbs of Fairfield, Smithfield, Kemps Creek, St Clair, Horsley Park and those parts of the suburb of Prospect south of...
was renamed in his honour
Division of McMahon
The Division of McMahon is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in the western suburbs of Sydney, and includes the suburbs of Abbotsbury, Blacktown , Bossley Park, Canley Vale, Cecil Park, Eastern Creek, Edensor Park, Erskine Park, Fairfield, Fairfield...
with effect from the 2010 federal election.
Further reading
- Hughes, Colin AColin HughesColin Anfield Hughes is an Australian academic specializing in electoral politics and government.He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Columbia University and his Ph.D from the London School of Economics. In 1966, along with John S...
(1976), Mr Prime Minister. Australian Prime Ministers 1901–1972, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, Victoria, Ch.22. ISBN 0 19 550471 2
- Reid, Alan (1971), The Gorton Experiment, Shakespeare Head Press, Sydney.
- Sekuless, PeterPeter SekulessPeter Sekuless is an Australian author and lobbyist based in Canberra, Australia.He founded the government relations firm Canberra Liaison with Jonathan Gaul in 1978...
(2000), 'Sir William McMahon,' in Michelle GrattanMichelle GrattanMichelle Grattan AO , Australian journalist, was the first woman to become editor of an Australian metropolitan daily newspaper. Specialising in political journalism, Grattan has written and edited for many significant Australian newspapers....
(ed.), Australian Prime Ministers, New Holland, Sydney, New South Wales, pages 312–323. ISBN 1 86436 756 3