The Rt Hon. Sir Billy Snedden
18th Leader of the Opposition
In office 1972 – 21 March 1975
Preceded by	Gough Whitlam
Succeeded by	Malcolm Fraser
Constituency	Bruce
5th Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia
In office 1972 – 21 March 1975
Preceded by	William McMahon
Succeeded by	Malcolm Fraser
Born	31 December 1926 Perth, Western Australia
Died	27 June 1987
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia

Sir Billy Mackie Snedden, KCMG, QC (31 December 1926 - 27 June 1987), born in Perth, was an Australian politician and was opposition leader of the coalition at the 1974 federal election failing to defeat incumbent Gough Whitlam. In the Australian House of Representatives, the Leader of the Opposition sits at the front table to the left of the Speakers Chair (on the right-hand side in this photo). ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC (born 11 July 1916), known as Gough Whitlam (, pronounced Goff), is an Australian former politician and 21st Prime Minister of Australia. ... This article is about the former prime minister of Australia; for the Western Australian public servant, see Malcolm Fraser (surveyor). ... The Division of Bruce is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. ... This article is about the modern Australian political party. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sir William McMahon, GCMG, CH (23 February 1908 – 31 March 1988), Australian politician and 20th Prime Minister of Australia, was born in Sydney, New South Wales, where his father was a lawyer. ... This article is about the former prime minister of Australia; for the Western Australian public servant, see Malcolm Fraser (surveyor). ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Location of Perth within Australia This article is about the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia. ... Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State or the Golden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2005-06)  - Product ($m)  $107,910 (4th)  - Product per capita  $53,134/person... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the modern Australian political party. ... On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ... For information about The Times satire Queens Counsel, see Queens Counsel (comic strip). ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Location of Perth within Australia This article is about the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 May 1974. ... Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC (born 11 July 1916), known as Gough Whitlam (, pronounced Goff), is an Australian former politician and 21st Prime Minister of Australia. ...

Early life

The son of a stonemason, he was educated at state schools and joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1945. After the war he was discharged and attended the University of Western Australia, where he studied Law. In 1950 Snedden married Joy Forsyth, with whom he had four children. After finishing his law degree he was admitted to the bar in 1951. During this time he stood once for the Western Australian state Parliament and twice for the Australian House of Representatives, for unwinnable seats. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... The University of Western Australia (UWA) is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Type Lower house Speaker of the House David Hawker, Liberal since November 16, 2004 Members 150 Political groups ALP (85) Liberal Party (53) National Party (10) Last elections 24 November 2007 Meeting place Parliament House, Canberra, ACT Web site House of Representatives Entrance to the House of Representatives Judicial High...

Political career

In 1954 he moved to Melbourne, where he practised law until he was elected to the House of Representatives for the outer suburban seat of Bruce. In 1965 Prime Minister Robert Menzies appointed him Attorney-General. He was Minister for Immigration 1966-69, and Minister for Labour and National Service 1969-71, a difficult job which put him in charge of the government's highly unpopular policy of conscription for the Vietnam War. In 1967, following the death of Harold Holt, he was a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party, but his candidacy was not taken very seriously. Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar). ... The Division of Bruce is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. ... Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, KT, AK, CH, FRS, QC (20 December 1894 – 15 May 1978), Australian politician, was the twelfth and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia, serving eighteen and a half years. ... The Attorney-General of Australia is the chief law officer of the Crown and a member of the Federal Cabinet. ... In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Immigration is responsible for overseeing the Department of Immigration. ... The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is currently the Hon Joe Hockey. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Harold Edward Holt CH (5 August 1908 – presumed dead 17 December 1967) was an Australian politician who became the 17th Prime Minister of Australia in 1966. ...

Rise to the Liberal leadership

In 1971, however, Snedden was appointed Treasurer (finance minister) by William McMahon, and was elected Liberal Deputy Leader, making him the heir apparent to the leadership. When McMahon was defeated by the Labor Party under Gough Whitlam in 1972, Snedden was duly elected Liberal leader. Snedden promised a new and more "liberal" Liberal Party, but he suffered from his continuing image as a light-weight, and many Liberals believed he would never defeat Whitlam. Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... Sir William McMahon, GCMG, CH (23 February 1908 – 31 March 1988), Australian politician and 20th Prime Minister of Australia, was born in Sydney, New South Wales, where his father was a lawyer. ... ALP redirects here. ... Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC (born 11 July 1916), known as Gough Whitlam (, pronounced Goff), is an Australian former politician and 21st Prime Minister of Australia. ...

Snedden allowed himself to be persuaded to use the conservative majority in the Senate to block the Whitlam government's budget in 1974. Whitlam promptly called a double dissolution election, and was returned to office with a reduced majority. Labor campaigned on the Slogan "Oh no, not Snedden!" Snedden exposed himself to ridicule by refusing to formally concede defeat, insisting at a press conference that "while we didn't win, we didn't lose either." Type Upper house President Alan Ferguson, Liberal since 14 August 2007 Members 76 Political groups Coalition (39) ALP (28) Green (4) Democrat (4) FFP (1) Last elections 9 October 2004 Meeting place Parliament House, Canberra, ACT Web site Senate Entrance to the Senate Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State... This article deals with elections to the Australian Parliament. ... A joint press conference by U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the White House. ...

Leadership challenge by Malcolm Fraser

After the election the conservative wing of the Liberal Party, led by Malcolm Fraser, challenged Snedden's leadership, but he was narrowly re-elected. When he failed to make any headway against Whitlam, Fraser mounted a second challenge, and Snedden was deposed in March 1975, becoming the first leader of the Liberal Party not to gain the Prime Ministership. He retired to the backbench until February 1976, when Fraser supported his election as Speaker of the House. This article is about the former prime minister of Australia; for the Western Australian public servant, see Malcolm Fraser (surveyor). ... The Speakers chair in the House of Representatives The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Parliament of Australia. ...

Speaker of the House

Snedden filled the role of Speaker with dignity, and he was knighted during his term of office (January 1978) although some members found what they saw as his pomposity rather tiresome. He was the last Australian Speaker to wear the full regalia of full-bottomed wig and robes inherited from the British House of Commons. In 1982 he had revenge of sorts on Fraser when he refused to insist that a Labor frontbencher, Bob Hawke, retract an allegation that Fraser was a liar. Fraser was furious but could not be seen to be attacking the Speaker. Type Lower House Speaker Michael Martin, (Non-affiliated) since October 23, 2000 Leader Harriet Harman, (Labour) since June 28, 2007 Shadow Leader Theresa May, (Conservative) since May 5, 2005 Members 659 Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist Party Sinn Féin... Robert James Lee (Bob) Hawke, AC (born 9 December 1929) was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia after previously being an Australian trade union leader. ...

Later life

When the Fraser government was defeated by Hawke in 1983, Snedden immediately resigned from Parliament. He separated from his wife and withdrew from public life as his health declined.

In 1987, Snedden suffered a fatal heart attack, while having sex with his son's ex-girlfriend. [1] [2] Heart attack redirects here. ...

His daughter Fiona Snedden was elected to the Melbourne City Council in 2004 after an unsuccessful candidature for the Liberal Party in the seat of Melbourne Ports in the 1998 federal elections. The arms of the City of Melbourne The flag of the City of Melbourne The City of Melbourne is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. ... Melbourne Ports is an Australian federal electoral division in the inner south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ...

Honours

Snedden was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in January 1978. He was also appointed a Privy Councillor (PC). On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ...

References

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