THE consumptive wheezing of the minority Labor government was growing louder and Newspolls showed it would take a miracle for it to overcome a resurgent Coalition under Tony Abbott. The polls also indicated that people still preferred dumped prime minister Kevin Rudd, now a backbencher, to any other Labor figure.
2013
Three prime ministers in one year
At this point, on January 30, Julia Gillard threw caution to the wind, taking the country — and her colleagues — by surprise to announce that the 2013 election would be held on September 14.
That effectively meant an election campaign of 219 days. Most federal election campaigns run four or five weeks.
But this was a year like few others. As it began, most Australians assumed there would be a change of government — even despairing Labor voters.
In the event it would be one of only five calendar years since Federation in which Australia would witness three prime ministers. It hadn’t happened since 1945.
And soon would follow one of the oddest days in our parliamentary history.
Crean calls for challenge
There was palpable dissent about Labor’s leadership and prospects. On March 21, former leader Simon Crean — he knew all about bad polling, as the only ALP leader in almost a century not to contest an election — called for a spill of leadership positions, announcing that he would support Rudd and stand as his deputy.
Labor’s leaders went unchallenged, but not unscathed. Rudd supporters were dismissed to the backbenches — where the plotting continued.
Rudd was back in the Lodge; the nation had never seen a political comeback like it.
As The Australian noted, if this was a victory, it had exacted too high a price. Within weeks heads were again being counted and word was out that there was a petition doing the rounds seeking a special party meeting to discuss a leadership ballot.
Rudd PM again
That document probably never existed, but a flighty Gillard called a showdown on June 26, which Rudd won 57 votes to 45. Rudd was back in the Lodge; the nation had never seen a political comeback like it.
In a gracious farewell speech, Gillard congratulated Rudd and said that ‘‘being the first female prime minister does not explain everything about my prime ministership, nor does it explain nothing about my prime ministership”.
Gillard: It will be easier for the female prime ministers after me1:14
Julia Gillard reflects on how her gender affected her Prime Ministership.
Tony Abbott wins
Abbott is spending his first term as prime minister uncomfortably beholden to minor parties and independents.
Abbott wins election
The Australian warned that Rudd would not get far “presenting himself simply as the candidate who is not Mr Abbott”.
Rudd raced to an election a week before the date Gillard had picked in January, pretty much presenting himself as the candidate who was not Mr Abbott, while the one who was had polled strongly from the outset and on election morning was tipped to win government by 40 seats.
That day, September 7, the Coalition won by slightly less, but it was the make-up of the Senate that was occupying conservative minds. Senators of a new colour — yellow — had entered the chamber under the banner of the Palmer United Party, founded by unpredictable mining magnate Clive Palmer. Former Melbourne Storm skipper Glenn Lazarus was now captaining the small but inconvenient PUP team.
Abbott was accused of lacking negotiating skills when he failed to form government with the independents three years earlier; notwithstanding his big majority in the lower house, he is spending his first term as prime minister uncomfortably beholden to minor parties and independents. And Clive Palmer.
Hazel Hawke dies
When Bob Hawke left the Lodge, his star waned, but that of his wife Hazel’s soared; the country had a great affection for the clever and dedicated mother who had to overcome the death of her last child — at four days — while dealing with a husband who was seldom home and whose brazen philandering was matched only by his drinking.
While Hawke was prime minister, Hazel had to deal also with the heroin addiction of her youngest daughter, Rosslyn.
When Hazel died in May, The Australian’s obituary noted that she was an independent and resourceful woman who had put her nine years in the Lodge to good use supporting women’s and children’s issues while bringing a fresh informality to her role.
“She was courted on the celebrity circuit, became a social welfare advocate, made television advertisements, chaired the NSW Heritage Council, was patron of several community organisations, and was named a national living treasure.” She had bravely revealed her fight with Alzheimer’s disease a decade before and died from complications of dementia.
Martin Sharp dies
Australia’s greatest pop artist, Martin Sharp, had lived an equally varied life — which included the dramas of the Oz magazine trials in Sydney and then London.
At London’s Speakeasy nightclub a woman friend had introduced him to a young man who had written some music, but needed lyrics. Sharp told the stranger he’d just written a poem that might help. He scribbled the words down on a serviette along with his address.
Months later, Eric Clapton knocked on his door with a copy of the new Cream single — Tales of Brave Ulysses.
Sharp did cover art for two Cream albums and countless posters for Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and Donovan.
At his funeral in December at Christ Church St Laurence in Sydney — The Australian’s Helen Trinca reported that he’d insisted his farewell be there despite realising the little church at which he worshipped was too small for the many who would arrive — Australia’s cultural leaders of the last 50 years turned up.
