A leadership election of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), then the opposition party in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 22 December 1977. Following the resignation of Gough Whitlam former Treasurer Bill Hayden was elected Labor's new leader winning 36 votes to 28 over Lionel Bowen who was then elected deputy leader.
Background After losing the 1977 election Gough Whitlam finally resigned as party leader after more than 10 years.
Bill Hayden who in May had come within two votes of toppling Whitlam, announced the day after election that he would contest the leadership.
Candidates Lionel Bowen, Shadow Attorney-General, Member for Kingsford Smith Bill Hayden, Shadow Minister for Economic Management, Member for Oxley
Results
Leadership ballot The following tables gives the ballot results: Name Votes Percentage Bill Hayden 36 56.25 Lionel Bowen 28 43.75
Deputy leadership ballot Candidate 1st ballot 2nd ballot 3rd ballot Lionel Bowen 25 26 33 Tom Uren 22 26 29 Mick Young 10 11 Ralph Willis 7 colspan="2" Abstentions 0 1 2
Paul Keating had previously announced that he would stand for the deputy leadership, however he stood aside in favour of Bowen.
Aftermath Hayden led the party in on the 1980 election where they managed to halve Malcolm Fraser's majority.
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