The ACT Labor Party, the division of the Australian Labor Party in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), has held a number of leadership elections and deputy leadership elections. The most recent was held in November 2020, although the most recent leadership change was in December 2014.
1982 election
23 June 1982 | |||||||||||||
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The 1982 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 23 June 1982
On 28 April 1982, Peter Vallee announced he would resign as Labor leader to allow the party to have a female leader, which he said would "more closely reflect the wishes of the ACT Labor branch". The same day, Labor MHA John Clements resigned from the party because of what he said was "faction fighting and the dominance of radical feminists".
The following day on 29 April, Canberra MHA Robyn Walmsley became the party's interim leader for the 1982 election, which was held on 5 June. Labor won eight seats at the election, making them the largest party in the House of Assembly.
After the election, Walmsley was succeeded by fellow Canberra MHA Ken Doyle, who was elected leader at a caucus meeting on 23 June 1982.
Results
| Faction | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Ken Doyle | ||||
| Total votes | 8 | ||||
1983 spill
7 March 1983 | ||||||||||||||||
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The 1983 ACT Labor Party leadership spill was held on 7 March 1983.
On the evening of 7 March, a leadership spill took place. The Hawke government had been elected just two days earlier, and it was believed that new leadership would be able to build a closer relationship with the federal government.
Incumbent Labor leader Ken Doyle, who had led the party for less than a year, was defeated by fellow Canberra MHA Maurene Horder. Horder won the leadership five votes to three, becoming the first woman to lead a parliamentary Labor Party in any of the Australian states or territories, albeit in a parliament that only had an advisory role. Although Robyn Walmsley had headed the party for several months in 1982, she was only in an interim position.
Doyle said he was "caught by surprise", and told The Canberra Times that "I could see no substantive reason for change. It was unwarranted. I have been extremely dedicated in leading the Labor Party. I have promoted the ALP at every opportunity and have raised every issue which needed to be addressed".
Barry Reid was elected deputy leader, Paul Whalan was elected caucus chairman and Robyn Walmsley was elected secretary of caucus and Assembly whip.
Results
| Faction | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Maurene Horder | 5 | 62.5 | ||
| Labor | Ken Doyle | 3 | 37.5 | ||
| Total votes | 8 | ||||
1985 election
28 June 1985 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1985 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 28 June 1985.
On 24 June 1985, Labor leader Maurene Horder announced her resignation as leader and from the House of Assembly. She was announced the following day as a federal ministerial advisor to Chris Hurford, the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.
At a caucus meeting on 28 June, at least three candidates contested the leadership, including caucus chairman Paul Whalan. No candidate initially had a majority, but on the final ballot, Whalan emerged victorious.
Results
| Faction | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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| Labor Right | Paul Whalan | less than 5 | |||
| Labor | unknown | less than 5 | |||
| Labor | unknown | less than 5 | |||
| Final ballot result | |||||
| Labor Right | Paul Whalan | 5 or more | |||
| Labor | unknown | 3 or less | |||
| Total votes | 8 | ||||
1988 election
17 December 1988 | |||||||||||||
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The 1988 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 17 December 1988.
Following the dissolution of the House of Assembly on 30 June 1986, Labor was left without a formal leader.
Ahead of the 1989 ACT election, the first under self-government, Labor held a preselection to decide its 11 candidates. 18 candidates ran for preselection, with around 600 rank-and-file party members were able to vote.
Left faction leader Rosemary Follett narrowly defeated Paul Whalan, the leader of the Right faction and the former Labor House of Assembly leader, by a margin of just 14 votes. This was a surprise victory, as Whalan was seen as a favourite based on the Right's strength within the party, although the majority of members did not belong to any faction. Whalan became Labor's deputy leader.
Just days before the 1989 election, Whalan planned to challenge Follett for the leadership if enough Right faction members were elected, even if Labor won government. However, he instead decided to let Follett handle the difficulties of the first term, after which he would mount a challenge in the lead up to the next election.
Ultimately, Whalan never officially challenged Follett and resigned from the Legislative Assembly on 30 April 1990, criticising Follett outside of parliament.
Results
| Faction | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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| Labor Left | Rosemary Follett | ||||
| Labor Right | Paul Whalan | ||||
| Total votes | c. 600 | ||||
2014 election
10 December 2014 | ||||||||||||||||
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The 2014 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 10 December 2014.
On 5 December 2014, chief minister and Labor leader Katy Gallagher announced she would resign in order to contest a Senate vacancy caused by the resignation of Kate Lundy. She endorsed deputy chief minister Andrew Barr as her successor.
At a caucus meeting on 10 December, Barr was elected unopposed as leader. He was officially sworn in as chief minister the following day on 11 December, becoming the first openly LGBTI head of government in Australia.
Simon Corbell, a member of the Left faction, was elected as deputy leader.
Candidates
| Candidate | Electorate | Faction | Announced | ||
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| Andrew Barr | Molonglo | Right | 6 December 2014 | ||
Results
| Faction | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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| Labor Right | Andrew Barr | unopposed | |||
| Total votes | 8 | ||||
2016 election
24 October 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
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The 2016 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 24 October 2016.
Following the 2016 ACT election, in which Labor won 12 seats, the party's caucus voted on its leadership team.
Andrew Barr was re-elected unopposed as Labor leader, while Left faction member Yvette Berry became the new deputy leader following the retirement of Simon Corbell, having received Berry's endorsement.
Candidates
| Candidate | Electorate | Faction | Announced | ||
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| Andrew Barr | Kurrajong | Right | 24 October 2016 | ||
Results
| Faction | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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| Labor Right | Andrew Barr | unopposed | |||
| Total votes | 12 | ||||
2020 election
2 November 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
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The 2020 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 2 November 2020.
Following the 2020 ACT election, in which Labor won 10 seats, the party's caucus voted on its leadership team.
Andrew Barr and Yvette Berry were re-elected as leader and deputy leader respectively.
Candidates
| Candidate | Electorate | Faction | Announced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Barr | Kurrajong | Right | 2 November 2020 | ||
Results
| Faction | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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| Labor Right | Andrew Barr | unopposed | |||
| Total votes | 10 | ||||
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