2008 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill

Liberal Party of Australia
Leadership spill, 2008

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| <- 2007 | 16 September 2008 | 2009 ->

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|  |  |

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Candidate  | Malcolm Turnbull | Brendan Nelson
Caucus vote  | 45 | 41
Percentage  | 52.3% | 47.7%
Seat  | Wentworth (NSW)  | Bradfield (NSW)

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| Leader before election

Brendan Nelson

| Elected Leader

Malcolm Turnbull

|

|  | This article is part of
a series about
Malcolm Turnbull

|

* Early life and career

* Spycatcher trial
* OzEmail

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* Member for Wentworth (2004–2018)

* Howard government
* 2008 Liberal leadership spill
* Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
* OzCar affair
* 2009 Liberal leadership spill
* Abbott government
* National Broadband Network
* 2015 Liberal leadership spill

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Prime Minister of Australia

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* First Ministry
* Second Ministry
* 2016 election
* Robodebt scheme
* Parliamentary eligibility crisis
* Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey
* 2018 Liberal leadership spills
* 2018 Wentworth by-election

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* Australian republican movement

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A spill of the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia took place on 15 September 2008.[1] At a ballot on 16 September, Shadow Treasurer Malcolm Turnbull defeated the incumbent leader Brendan Nelson 45 votes to 41.[2]

## Background

[edit]

The Liberal-National coalition led by Prime Minister John Howard was defeated at the 2007 federal election by the Australian Labor Party led by Kevin Rudd. In the aftermath, Brendan Nelson was elected leader in an ensuing ballot, in a 45-42 vote against former Minister for the Environment, Malcolm Turnbull.

Nelson's leadership came under intense pressure throughout 2008. Newspoll polling in February 2008 set a record low "Preferred Prime Minister" rating for any opposition leader at 9 percent, with March polling setting another record of 7 percent, with two party preferred setting another Newspoll record at 37-63 percent.[3] In response to increased speculation about his leadership Nelson commented in April that he "will keep fighting and standing up for everyday Australians."[4]

Support for Nelson as leader within the Liberal Party had all but collapsed by the end of July 2008, in part due to repeated gaffes on emissions trading and climate change. Expected to challenge him was either Peter Costello or Malcolm Turnbull, upon the release of Costello's book, The Costello Memoirs.[5][6] Costello stated he would not be making any move for the Liberal leadership,[7] but media outlets capitalised on Costello's failure to categorically rule out any future leadership challenge.[8] Some MPs said he "still remained ready to assume the leadership later in the electoral cycle".[9]

## Results

[edit]

Candidate  | Votes

|

| Malcolm Turnbull | 45
| Brendan Nelson | 41

## See also

[edit]

* Conservatism portal
* Australia portal
* Politics portal

* 2007 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election
* 2009 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Leadership spill: Nelson draws 'line in the sand'". 15 September 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
2. ^ "Turnbull victorious in leadership spill". ABC Online. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
3. ^ "Brendan Nelson and Liberal-Nationals Coalition hit all-time low in Newspoll". The Australian. 4 March 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
4. ^ Lahey, Kate (12 April 2008). "Nelson vows to stay on as Liberal leader". Melbourne: The Age. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
5. ^ "Brendan Nelson's leadership is hanging by a thread". Herald Sun. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
6. ^ O'malley, Sandra (2 September 2008). "Libs meet amid leadership speculation". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
7. ^ "Costello clears the air over Liberal leadership". ABC Online. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
8. ^ "Costello may still harbour dream of being PM". The Age. Melbourne. 12 September 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
9. ^ "Nelson to Turnbull: bring it on". Canberra Times. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2010.

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Liberal Party of Australia

Leaders|

* Robert Menzies
* Harold Holt
* John Gorton
* William McMahon
* Billy Snedden
* Malcolm Fraser
* Andrew Peacock
* John Howard
* Andrew Peacock
* John Hewson
* Alexander Downer
* John Howard
* Brendan Nelson
* Malcolm Turnbull
* Tony Abbott
* Malcolm Turnbull
* Scott Morrison
* Peter Dutton

Deputy Leaders|

* Eric Harrison
* Harold Holt
* William McMahon
* John Gorton
* Billy Snedden
* Phillip Lynch
* John Howard
* Neil Brown
* Andrew Peacock
* Fred Chaney
* Peter Reith
* Michael Wooldridge
* Peter Costello
* Julie Bishop
* Josh Frydenberg
* Sussan Ley

Presidents|

* Malcolm Ritchie
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See spills of: New South Wales • Victoria
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