Party leadership positions


Leader of the Liberal Party
In office 10 March 1971 – 20 December 1972
Deputy	John Gorton Billy Snedden
Preceded by	John Gorton
Succeeded by	Billy Snedden
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
In office 20 January 1966 – 10 March 1971
Leader	Harold Holt John Gorton
Preceded by	Harold Holt
Succeeded by	John Gorton

Ministerial offices

Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office 12 November 1969 – 22 March 1971
Prime Minister	John Gorton Himself
Preceded by	Gordon Freeth
Succeeded by	Les Bury
Treasurer of Australia
In office 26 January 1966 – 11 November 1969
Prime Minister	Harold Holt John McEwen John Gorton
Preceded by	Harold Holt
Succeeded by	Les Bury
Vice-President of the Executive Council
In office 10 June 1964 – 26 January 1966
Prime Minister	Robert Menzies
Preceded by	Bill Spooner
Succeeded by	Alan Hulme
Minister for Labour and National Service
In office 10 December 1958 – 26 January 1966
Prime Minister	Robert Menzies
Preceded by	Athol Townley
Succeeded by	Hugh Robertson
Minister for Primary Industry
In office 11 January 1956 – 10 December 1958
Prime Minister	Robert Menzies
Preceded by	John McEwen
Succeeded by	Charles Adermann
Minister for Social Services
In office 9 July 1954 – 28 February 1956
Prime Minister	Robert Menzies
Preceded by	Athol Townley
Succeeded by	Hugh Robertson
Minister for the Navy Minister for the Air Force
In office 17 July 1951 – 9 July 1954
Prime Minister	Robert Menzies
Preceded by	Philip McBride
Succeeded by	Josiah Francis (Navy) Athol Townley (Air Force)

Parliamentary office


Member of the Parliament of Australia for Lowe
In office 10 December 1949 – 4 January 1982
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Michael Maher

Personal details

Born

23 February 1908
Redfern, New South Wales, Australia

Died

31 March 1988 (aged 80)
Potts Point, New South Wales, Australia

Political party

Liberal

Spouse

Sonia Hopkins

(m. 1965)

Children

3, including Julian

Alma mater

University of Sydney

Profession

Lawyer

Military service

Branch/service

Australian Imperial Force

Years of service

1940–1945

Rank

Major

Unit

6th Division

Battles/wars

World War II

Sir William McMahon (born 23 February 1908, died 31 March 1988) was an important Australian politician. He served as the 20th Prime Minister of Australia from 1971 to 1972. He was also the leader of the Liberal Party during this time.

McMahon had a very long career in government, serving as a minister for over 21 years. This is one of the longest times anyone has continuously served as a minister in Australian history.

He was born and grew up in Sydney. Before becoming a politician, he worked as a lawyer. During World War II, he served in the Australian Army and became a major. After the war, he studied economics at university.

In 1949, McMahon was elected to the House of Representatives. He became a minister in 1951 and joined the main cabinet in 1956. He held many different jobs in the government led by Robert Menzies. One of his key roles was Minister for Labour and National Service from 1958 to 1966. In this job, he helped bring back conscription (compulsory military service) in 1964.

In 1966, Harold Holt became Prime Minister, and McMahon became the deputy leader of the Liberal Party. He was made Treasurer of Australia, which meant he was in charge of the country's money. He helped reduce the national debt during this time. After Holt's death in 1967, McMahon wanted to become Prime Minister. However, John McEwen, the leader of the Country Party, did not support him. So, John Gorton became the new Prime Minister.

McMahon continued as Treasurer for a while. In 1969, he became Minister for External Affairs after trying to become leader. In 1971, he finally became Prime Minister after Gorton resigned. He was 63 years old, making him the oldest non-temporary Prime Minister to take office.

His government continued many policies from earlier governments, like slowly taking Australian soldiers out of Vietnam. Towards the end of his time as Prime Minister, Australia faced rising prices and unemployment. In 1972, Gough Whitlam's Labor Party won the election, ending 23 years of the Liberal-Country Party government. McMahon resigned as Liberal leader but stayed in parliament until 1982.

William McMahon: Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Sydney

William McMahon was born in Redfern, Sydney, New South Wales, on 23 February 1908. He was one of five children. His father was a lawyer, and his mother's family were sailmakers.

Sadly, his mother died in 1917 when he was nine years old. After that, his mother's relatives raised him. He moved between different family homes in Sydney. His older brother also died young from the Spanish flu. His uncle, Samuel Walder, who was a successful businessman and Lord Mayor of Sydney, helped raise him.

