1951 Australian Labor Party leadership election
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A leadership election in the Australian Labor Party, then the opposition party in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 20 June 1951. It saw the election of Leader H. V. Evatt as leader following the death of sitting leader Ben Chifley.
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20 June 1951
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Background
As deputy leader, Evatt became acting leader of the party upon Chifley's death on 13 June. Prior to the meeting, there was speculation that Arthur Calwell would also contest the leadership, however by 19 June he had decided not to run.[1] As a result, Evatt was elected unopposed. In the ballot for the deputy leadership, Calwell defeated Percy Clarey by nine votes on the third ballot, following the elimination of Eddie Ward and Allan Fraser:[2]
| Candidate | Constituency | 1st ballot | 2nd ballot | 3rd ballot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur Calwell | Melbourne (VIC) | 38 | 36 | 45 | |
| Percy Clarey | Bendigo (VIC) | 18 | 27 | 36 | |
| Eddie Ward | East Sydney (NSW) | 16 | 18 | Eliminated | |
| Allan Fraser | Eden-Monaro (NSW) | 9 | Eliminated | Eliminated | |