The 1982 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 23 June 1982
On 28 April 1982, Peter Vallee announced he would resign as Labor leader to allow the party to have a female leader, which he said would "more closely reflect the wishes of the ACT Labor branch".[1] The same day, Labor MHA John Clements resigned from the party because of what he said was "faction fighting and the dominance of radical feminists".[1][2]
The following day on 29 April, Canberra MHA Robyn Walmsley became the party's interim leader for the 1982 election, which was held on 5 June.[3] Labor won eight seats at the election, making them the largest party in the House of Assembly.[4]
After the election, Walmsley was succeeded by fellow Canberra MHA Ken Doyle, who was elected leader at a caucus meeting on 23 June 1982.[5][6]
Incumbent Labor leader Ken Doyle, who had led the party for less than a year, was defeated by fellow Canberra MHA Maurene Horder.[8][9] Horder won the leadership five votes to three, becoming the first woman to lead a parliamentary Labor Party in any of the Australian states or territories, albeit in a parliament that only had an advisory role.[8][10] Although Robyn Walmsley had headed the party for several months in 1982, she was only in an interim position.[11][12]
Doyle said he was "caught by surprise", and told The Canberra Times that "I could see no substantive reason for change. It was unwarranted. I have been extremely dedicated in leading the Labor Party. I have promoted the ALP at every opportunity and have raised every issue which needed to be addressed".[8]
At a caucus meeting on 28 June, at least three candidates contested the leadership, including caucus chairman Paul Whalan.[16] No candidate initially had a majority, but on the final ballot, Whalan emerged victorious.[16]
The 1988 ACT Labor Party leadership election was held on 17 December 1988.
Following the dissolution of the House of Assembly on 30 June 1986, Labor was left without a formal leader.[17][18]
Ahead of the 1989 ACT election, the first under self-government, Labor held a preselection to decide its 11 candidates.[19] 18 candidates ran for preselection, with around 600 rank-and-file party members were able to vote.[20]
Left faction leader Rosemary Follett narrowly defeated Paul Whalan, the leader of the Right faction and the former Labor House of Assembly leader, by a margin of just 14 votes.[20][21][22] This was a surprise victory, as Whalan was seen as a favourite based on the Right's strength within the party, although the majority of members did not belong to any faction.[23][24][25] Whalan became Labor's deputy leader.[21]
Just days before the 1989 election, Whalan planned to challenge Follett for the leadership if enough Right faction members were elected, even if Labor won government.[26] However, he instead decided to let Follett handle the difficulties of the first term, after which he would mount a challenge in the lead up to the next election.[26]
Ultimately, Whalan never officially challenged Follett and resigned from the Legislative Assembly on 30 April 1990, criticising Follett outside of parliament.[27][28]
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