School and University Days

McMahon first went to Abbotsholme College, a private school. There, he was schoolmates with Harold Holt, who also later became a Prime Minister. He then went to Sydney Grammar School. He was a good student, but not the best.

When he was 18, his father passed away, and McMahon inherited a lot of money. He went to the University of Sydney in 1927 to study law, as his uncle wanted. He graduated with a law degree in 1930. McMahon enjoyed social life at university more than his studies. He owned racehorses and liked to bet on races. Even though he was not very tall, he was a good athlete. He won a boxing title and was part of his school's rowing team.

Working as a Lawyer and Serving in the Army

After university, McMahon became a lawyer at a big Sydney law firm. He worked with the Commonwealth Bank and the Bank of New South Wales, which made him interested in economics. He wanted to be a barrister (a type of lawyer who argues in court), but his partial deafness made it hard. His hearing was a challenge throughout his life, but it improved with surgery and hearing aids.

In April 1940, McMahon joined the army. He became a lieutenant and later a major in 1943. He could not serve overseas because of his hearing and a knee injury. He worked in coastal defence in Sydney and later at army headquarters. He left the army in October 1945.

After the war, McMahon traveled for 18 months in Europe and North America. Seeing Europe after the war influenced his decision to enter politics. In 1947, he went back to the University of Sydney to study economics. He finished his economics degree in 1948, doing very well in his classes.

William McMahon's Political Journey

McMahon in 1950, as a newly elected member of parliament

Starting in Parliament

McMahon was elected to the House of Representatives in 1949. He represented the new area called Division of Lowe for the Liberal Party. He quickly became known as a very hard-working and dedicated politician.

In 1951, he became a minister, first as Minister for the Navy and Minister for Air. He helped reorganize the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during this time.

Serving Under Prime Minister Menzies

After the 1954 election, McMahon became Minister for Social Services. In 1956, he was made Minister for Primary Industry. This was a surprise because he didn't have much experience in farming. He worked with John McEwen, who was a powerful leader of the Country Party. McMahon managed to keep his department strong and sometimes disagreed with McEwen, which impressed his Liberal Party colleagues.

In 1958, McMahon became Minister for Labour and National Service. This was a very important role. He helped create and manage the National Service Act 1964. This law brought back compulsory military service for young men aged 20. He also worked to reduce the power of some trade unions. In 1964, he became Vice-President of the Executive Council, showing his high standing in the government.

Working with Harold Holt

McMahon in 1963

In 1966, Harold Holt became the new leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister. McMahon was elected as the Liberal Party's deputy leader. He then became the Treasurer of Australia, managing the country's finances. He also held important roles with international financial groups like the International Monetary Fund.

Challenges Under John Gorton

McMahon with Prime Minister John Gorton in 1969

When Prime Minister Holt disappeared in December 1967, many thought McMahon would be the next leader. However, John McEwen, the temporary Prime Minister, said his party would not work with McMahon. McEwen did not trust McMahon and thought he favored free trade too much.

So, McMahon stepped aside, and John Gorton became the new Prime Minister. McMahon remained Treasurer. In 1969, after an election where the government almost lost, McMahon tried to become leader again but was not successful. He was then moved from Treasurer to Minister for External Affairs.

In March 1971, the Defence Minister, Malcolm Fraser, resigned and criticized Gorton. This led to a vote for the Liberal Party leadership. The vote was tied, and Gorton decided to resign as leader. McMahon was then elected leader and became Prime Minister. Gorton became his deputy leader.

William McMahon: Prime Minister (1971–1972)

William McMahon: Early Life and Education
William McMahon's Political Journey
William McMahon: Prime Minister (1971–1972)
William McMahon: Later Years in Parliament
William McMahon: Final Years and Legacy
How is William McMahon Remembered?
Honours and Recognition
Images for kids
See also

McMahon in 1971

McMahon became Prime Minister at a difficult time. The government had been in power for 22 years and people felt it was getting old and losing focus. One of his first challenges was dealing with John Gorton, who was now his deputy and Defence Minister. Gorton wrote articles criticizing the government, and McMahon eventually had to ask him to resign. Billy Snedden then became the new deputy Liberal leader.

McMahon faced a strong challenge from the Labor Party, led by Gough Whitlam. Labor had almost won the previous election and was seen as ready to govern. For the next year and a half, McMahon struggled against Whitlam. Whitlam was a very good speaker in parliament and often put McMahon on the defensive. Whitlam criticized the unpopular Vietnam War and suggested new policies like universal health care.

