Malcolm Fraser

:This article is about the former Prime Minister of Australia; for the Western Australian public servant, see Malcolm Fraser (surveyor).

Decline and fall

At the 1980 elections, Fraser saw his majority sharply reduced and the Liberals lost control of the Senate. Fraser was convinced, however, that he had the measure of the Labor leader, Bill Hayden. But in 1982, a protracted scandal over tax-avoidance schemes run by prominent Liberals plagued the government,and the economy experienced a sharp recession. A popular minister, Andrew Peacock, resigned from Cabinet and challenged Fraser's leadership. Although Fraser won, these events left him politically weakened.

Related Topics:
1980 - Bill Hayden - 1982 - Andrew Peacock

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By the end of 1982 it was obvious that the popular former trade union leader Bob Hawke was going to replace Hayden as Labor leader. Fraser wanted to call a snap election to defeat Hayden before Hawke could replace him, but he was prevented by the tax-evasion scandal and by an attack of ill-health. When Fraser acted, he had left his run too late. On the day Fraser called the election for 5 March, Hawke replaced Hayden as leader of the ALP and Leader of the Opposition. Fraser was heavily defeated by Hawke in the election.

Related Topics:
1982 - Bob Hawke - 5 March - ALP - Leader of the Opposition

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Fraser immediately resigned from Parliament. Over the 13 years that the Liberals then spent in opposition until 1996, they tended to blame the "wasted opportunities" of the Fraser years for their problems, and Fraser grew resentful of this and distanced himself from his old party. The Hawke Government supported his unsuccessful bid to become Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Related Topics:
1996 - Commonwealth of Nations

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