1982 and 1983 – Fraser and Hawke governments

There were three ministries and three Cabinets in 1982 and 1983:

• The Fourth Fraser Ministry (3 November 1980 – 7 May 1982)
• The Fifth Fraser Ministry (7 May 1982 – 11 March 1983)
• The First Hawke Ministry (11 March 1983 – 13 December 1984)

The Fourth Fraser Ministry was replaced by the Fifth Fraser Ministry, following a ministerial reshuffle in May 1982. The Fifth Fraser Ministry came to an end with the defeat of the Fraser government at the double dissolution held in March 1983.

The First Hawke Ministry was sworn in after the election of the ALP government led by Bob Hawke and served until the double dissolution election held in November 1984.

The 1982 and 1983 Cabinet records

1982 was a difficult year for Malcolm Fraser's Liberal-National Party Coalition government. Like many governments that have survived three elections there was a sense of an ageing ministry that was losing cohesion and determination. Ideological differences were becoming sharpened by personal rivalries and the media reported heated exchanges at some Cabinet meetings. On 8 April tensions between Fraser and Andrew Peacock, who had been Minister for Industrial Relations until his departure from the ministry in April 1981, came to a head. Fraser brought on a vote for the Liberal leadership and defeated Peacock by 54 votes to 27. At the same time John Howard replaced Phillip Lynch as deputy leader.

As the year progressed the government's situation became more difficult as the economy declined, and the levels of unemployment continued to be a worry. Dealing with issues of tax avoidance and evasion also became a major concern for the government as so-called 'bottom of the harbour' schemes and the efforts to counter them gained more publicity. Fraser’s own health also became an issue. On 31 October he was admitted to hospital with serious back problems. National Party leader Doug Anthony took over as acting Prime Minister and Fraser did not formally return to work until 11 January 1983.

As early 1983 seemed to bring an improvement in the government's standing Fraser sought an early election. On 3 February as the Prime Minister visited Yarralumla to request a double dissolution election from the Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen, on the grounds that the Senate had twice rejected or failed to pass legislation amending sales tax and social security provisions and reimposing fees for second or subsequent tertiary courses, Labor leader Bill Hayden announced that he would resign the ALP leadership. Bob Hawke was installed as leader on 8 February.

In an election campaign where Hawke lived up to his reputation as a problem solver and demonstrated his formidable skills in the workings and theatrics of politics, the ALP won a clear victory. The ALP campaign slogan of ‘Bringing Australia Together’ became an early hallmark of the new government with the proposed National Economic Summit becoming a reality and work commencing on the Prices and Incomes Accord.

Malcolm Fraser did not re-contest the Liberal party leadership, and immediately resigned from parliament. Andrew Peacock became Liberal leader ahead of John Howard, and Ian Sinclair succeeded Doug Anthony as leader of the Nationals.

Submissions

During 1982 and 1983 a total of 1318 submissions were received by the Fraser and Hawke Cabinets.

Of the 710 submissions received by the Fraser Cabinets in 1982 and 1983, 23 were withdrawn completely and 8 were withdrawn and replaced by another submission. Submissions considered by the fourth and fifth Fraser Cabinets are held in series A12909.

Of the 608 submissions received by the Hawke Cabinet in 1983, 24 were withdrawn completely and 13 were withdrawn and replaced by another submission. Submissions considered by the first Hawke Cabinet are held in series A13977.

A copy of the decision (or decisions) arising from a submission is attached to submissions held in A12909 and A13977.

Memoranda

Cabinet Memoranda provided a means – other than a formal Cabinet submission – by which a minister could, with the prior consent of the Prime Minister, place a matter before Cabinet. During 1982 and 1983 a total of 777 memoranda were received by the Fraser and Hawke Cabinets.

Of the 455 memoranda received by the Fraser Cabinets in 1982 and 1983, 7 were withdrawn completely and 3 were withdrawn and replaced by another memorandum. Memoranda considered by the fourth and fifth Fraser Cabinet are held in series A12930.

Of the 322 memoranda received by the Hawke Cabinet in 1983, 3 were withdrawn completely and 2 were withdrawn and replaced by another memorandum. Memoranda considered by the Hawke Cabinet are held in series A13978.