McMahon also faced rising inflation, which made people question his economic management. The Liberal Party itself was having disagreements, which was bad timing with an election coming soon. McMahon's voice and appearance on television were also not seen as very strong.

In June 1971, McMahon stopped a plan for a nuclear power program that Gorton had started. He felt it did not fit with the goals of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

McMahon visiting US President Richard Nixon at the White House in 1971

As 1972 began, McMahon had to call a federal election. By then, Labor was far ahead in the polls, and McMahon's approval ratings were low. The media was also very critical of him. Many felt McMahon "did not look or sound like a Prime Minister." He waited as long as he could, but finally called the election for 2 December 1972.

During the election campaign, some of his own ministers did not support him, which was very unusual. The Liberal-Country Party government lost the election, ending their long time in power. McMahon conceded defeat on election night.

McMahon had been a minister for 21 years and 6 months without a break. This is a record in the Australian Government.

William McMahon: Later Years in Parliament

After losing the election, McMahon's time as Prime Minister ended on 5 December 1972. He did not immediately resign as Liberal leader, but it was clear he would not continue. On 20 December, the Liberal Party chose Billy Snedden as their new leader.

McMahon was still respected for his past service. He was included in Snedden's new shadow cabinet, but he did not ask for a specific job. In an interview in 1973, McMahon said that "disloyalty within our own party" was a main reason the Liberals lost the election. He also said he regretted not ending compulsory military service, how he handled the 1971 budget, and that he was not a good communicator.

After the 1974 election, McMahon became a regular member of parliament again. He strongly supported the power of the Senate to block government spending. However, he believed that Governor-General John Kerr acted wrongly in dismissing Prime Minister Whitlam in 1975.

McMahon stayed in parliament until January 1982. He was the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives at that time. In his final years, he often criticized the government led by Malcolm Fraser. He retired before the next election, partly because he was unhappy with the 1981 budget. He suggested Malcolm Turnbull as his replacement, but the Liberal Party chose someone else. The Labor Party won the election for his old seat.

William McMahon: Final Years and Legacy

Retirement and Passing

In retirement, McMahon spent much time writing his life story, which he planned to call A Liberal View. However, publishers did not accept it. In 1984, McMahon supported Bob Hawke and the Labor Party for re-election. He said the Liberal Party would not be ready to govern for several more years.

In his last years, McMahon had several operations for skin cancer. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on 31 March 1988, at St Luke's Private Hospital in Potts Point, New South Wales. His body was cremated. A public memorial service was held in Sydney on 8 April.

Family Life

In 1965, when he was 57, McMahon married Sonia Rachel Hopkins, who was 32. They had three children: Melinda, Julian, and Deborah. Julian McMahon is a well-known actor and model. Sonia passed away in 2010.

His Faith

McMahon was an Anglican. He became interested in religion as a teenager and read a lot about it. He often spoke about how his Christian beliefs connected with his political ideas. In 1953, he explained how he believed Christian teachings supported parliamentary democracy and a market economy.

How is William McMahon Remembered?

Many historians and political scientists often rank McMahon as one of Australia's less successful prime ministers. In 2001, most historians surveyed put him among their worst five prime ministers. Some of his former colleagues also openly criticized his leadership style.

However, some writers have defended McMahon. They argue he was a skilled politician who was unfairly blamed for an election loss that was likely to happen anyway. He was known for his energy and hard work. He was also recognized for his strong understanding of economic policy.

Gough Whitlam, who replaced McMahon as Prime Minister, said McMahon was "an extraordinarily skilful, resourceful and tenacious politician." Whitlam believed that McMahon's skills prevented the Labor Party from winning by an even larger margin in 1972.

Honours and Recognition

McMahon received several important honours:

He became a Privy Counsellor in 1966.
He was made a Companion of Honour in 1972.
He was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1977.

In 2009, a federal electorate in New South Wales was renamed the Division of McMahon in his honour. This division was first used in the 2010 federal election.

Images for kids

McMahon in 1971
McMahon in 1950, as a newly elected member of parliament
McMahon in 1963
McMahon with Prime Minister John Gorton in 1969
McMahon in 1971
McMahon visiting US President Richard Nixon at the White House in 1971
Bust of McMahon by sculptor Victor Greenhalgh located in the Prime Minister's Avenue in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens