Shorten lags on parliament experience

BILL Shorten isn't the least experienced opposition leader of the past 40 years, but he's not far off.

Since the Liberals' Billy Snedden failed to oust Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam, only three opposition leaders have had less time in parliament before taking their party's top job.

Mr Shorten was elected as the member for Maribyrnong in November 2007, giving him less than six years experience in parliament before winning Sunday's historic rank-and-file and caucus vote.

Bob Hawke had the least experience.

Mr Hawke had just two years and four months in parliament before he became Labor leader and took the party to its historic 1983 election win.

The Liberals' John Hewson was an MP for only two years and eight months when he assumed the top job, holding on for four years before being dumped after losing the "unlosable" 1993 election.

Malcolm Turnbull made the jump from business to politics in just under four years before he became Liberal leader. He lasted just over a year before being replaced by Tony Abbott.

Even the opposition leader often portrayed as having the least experience in recent years, Labor's Mark Latham, had been in parliament for almost 10 years.

Mr Shorten's six years in parliament is well below the almost 20 years held by Malcolm Fraser, or the 16 years of former Labor leader Kim Beazley.

Mr Shorten will take heart from Mr Hawke's rapid assent to the prime ministership, as well as Kevin Rudd's relatively short eight years in parliament before he became opposition leader and ultimately PM.

But the fate of most opposition leaders is the scrap heap, particularly those who assume the job straight after an election win.

In the past 40 years, no first-up opposition leader has gone on to be prime minister.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Shorten lags on parliament experience

Dengan url

https://tempatistirahatan.blogspot.com/2013/10/shorten-lags-on-parliament-experience.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Shorten lags on parliament experience

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Shorten lags on parliament experience

sebagai sumbernya