Australian Labor Party leadership spills, 2001
Simon Crean had become leader of the Labor Party and opposition leader unopposed[1] at a leadership ballot on 11 November 2001 held to replace Kim Beazley, who fought two elections as Labor leader at the 1998 and 2001 elections. Crean had also been deputy leader between 1998 and 2001 and was succeeded as deputy leader by Jenny Macklin.
Despite a successful budget reply and the controversy surrounding Howard-appointed Governor-General Peter Hollingworth, Crean had a low popularity rating throughout 2003. With constant rumors over a possible challenge plaguing his leadership, Crean called a leadership spill to be held on June 16, 2003.
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