Some, like actor Jack Thompson, wrote messages with chalk on the pavement outside. Clapton sent a message from “your pal, Eric”.
Ford and Holden
When The Australian was launched in 1964, among the leading manufacturers in Australia were carmakers Holden and Ford.
As the first edition of this newspaper rolled off presses in Canberra, Holden was boasting about its new model, the EH. The Premier had hydramatic transmission, bucket seats, a centre armrest and carpets.
Holden would sell 256,959 of these in 1963-65.
The recently launched XM Ford Falcon featured a convex grille, bumper-mounted indicators, new gearbox, and electric windscreen wipers. Ford sold 47,132 of them. Both the Holden and the Ford cost $2102.
By 2013 both companies were kept alive by taxpayers, struggling with the economies of scale, and uncompetitive with the lower costs of foreign manufacturers. In May, Ford announced it would close its local manufacturing operations in 2016, revealing it had lost $600 million over the previous five years.
By December, Holden had also run out of road. It announced it would stop local vehicle manufacture by 2017. The company was selling more cars in China each week than it was making in Australia in a year.
Its critical mass having evaporated, the local industry’s demise was perhaps sad, but inevitable.
The Australian noted that when it came to car manufacture we were “desperately uncompetitive” and that the largesse of federal and state governments was always going to run out.
The companies were locked in a welfare rut. “Once the furore settles, the future will be brighter for workers and buyers. The Australian champions the interests of taxpayers and consumers, rather than producers.”
It always will.
Champagne for Caviar
Now is the time to sing the praises of Black Caviar, who is retired from racing on April 17. The mare from Nagambie in Victoria has been undefeated in 25 starts, including at Ascot where she wins the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in the race of her life before the Queen (among others) in 2012. Her last race is before an adoring crowd at Randwick in Sydney.
And a beer for the cricketers
Now we’re on a sporting roll, let’s sing the praises of Michael Clarke’s Test team who come back from the misery of a losing streak to secure the return of the Ashes to Australia. They wrap up the series in the third Test in Perth on December 17.
She shall not be turned
Margaret Thatcher, the grocer’s daughter who changes Britain forever, dies on April 8. Tory PM from 1979 to 1990, she has led a revolution that reduces the power of unions, closes inefficient industries, gives public housing tenants the chance to buy their own home, takes the shackles off free enterprise, cuts income tax and shakes Britain out of its legacy. The Soviets give her the title Iron Lady and she defines herself by asserting “the lady’s not for turning”.
End of the road
On December 11, Holden signals its intention to stop manufacturing cars locally in four years at a cost of 2900 jobs in Victoria and South Australia. PM Ben Chifley had watched the first Holden FX roll off the production line at Fisherman’s Bend, Melbourne in 1948. The FJ, the Kingswood and the Commodore have gone on to become central to our motoring folklore. Early in 2014, the last car manufacturer left standing in Australia, Toyota, announces its plans to close its factory in 2017 too.
How times change
When we started this journey 49 publishing days ago, back there in July 1964 the population was 11,280,429. Today it is more than twice that, at 23.5 million. A three-bedroom home in Canberra cost 6950 pounds; now you’ll be looking at shelling out between $420,000 and $750,000 (similar looking place). A first-class airfare from Sydney to Melbourne was $25; now it is $930. And The Australian on day one cost fourpence in Canberra and sixpence elsewhere. Today you’re up for a very well-spent $2.20.
The journey begins...
CONCEIVED as a newspaper ‘of intelligence, of broad outlook’, the national daily was born into a revolution.
Come the revolution
AS BABY boomers came of age, the Menzies government made a fateful error that galvanised youthful dissent.
The road to innovation
NEW technology helped the Canberra-based national daily overcome some major challenges.
The road to recovery
IN A turbulent year, the national newspaper’s relocation to Sydney brought immediate results.
Year of wonder and despair
A HEAD-SPINNING series of events changed our lives forever – and sent correspondents on a magic carpet ride.
The greatest show on Earth
ARGUABLY the biggest story of last century, the moon landing also marked the beginning of a new era for print journalism.
Turning up the heat
AS THE cry for social reform grew louder The Australian developed its own strong voice.
Leadership ping-pong
AS ITS cartoonists and writers lampooned PM John Gorton and his successor William McMahon, The Australian’s editor found himself in a difficult position.
Time for a change
LABOR’S campaign jingle reflected a true seismic shift in public opinion, and Rupert Murdoch heard the call.
All the world’s a stage
THE arts enjoyed a renaissance in both the nation and The Australian, which boasted an A-team of journalists.
Spinning out of control
THE Australian supported Whitlam’s Labor, but signs were emerging the government was losing its grip.
