International Whitlam scrapes leadership win

Press, 1 June 1977, Page 9

International Whitlam scrapes leadership win

NZPA Canberra; The Federal Labour Opposition has voted to retain Mr Gough Whitlam as its Parliamentary leader i for a further term — but only by the narrowest j possible margin of 32 votes to 30.

The deputy leadership was |]so retained by Mr Tom Uren who defeated his two challengers, Mr Paul Keating end Mr Chris Hurford, on a second count. Mr Uren, finally won by 34 votes to 28 after the 12 votes recorded by Mr Hurford In the first ballot were split down the middle for the second count. “It may have been close but a win's a win,” a Whitlam supporter said after the leadership decision was announced. It took the Labour Party caucus just over an hour to decide the two positions after months of speculation and behind the scenes lobbying. It was the first attemnt by Mr Hayden, a former Labour Treasurer, to challenge for the leadership and observers believe that the strong support shown for him places him in a good position as a future Labour leader. Mr Whitlam, who is 60, will now lead Labour at the next General Election—scheduled for next year and at the half-senate election, if it is held before that.

He has already been parliamentary leader for a record 10 years, but there is speculation already about his plans after his present term is up.

After the 1975 defeat in the General Election, the caucus voted to limit the leadership and other elected positions to 18 months, but this term could now be extended to the previous .hree year spell. Informed Labour Party sources say that Mr Whitlam will retire if he is unsuccessful at the General Election and hand over to Mr Hayden. Mr Whitlam offered to stand down before the last leadership poll 18 months ago in favour of Mr Hayden —but the former Treasurer stated then he was not interested. There is strong speculation now that Mr Whitlam will do the same after the General Election if he is unsuccessful in leading Labour back to office. Mr Whitlam’s main support yesterday came from the Left-wing faction of the party and from unions who

have canvassed caucus mem-i bers persistently since Mr! Hayden announced 11 weeks: ago he would stand. Mr Uren’s victory was not unexpected but many ob-[ servers believed that Mr I Keating, who is 33, would go' closer to edging him out. At; the previous leadershin election 18 months ago, Mr Keating failed by only three votes and after only four days of lobbying. In the first poll yesterday, Mr Uren received 28 votes,. Mr Keating 22, and Mr Hurford 12. In the second and final count, Mr Uren took 34 and Mr Keating 28—double the previous gap between the two.

Mr Whitlam and Mr Uren are both from New South Wales, and a third New South Welshman to gain office yesterday ./as Senator Doug McClelland, who replaced Senator Jim Keeffe, of Queensland, as deputy leader in the Senate. The present Senate leader. Senator Ken Wriedt, of Tasmania, was reelected unopposed but two ballots were needed for the deputy leadership.