It is usual for a copy of the decision (or decisions) arising from a memorandum to be attached to the memoranda held in A12930 and A13978.

Decisions

Cabinet Decisions are the outcomes of the deliberations of Cabinet. The series of Decisions of the Fraser Cabinets (A13075) and the Hawke Cabinet (A13979) contain both the decisions made on a submission or memorandum and those made without a submission or memorandum.

During 1982 and 1983 a total of 5351 decisions were made – 2330 by the Fraser Cabinets of which 1073 (46%) were made without a submission or memorandum, and 3021 by the Hawke Cabinet of which 707 (23%) without a submission or memorandum.

Cabinet Office files

Cabinet Office files contain the originals of the submissions, briefing papers and related decisions. They also contain departmental advice and exchanges between officials and ministers not included in the formal Cabinet papers. There is a Cabinet Office file for most submissions and memoranda.

Files for the Fraser Cabinets in 1982 and 1983, which are held in series A10756, have numbers beginning with the prefix 'LC' and are often referred to as 'LC files'.

Files for the Hawke Cabinet in 1983, which are held in series A11116, have numbers beginning with the prefix 'CA' and are often referred to as 'CA files'.

LC and CA files of interest from 1982 and 1983 can be identified through the National Archives' collection database, RecordSearch, and an application for access placed online.

Departmental records

The detailed background papers and earlier drafts of the Cabinet papers being released can be found on the files of the department that sponsored each Cabinet submission. These papers reveal the detailed deliberations of the Public Service on the topic and often include the opinions and guidance of the responsible minister.

Records can be identified through the National Archives' collection database, RecordSearch.

Collection References

Fraser Government, 1982 and 83

Hawke Government 1983

Public access to Cabinet submissions, memoranda and decisions

More than 800 of the papers considered and discussed by the Fraser and Hawke Cabinets in 1982 and 1983 – submissions, memoranda and decisions – are available for viewing from 1 January 2012.

A small amount of material has been withheld from 25 of these papers, and a further three have been wholly withheld. The table below indicates whether a document is partially released (noted as OWE – open with exception) or wholly withheld (noted as Closed) and the reasons for exemption from public access under the Archives Act 1983.

Information exempted under section 33(1)(a) of the Archives Act 1983 is withheld to protect Australia’s security, defence or international relations.

Information exempted under section 33(1)(b) of the Archives Act 1983 is withheld to protect information that if released would breach a confidence shared between a foreign government, an authority of a foreign government, or an international organisation with the Australian government.

Information exempted under section 33(1)(c) of the Archives Act 1983 is withheld because its release would have a substantial adverse effect on the financial or property interests of the Australian government or a government institution

Information exempted under section 33(1)(d) of the Archives Act 1983 is withheld because its release would constitute a breach of confidence.

Information exempted under section 33(1)(e)(ii) of the Archives Act 1983 is withheld because its release would disclose the existence or identity of a confidential source of information.

Information exempted under section 33(1)(e)(iii) of the Archives Act 1983 is withheld because its release would endanger the life or physical safety of a person.

Information exempted under section 33(1)(g) of the Archives Act 1983 is withheld because its release would involve an unreasonable disclosure of information relating to the personal affairs of a person.

Information exempted under section 33(1)(j) of the Archives Act 1983 is withheld because its release would adversely impact on the business, commercial or financial affairs of a person, organisation or undertaking.

Background to 1982 and 1983

At the media briefing on the Cabinet records for 1982 and 1983 two speakers provided context and insights into the issues, events and personalities of those years.

Dr Jim Stokes, the National Archives historical consultant undertook extensive research of the 1982 and 1983 Cabinet papers and provided a paper on the significant issues and events of 1982 and 1983.

The Hon. Bob Hawke AC was Prime Minister Australia and leader of the Australian Labor Party from March 1983 to December 1991 – a period exceeding 8 and a half years. He is Australia’s third longest serving Prime Minister and the longest serving Labor Prime Minister. He represented the seat of Wills in the House of Representatives from October 1980 until February 1992.