On a slippery path to the cliff
THE Australian nailed its colours to the mast in 1975.
Post-Dismissal blues
THE Australian bled in 1976 amid accusations of bias, but there was plenty to report at home and abroad.
A tyro makes his mark
WHEN The Australian celebrates its 50th anniversary at a function next month, the guest of honour will be Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Heeding the front page
IN his third year as editor, Les Hollings’s campaign influenced the Fraser government’s tax policies.
Bye to a decade of tumult
BY 1979 Australia’s great post-war decade of change was coming to a close.
Rationalism takes hold
THE world began a new era of reform in 1980.
Shots ring out from afar
INTERNATIONAL assassination attempts and royal nuptials grabbed the headlines while Australia waited for reforms.
A near-death experience
DISAGREEMENTS between management and staff almost killed off the paper then edited by Larry Lamb.
Afloat in a sea of change
DECISIONS made in 1983 put the nation on the road to globalisation, rebuilt its economic foundations and redefined the way we lived and worked.
Power to the individual
GLOBAL trends turned out to be rather different from those envisaged in Orwell’s dystopian novel.
Older, wiser, and no longer out of pocket
THE Australian was in black for the first time as it turned 21, and a period of prosperity lay ahead.
Farewell to Fleet Street
KEN Cowley was a key strategist in the landmark relocation of Rupert Murdoch’s London operations to Wapping.
Joh aims high, falls low
THE market crashed amid political upheaval.
Bicentennial and beyond
IT WAS a time for fun but also introspection.
A new epoch takes shape
SOVIET communism became a thing of the past as the decade ended.
Hold the front page ...
WOMEN take the reins of power in two states and political prisoner Nelson Mandela walks free.
The Kirribilli showdown
BOB Hawke and Paul Keating jostled for power, while Iraq’s Saddam Hussein invited the wrath of the world.
The landscape diversifies
EDDIE Mabo took the fight for Aboriginal land rights to the High Court and won.
No cakewalk for Hewson
JOHN Hewson flubs his chances in the ‘unlosable’ election, but Shane Warne doesn’t miss any in the Ashes.
Death of a campaigner
JOHN Newman’s assassination rang a bell, and Henry Kissinger pulled no punches in his Nixon obituary.
An end and a beginning
AS the last of the political old guard passed on, the Liberals prepared for a return to power after 12 years.
Rebirth in deadly times
THE Port Arthur massacre prompted new prime minister John Howard to launch a crackdown on guns.
Bougainville showdown
THERE were mercenaries in PNG, a sex scandal in parliament, and the accidental death of a princess in Paris.
Status quo under threat
WHILE we debated monarchism, industrial relations and the GST, unrest in Indonesia spurred Suharto’s exit.
The republic can wait
AUSTRALIANS didn’t want a president they couldn’t vote for, while Y2K loomed as an impending catastrophe.
Sorry before the Games
RECONCILIATION got short shrift from a scandalised PM but the Sydney Olympics lifted everyone’s mood.
World struck by tragedy
GEORGE W. Bush took over, Osama bin Laden unleashed terror, and the Don proved to be mortal after all.
Blood and tears in Bali
ISLAMIST terror left a deep scar in Australia’s neighbourhood, and we bade farewell to the Queen Mother.
Where there is smoke…
THE year began with the federal capital in flames, then the war on Iraq began. And a governor-general quit.
Playing their last innings
STEVE Waugh retired, David Hookes died and Mark Latham exposed his wickets in the year of the tsunami.
Not what they seemed
TONY Abbott almost found a son, the ALP lost another leader, and an old foe gave Sir Joh a state funeral.
He shall not be moved
THE AWB scandal and Peter Costello’s dummy-spit leave John Howard standing, but Kim Beazley bows out.
Scene set for a knockout
KEVIN07 proved too hot for John Howard, and a ‘terror suspect’ turned out to be just a doctor on a 457 visa.
Balm for a nation’s soul
THERE was practical and symbolic progress on the indigenous front in the year we lost Hillary and Utzon.
Shock, horror, disbelief
TWO searing tragedies marked the start of the year; by the end of it, Tony Abbott headed the shadow cabinet.
Suddenly, Julia steps in
KEVIN Rudd’s demise at his deputy’s hands was brutal and swift, but it was preceded by a string of Labor woes.
The nastiest deluge of all
NATURE and the Wivenhoe Dam were exceptionally unkind to Queensland the year we hosted Barack Obama.
It’s the whole dam truth
QUEENSLAND’S political landscape is transformed, and we farewell two doughty Australian women.
Clash course in politics
THREE PMs starred in our longest election year.
The next half century beckons
WHATEVER the future of curated news, The Australian is determined to build on its achievements.
