Billy Snedden

Sir Billy Snedden
Snedden in 1973
Leader of the Opposition
In office
20 December 1972 – 21 March 1975
Prime MinisterGough Whitlam
DeputyPhillip Lynch
Preceded byGough Whitlam
Succeeded byMalcolm Fraser
Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office
17 February 1976 – 4 February 1983
Preceded byGordon Scholes
Succeeded byHarry Jenkins Sr.
Party leadership positions
Leader of the Liberal Party
In office
20 December 1972 – 21 March 1975
DeputyPhillip Lynch
Preceded byWilliam McMahon
Succeeded byMalcolm Fraser
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
In office
18 August 1971 – 20 December 1972
LeaderWilliam McMahon
Preceded byJohn Gorton
Succeeded byPhillip Lynch
Ministerial offices
Treasurer of Australia
In office
22 March 1971 – 4 December 1972
Prime MinisterWilliam McMahon
Preceded byLeslie Bury
Succeeded byGough Whitlam
Minister for Labour and National Service
In office
12 November 1969 – 22 March 1971
Prime MinisterJohn Gorton
William McMahon
Preceded byLes Bury
Succeeded byPhillip Lynch
Leader of the House
In office
12 November 1969 – 10 March 1971
LeaderJohn Gorton
Preceded byDudley Erwin
Succeeded byReginald Swartz
In office
13 February 1967 – 13 February 1969
LeaderHarold Holt
John Gorton
Preceded byDavid Fairbairn
Succeeded byDudley Erwin
Minister for Immigration
In office
14 December 1966 – 12 November 1969
Prime MinisterHarold Holt
John McEwen
John Gorton
Preceded byHubert Opperman
Succeeded byPhillip Lynch
Attorney-General
In office
4 March 1964 – 14 December 1966
Prime MinisterSir Robert Menzies
Harold Holt
Preceded bySir Garfield Barwick
Succeeded byNigel Bowen
Constituency
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Bruce
In office
10 December 1955 – 21 April 1983
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byKen Aldred
Personal details
Born
Billy Mackie Snedden

(1926-12-31)31 December 1926
West Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Died27 June 1987(1987-06-27) (aged 60)
Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyLiberal
Spouse
Joy Forsyth
(m. 1950)
Children4
EducationHighgate State School
Perth Boys' School
Perth Technical College
Alma materUniversity of Western Australia
OccupationCommercial lawyer
Public servant
Politician

Sir Billy Mackie Snedden, KCMG, QC (31 December 1926 – 27 June 1987) was an Australian politician who served as the leader of the Liberal Party from 1972 to 1975. He was also a cabinet minister from 1964 to 1972, and Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1976 to 1983.

Snedden was born in Perth, Western Australia. He served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II, and then studied law at the University of Western Australia. From 1951 to 1952, he was the inaugural federal chairman of the Young Liberal Movement. After a period working overseas for the Department of Immigration, Snedden returned to Australia in 1954 and settled in Melbourne. He was elected to the House of Representatives the following year, aged 28.

In 1964, Snedden was elevated to cabinet by Robert Menzies. He served as a government minister until the Liberal government's defeat at the 1972 election, under an additional four prime ministers. Snedden spent periods as Attorney-General (1964–1966), Minister for Immigration (1966–1969), Minister for Labour and National Service (1969–1971), and Treasurer (1971–1972). He was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party in 1971, and replaced William McMahon as leader after the following year's election loss, thus becoming Leader of the Opposition.

Snedden led the Liberal Party to the 1974 federal election, which saw the Labor Party retain government with a narrow majority. Malcolm Fraser mounted two leadership challenges in early 1975, winning on the second attempt; by the end of the year he was prime minister. Snedden was elected to the speakership when the parliament next sat. He held the position for almost seven years, gaining a reputation for impartiality. In retirement, Snedden served as chairman of the Melbourne Football Club and on the board of the Victorian Football League. The unusual circumstances of his death in 1987, which involved the ex-girlfriend of his own son, attracted much public interest.