Bill Hayden

He only discovered later that Hayden had resigned just a few hours before the writs were issued. On 3 February 1983 in a meeting in Brisbane Hayden's closest supporters told him that he must resign. He not only regained much of what Labor had lost in the previous two elections but put the party within striking distance of winning the next election.

Before becoming Governor-General he represented the Australian Labor Party in parliament; he held several senior ministries in the Whitlam government between 1972–75 and later became Leader of the Opposition narrowly losing the 1980 federal election to the Malcolm Fraser-led Liberal/National coalition and between 1983-88 he held more senior ministries in the Hawke government. William George "Bill" Hayden AC (born 23 January 1933) was the 21st Governor-General of Australia.