December 1977 Australian Labor Party leadership election
A leadership election of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), then the opposition party in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 22 December 1977. Following the resignation of Gough Whitlam former Treasurer Bill Hayden was elected Labor's new leader winning 36 votes to 28 over Lionel Bowen who was then elected deputy leader. Background. After losing the 1977 election Gough Whitlam finally resigned as party leader after more than 10 years. Bill Hayden who in May had come within two votes of toppling Whitlam, announced the day after election that he would  contest the leadership. Results. Leadership ballot. The following tables gives the ballot results: Deputy leadership ballot. Paul Keating had previously announced that he would stand for the deputy leadership, however he stood aside in favour of Bowen. Aftermath. Hayden led the party in on the 1980 election where they managed to halve Malcolm Fraser's majority.