Following the resignation of Gough Whitlam former Treasurer Bill Hayden was elected Labor's new leader winning 36 votes to 28 over Lionel Bowen who was then elected deputy leader.

[1] After losing the 1977 election Gough Whitlam finally resigned as party leader after more than 10 years.

Bill Hayden who in May had come within two votes of toppling Whitlam, announced the day after election that he would contest the leadership.

[2] Tom Uren Lionel Bowen The following tables gives the ballot results: Paul Keating had previously announced that he would stand for the deputy leadership,[3] however he stood aside in favour of Bowen.

[4] Hayden led the party in on the 1980 election where they managed to halve Malcolm Fraser's majority.