A leadership spill of the federal parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party of Australia was held on 23 May 1994. The incumbent, John Hewson, was defeated by Alexander Downer in a vote of Liberal Party Members of Parliament (MPs) by 43 votes to 36 votes.Canberra Times, 24 May 1994 Downer thus became the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Australia.
Background
After John Hewson lost the so-called unlosable 1993 election, he stayed on as Leader of the Opposition despite stating he would resign if he lost. Hewson stayed on to prevent John Howard being elected leader who Hewson defeated in a 1993 leadership challenge. However, Hewson was undermined over the next 14 months amidst the Liberals having a hard time trying to fundraise and create momentum against the Keating government and after being embarrassed on Lateline about negative Liberal polling, Hewson called a leadership spill.John Hewson: John Howard's republican debate tactics threaten same-sex marriage John Hewson - Sydney Morning Herald 21 September 2017So Many Firsts - Liberal Women from Enid Lyons to the Turnbull Era Margaret Fitzherbert to the Turnbull Era
Candidates Alexander Downer, Shadow Treasurer, Member for Mayo John Hewson, incumbent Leader, Member for Wentworth
Potential candidates who declined to run Peter Costello, Shadow Minister for Finance, Member for Higgins John Howard, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Member for Bennelong
Results
The following table gives the ballot results: Name Votes Percentage Alexander Downer 43 54.4 John Hewson 36 45.6
Aftermath Michael Wooldridge was replaced as Deputy Leader by Peter Costello who became Shadow Treasurer. Downer placed Hewson in his shadow ministry as Shadow Minister for Industry, Commerce, Infrastructure, and Customs, however he was sacked after less than three months.
References