1939 United Australia Party leadership election


The United Australia Party held a leadership election on 18 April 1939, following the death in office of Prime Minister Joseph Lyons on 7 April. Robert Menzies narrowly defeated Billy Hughes – a former Nationalist prime minister – on the third ballot, following the earlier elimination of Treasurer Richard Casey and Trade Minister Thomas White. Another former prime minister, Stanley Bruce, had also been considered a leadership contender, but for various reasons he was never nominated. Menzies was not sworn in as prime minister until 26 April.

Newspaper endorsements

The press took a keen interest in the leadership contest, which was one of the first in which a party chose a new prime minister in an open fashion with multiple viable candidates. In Melbourne, The Age endorsed Menzies as the new prime minister on 8 April, only a day after Lyons' death. The Argus endorsed Casey, arguing that had remained remain loyal to Lyons and the government where Menzies had not. The Herald on 12 April stated a slight preference for Bruce, but observed that it would probably be too difficult to recall him from London and that Menzies was the only other alternative. It gave a more enthusiastic endorsement of Menzies two days later. In Sydney, The Daily Telegraph supported Casey, while The Sydney Morning Herald was an "earnest advocate of recalling Bruce".