Before entering Parliament Mr Hawke studied at the University of Western Australia, Oxford University, where he was the Rhodes Scholar from Western Australia for 1953, and the Australian National University. He joined the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) as a research officer and later advocate before his elevation as President of the ACTU, 1970–1980. Mr Hawke also served as Federal President of the Australian Labor Party, 1973–1978.

Bob Hawke provided context and insight into the issues, and events and personalities of 1983

Members and committees

Fraser Cabinet 1982 and 1983

There were two Fraser Ministries in 1982 and 1983:

• The Fourth Fraser Ministry (3 November 1980 – 7 May 1982)
• The Fifth Fraser Ministry (7 May 1982 – 11 March 1983)

The Fourth Fraser Ministry, which was sworn in after the re-election of the government in November 1980, served until a ministerial reshuffle on 7 May 1982. The Fifth Fraser Ministry served from 7 May 1982 until the defeat of the government at the election in March 1983.

Members of the Fraser Cabinet in 1982 and 1983 are listed below.

As had been the case with earlier Fraser ministries, the Cabinet comprised some but not all members of the Ministry. This practice has been continued by all subsequent ministries.

Fraser Cabinet committees 1982 and 1983

Hawke Cabinet in 1983

The First Hawke Ministry served from the swearing in of the new government on 11 March 1983 until the appointment of a new ministry following the election in December 1984.

The Hawke government continued the practice of having the Cabinet comprise some but not all members of the Ministry. This practice has been continued by all subsequent ministries.

Hawke Cabinet Committees 1983

Key figures of 1982 and 1983

The following table lists the key people in Government in 1982 and 1983 and other significant figures referred to in the selected Cabinet documents. Other figures from the period may be identified by consulting the Commonwealth Government Directory (Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra) for 1982 and 1983 and the Parliamentary Handbook of the Commonwealth of Australia (23rd edition, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1986).

Selected documents

The selected documents illustrate the major issues addressed by the Fraser and Hawke Cabinet during 1982 and 1983. Introductory notes are provided for each topic. The documents have been taken from the following records series of the Fraser and Hawke Cabinets.

Fraser Cabinet

• submissions (series A12909)
• memoranda (series A12930)
• decisions (series A13075)

Hawke Cabinet

• submissions (series A13977)
• memoranda (series A13978)
• decisions (series A13979)

Every attempt has been made to reproduce high-quality images of the original archival documents. Sometimes, the result may not be fully legible due to the poor quality of the original document.

A reference set of the more than 800 Cabinet papers for 1982 and 1983 available at 1 January 2012 is held in the Cabinet room within the National Archives' Canberra reading room.

Those records not available as well as the related Cabinet Office files for the Fraser Cabinet (series A10756) and Hawke Cabinet (Series A11116) may be requested from 1 January 2012 using RecordSearch and will be made available after access examination.

Key documents

Parliament and government

The economy, taxation and financial policy

Wages and industrial relations

Organised crime

Foreign affairs, defence and the Cocos Islands

Supporting manufacturing industry

Migration

Indigenous affairs

Social justice

Random breath testing

Uranium

Damming the Franklin

Further information

Personal records collections of Prime Ministers Fraser and Hawke

The National Archives holds collections of the personal records of both Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke.

Details of these records can be found in RecordSearch. Choose the 'RecordSearch – Advanced search' tab, and select the 'Commonwealth persons' box. Enter the Commonwealth Person number shown below into the 'Person number' field to reach the person registration and select 'Series'.

• Malcolm Fraser – CP 51
• Bob Hawke – CP 390

The National Archives also holds personal records deposited by other members of the Cabinets of 1982 and 1983. Details of these records can be found in RecordSearch. To search for these records Choose the 'RecordSearch – Advanced search' tab, and select the 'Commonwealth persons' box. Enter the Cabinet member's name (for example, Margaret Guilfoyle, or Gareth Evans) into the 'Person name' field to reach the person registration and select 'Series'.

Additional primary source material for both Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke is held by the following institutions

• The Malcolm Fraser Collection at the University of Melbourne
• The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library at the University of South Australia 

Other sources

The Australia's Prime Ministers website provides a wealth of information on the life and career of Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke with links to relevant records held by institutions around the world.

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