Fed: Demise of John Gorton major issue for 1971

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2001
Fed: Demise of John Gorton major issue for 1971
(EDS: Embargoed to 0001, January 1, 2002)





If JOHN GORTON thought 1971 couldn't be worse than 1970, he was about as wrong as it
is possible for a prime minister to be.

Wracked by internal bickering throughout 1970, the Liberal Party was looking in pretty
sorry shape.

Cabinet documents released by the National Archives of Australia under the 30-year
rule show the government was finding it tough going in keeping up with the changing world.

Thirty years on, two events stand tall for 1971 in Australia -- the demise of Mr GORTON
and the war in Vietnam.

Mr GORTON'S freewheeling style and centralist approach had made him plenty of enemies
on his own side of politics.

The final spark came from the war in Vietnam and media reporting of a leaked army document
which appeared to undercut Army Minister MALCOLM FRASER.

On March 10, Mr GORTON'S supporters called a vote of confidence in the party room which
tied 33-33.

He used the casting vote against himself, even though he was not entitled to do so
under party rules.

AAP RTV mb/daw/mo/br/dl/wz

KEYWORD: ARCHIVES71 OVERVIEW EMBARGOED

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