United Australia Party leadership election, 1939

United Australia Party
leadership election, 1939

18 April 1939

Candidate Robert Menzies Billy Hughes First Ballot uncertain uncertain Second Ballot uncertain uncertain Third Ballot 23 19   Candidate Richard Casey Thomas White First Ballot uncertain uncertain Second Ballot uncertain eliminated Third Ballot eliminated eliminated

Leader before election Joseph Lyons Elected Leader Robert Menzies

The United Australia Party held a leadership election on 18 April 1939, following the death in office of Prime Minister Joseph Lyons on 7 April. Robert Menzies narrowly defeated Billy Hughes – a former Nationalist prime minister – on the third ballot, following the earlier elimination of Treasurer Richard Casey and Trade Minister Thomas White. Another former prime minister, Stanley Bruce, had also been considered a leadership contender, but for various reasons (including his position outside of parliament as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom) he was never nominated. Menzies was not sworn in as prime minister until 26 April.^[1][2]

See also

• Menzies Government (1939–41)
• Other leadership ballots held following the death of a prime minister:
  • Australian Labor Party leadership election, 1945
  • Liberal Party of Australia leadership election, 1968

References