Bill Hayden

Interviewed by
Sue Yarrow
Apr 01 2011
Bill Hayden
Time Summary Keywords
00:00:00 Bill Hayden discusses his early failed attempts to join the Labor Party. He tells of the left leaning sympathies of his family and briefly touches on his career in the police force. Police
00:02:36 Bill Hayden discusses the impact of the 1957 split on members of the Labor Party with particular reference to Ipswich. Hayden tells of his election to federal parliament in 1961. He states that he did not expect to win so soon after the split but equates part of his success to Gough Whitlam's efforts to tap into feelings of discontent over the neglect of Queensland. 1961 election, Gough Whitlam
00:05:27 Bill Hayden relates his experience of ideological conflict in Queensland. He discusses the political culture of Ipswich which was solidly left and influenced by the Masons. He talks about his own religious history moving from Catholicism to atheism and tells how he was approached to join the Masons. Ipswich, Joe King, Masons
00:09:35 Bill Hayden discusses the lessons of the split for Queensland. He sees much of the split as about political opportunism and personal promotion. He tells how he offered his resignation to the Inner Executive in the 1980s to make way for Denis Murphy. Denis Murphy, Francis Nicklin
00:13:38 Bill Hayden discusses the long term impacts of the split on the Queensland branch of the Labor Party. He describes his own concerns about the Catholic Church and how these concerns influenced his views on appropriate party membership. religion
00:15:20 Bill Hayden relates his feelings towards Trades Hall leader and Labor Party President Jack Egerton and reflects on Egerton's working style. He details his own political views and the fact that he was never really part of a faction despite his involvement in the foundation of the Centre Left. Denis Murphy, education, factions, George Georges, Gough Whitlam, Jack Egerton, Joy Guyatt, Madeline McPherson, Manfred Cross
00:25:57 Bill Hayden discusses the administration of the Queensland branch of the Labor Party in the 1960s and the importance of the party's branch structure. He talks about Burns' skill at campaigning in country areas. He discusses the party administration's support for the protests at the time but their lack of practical involvement. He talks about the importance of the radicalism of young people for the Labor Party in this period. George Georges, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Manfred Cross, Springboks Rugby tour 1971, Tom Burns
00:35:58 Bill Hayden argues that the Labor Party was responsive to the needs to the radical movements at the time.
00:37:24 Bill Hayden talks about Queensland Labor's poor showing in the 1974 Senate election. He argues that Whitlam developed good policies but suggests the implementation process could have been better managed. He recalls Vince Gair's appointment to be Ambassador of Ireland. Courier mail, Gough Whitlam, Vincent Gair
00:40:02 Bill Hayden discusses a review of his electorate prepared by Colin Hughes after the 1974 election. Colin Hughes, Ipswich
00:41:36 Bill Hayden discusses Benny Humphries' working style. Courier mail, Denis Murphy
00:42:59 Bill Hayden details the governance and culture of the Queensland branch of the Labor Party prior to intervention. He tells how he offered to resign from the state executive in order to give Denis Murphy an opportunity. Denis Murphy, Harry Hauenschild, Jack Egerton
00:48:31 Bill Hayden discusses his conflict with Neal Kane. He notes the drinking culture within the Labor Party. He discusses militancy versus gradualism. Jack Egerton, Wayne Swan
00:52:01 Bill Hayden discusses the origins of the reform group in 1977. He notes the differences between working and middle class people. He describes the dissatisfaction of the middle class with the Labor Party. He notes the lack of education opportunities for working class Queenslanders in the past. Denis Murphy, education, media, Peter Beattie
00:59:54 Bill Hayden discusses his own involvement in the reform group and Murphy's role in pushing him to promote intervention. He details factionalism in the Labor Party and his belief they are causing problems for the Labor Party today. He goes into the nature of Labor Party conference debates of the past which he describes as a real contest of ideas. Bob Hawke, Denis Murphy, homosexuality, Jack Egerton, Manfred Cross
01:07:45 Bill Hayden discusses his time as leader and delves into the state of the party, generally and in Queensland, after the 1975 election.
01:09:10 Bill Hayden discusses the origins of the factions and the internal politics of the Labor Party and AWU. Craig Emerson, Denis Murphy, Di Fingleton, Errol Hodder, factions, Wayne Swan
01:12:52 Bill Hayden discusses the Labor Party factions. factions, Gough Whitlam
01:14:26 Bill Hayden describes what makes a good leader and the importance of consultation. He discusses his own and Whitlam's attributes as leaders. Bob Hawke, Gough Whitlam, leadership
01:16:32 Bill Hayden discusses the benefits of intervention and cites the greater middle class involvement in the Labor Party. He discusses more recent cultural change in the party and the downfall of Kevin Rudd. Kevin Rudd
01:23:17 Bill Hayden discusses his willingness to give up his position on the Inner Executive for Denis Murphy. He recalls his parents' support for the Labor Party and his own political temperament. Denis Murphy, Paul Keating
01:25:56 Interview ends.
Further reading: 
Bill Hayden, Hayden: an autobiography, Angus and Robertson, Pymble, 1996
John Stubbs, Hayden, Mandarin, Port Melbourne, 1990