The Liberal Party Room as the election took place.
Incumbent party leader Harold Holt sensationallydisappeared while swimming atCheviot Beach nearPortsea on theMornington Peninsula ofVictoria on 17 December 1967.William McMahon, the incumbent Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was assumed to be his probable successor, however,John McEwen, the interim Prime Minister and leader of theCountry Party (the juniorCoalition partner), announced that he and his party would not serve in a government led by McMahon. McMahon subsequently withdrew. McEwen himself had been encouraged to remain Prime Minister on a more permanent basis. However, the terms of the Coalition agreement would have required McEwen to defect from the Country Party and seek election as Liberal leader, an option he had never contemplated.[3]
William McMahon, incumbent deputy leader,Treasurer of Australia, Member forLowe. Widely expected following Holt's disappearance to succeed him as prime minister, but declined to stand whenJohn McEwen, who did not get on well with McMahon, threatened to break the coalition arrangement should he become prime minister. He did eventually become prime minister in 1971, when relations with McEwen had improved and he had recently retired and been replaced byDoug Anthony.
John McEwen, interim prime minister. Although leader of the Country Party, McEwen was encouraged to stay on a prime minister on a permanent basis, which would have required him to defect and lead the Liberals, which he was not willing to do.
McMahon was re-elected unopposed as deputy Liberal leader.[4] To date, Gorton is the onlyAustralian Senator to be sworn in as prime minister; he would subsequently win Holt's vacant seat ofHiggins at aby-election. Hasluck was later nominated and accepted the position ofGovernor-General from Gorton in 1969 and Snedden became party leader in December 1972. Bury later served asTreasurer of Australia under both Gorton and McMahon.
