By Greg Blood

SIR WILLIAM McMAHON GCMG CH PC –

LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

20th Prime Minister: 1971-1972

William ‘Billy’ McMahon was prime minister for just under 2 years and his government had to manage the controversial tour of the 1971 South African rugby union team. There was increasing opposition in Australia to the racially selected (all white) South African national sporting teams visiting Australia. McMahon took the long held Liberal Party view that the Australian government should not become involved in the policies of other governments or sporting organisations. McMahon was one of Australia’s fittest ever prime minister’s in office as he regularly played squash which is regarded as intermittent, high-intensity racquet sport .

Birth: 23 February 1908, Sydney, NSW – Death: 31 March 1988, Sydney, NSW

Political Appointments

• Federal Member for Lowe, NSW:  10 December 1949 – 4 January 1982
• Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party of Australia: 10 March 1971 – 20 December 1972
• Ministries: Minister for the Navy 17 July 1951- 9 July 1954, Minister for Air 17 July 1954 – 9 July 1954, Minister for Social Services 9 July 1954 – 28 February 1956, Minister for Primary Industry 11 January 1956 – 10 December 1958, Minister for Labor and National Service 10 December 1958 – 26 January 1966, Treasurer 26 January 1966 – 12 November 1969, Minister for External Affairs 12 November 1969 – 6 November 1970, Minister for Foreign Affairs 6 November 1970 – 22 March 1971
• Prime Minister:  10 March 1971 – 5 December 1972

Background

McMahon was born on 23 February 1908 at Redfern, Sydney and was the second surviving son of Sydney-born parents William Daniel McMahon, law clerk, and his wife Mary Ellen Amelia (née Walder). His mother died in 1917 and father in 1926. McMahon was brought up by relatives and guardians including his maternal uncle, Sir Samuel Walder after his mother’s death. [1]

McMahon’s sporting career commenced when he attended Abbotsholme College in Sydney at the age of thirteen.  Even though small in stature, he was required to play rugby union, cricket and tennis.  In 1923, he moved to Sydney Grammar School and played rugby union as a half back and took up rowing even though he was described as “sixty kilo lightly frame boy”. In 1926, he was a member of the Sydney Grammar School eights that came third in the Head of the River. McMahon was in the bow seat and was lightest crew member at 9st 13 lb.  The crew’s coach George MacKenzie is quoted as stating that “He had a free movement, with a good length of body swing. The hands were smart and the blade work clean. Although on the small side he rowed a powerful blade.” [2]

McMahon studied law at the University of Sydney and won the University’s lightweight boxing title. At university, he took a keen interest in horse racing and owned several horses as a result of the inheritance from his father’s estate.[3] After university he practised as a solicitor with the legal firm Allen, Allen and Hemsley. He enlisted in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in 1939 and rose to the rank of major before his discharge in 1945.

After being elected to federal parliament in 1949, McMahon’s ministerial career commenced in 1951. He became deputy leader of the Liberal Party in 1969. He successfully challenged prime minister John Gorton in March 1971.

He continued to play sport in entering Federal Parliament in 1949. In 1968, he was described as “fit, playing golf and squash regularly, and is probably the most dapper dresser in the Parliament.[4]

Squash

McMahon continued to played squash whilst in Parliament. In 1965, the construction of squash courts near the outdoor tennis courts was questioned in Parliament. The courts cost at £13,000. McMahon was a member of cabinet that approved the squash courts. Fred Daly, ALP member for Grayndler stated that:

 “I am all in favour of providing facilities to enable members to keep themselves fit. But not more than 20 per cent, of the members of this Parliament – that is an extremely liberal view – can use these squash courts. Everybody knows that if anybody over the age of 35 or 40 years plays the game too extensively he will find himself on his way to the grave.” [5] 

Daly went on to suggest that McMahon’s playing squash during the Parliamentary day led to in his words:

“We saw the Minister for Labour and National Service (Mr. McMahon) when we were dealing with the Stevedoring Industry Bill. I understand he is very attached to this game. He has become cranky and irritable and unable to concentrate on great issues in this Parliament because of the stress imposed by games of this nature. To summarise the position, it is like a lot of old men playing schoolboy games in an endeavour to keep fit. If they want to do these things that is their business. A former Davis Cup tennis player told me on one occasion that this was a very strenuous game which men over 40 should not play if they wanted to retain their physical fitness”.[6]

McMahon would have been fifty-seven at the time of statement. In 2000, it was decided that the squash courts would be removed and ALP member Leo McLeay remarked “I always thought the squash courts that legend has it Bill McMahon had built were a bit of an eyesore in the gardens.”[7]

Former senior public servant, Dennis Richardson regaled the time he played squash with prime minister McMahon just before the 1972 Federal election. When one of McMahon’s regular playing partners, Richard Woolcott, a senior diplomat, was unavailable, Richardson, a young public servant was asked to fill in. The game was played on 30 November – 2 days before the 1972 federal election. Richardson said he had to quickly go home and change out of his ‘It’s Time’ t-shirt, the ALP slogan for the federal election. [8]

In 1981, it was reported that McMahon was Patron of the Australian Squash Owners Association. We know that McMahon was still playing squash at seventy-seven. In an article reporting on an operation to remove a cancer on his neck and ear, his wife Lady Sonia McMahon said “Sir William should not be in hospital for more than a few days to a week. He’ll want to be out as soon as possible and back playing squash.” [9] On his death, it was reported he regularly played against  barrister and then judge Marcus Einfeld.

Sport Diplomacy

McMahon as Minister for Foreign Affairs urged the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia (LTAA) to play in the Asian Zone of the Davis Cup in season 1971. [10] In replying to a letter from Australian High Commission to India in June 1970, McMahon stated:

I am attracted to Australian sports teams competing in the Asian region since I believe that our international relations gain considerably from such appearance. I would therefore be happy to see the Australian Davis Cup Team competing in the Asian Zone whenever tennis considerations permit this.”

The Holt Government had previously supported the Australian men’s soccer team visiting Vietnam in November 1967. Australian Government realised it was important to develop relationships with many Asian countries due to its involvement in the Vietnam War.

The Australian Government had Special Overseas Visits Fund (SOVF) to assist Australian sporting teams compete in the Asian region. In response, to Treasury reservations on supporting the Australian Davis Cup Team in India, McMahon sent prime minister Gorton the criteria for the SOVF that he had sent to Treasury. The criteria included:

• Could the project have favourable political consequences?
• Is the sport popular throughout the country to be visited or popular with a substantial number of influential people?
• Would the project enhance Australia’s standing in the country or countries to be visited?
• Would the project tend to stimulate interest in the sport or to raise the standard of it in the country to be visited? [11]

Sport diplomacy is now commonplace in Australian’s foreign policy.

South African and Apartheid

McMahon replaced Gorton as prime minister on 10 March 1971. Simmering in Australian politics and society at the time was use of apartheid (racially selected or all white teams) in South Africa sport.  During 1969 and 1970 in Australia, there were small protests for visiting apartheid politicians, all-white netballers, surf lifesavers, tennis players and golfer Gary Player. [12] There were two major South African sporting tours of Australia planned for 1971 – the national rugby union and cricket teams.

McMahon Government supported the United Nations General Assembly declaration for 1971 to be the International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. McMahon stated that racism was ‘not acceptable to the Australian way of life’.[13] Whilst having an abhorrence to apartheid, McMahon like his predecessors particularly Menzies believed that the Australian Government should not interfere the other countries policies.

The apartheid issue came to great prominence in Australia firstly with the 1971 winter tour by the all-white South African rugby union team. The tour started in Perth and then moved to Adelaide and it was immediately met with protests by unionists, aboriginal activists and university students. The Australian Council of Trade Unions, led by future prime minister Bob Hawke, imposed airline transport worker bans on TAA and Ansett and hotel restrictions. The touring ream was forced to use small, chartered aircraft for its travel across Australia. The McMahon Government offered to provide Royal Australian Air Force transport in Australia for the Springboks.[14]

Six Australian Wallabies – Tony Abrahams, Paul Darvenzia, Terry Foreman, Barry McDonald, James Roxborough and Bruce Taafe refused to represent Australia on political grounds. This led to McMahon calling them “a disgrace to their country”.[15]

The tour preceded with many significant protests and even included Queensland National Party’s Premier Joh Bjelke-Peterson declaring a state of emergency for 30 days.

The proposed 1971 summer cricket tour by South Africa became under serious threat due to the protests encountered during the rugby tour.  McMahon was under pressure to stop the proposed cricket tour. In responding to Opposition Leader Gough Whitlam’s questions regarding the proposed tour by the South African Cricket team, McMahon’s response included:

Equally, we believe that sport should be left to the sporting associations themselves. It seems a strange thing to me that members of a sporting association that has exactly the same views as we have on apartheid, which believes that separatism should not be associated with sporting activities and whose members have shown their dislike of apartheid on the sporting field, should be prevented from coming to this country and participating in sporting activities with our people.

I have taken action on 2 fronts since I have been Prime Minister. I have already communicated to the South African Government the disappointment and regret felt by a great number of Australians that native Africans should be prevented from coming here to participate in a sporting event. I also have advised the secretary of the Australian Cricket Board of Control that we do not think that any objection should be taken by the Government to the visit by the South African cricket team. I make only one other comment. I hope that every sporting association will remember the statement alleged to have been made by the Leader of the Opposition yesterday – and not denied – that he is in the forefront of anti-apartheid activities and that he will resist the visit to Australia of sportsmen from South Africa.[16]

These statements reaffirmed the long held Liberal Party view at the time that it should not meddle in sports organisations or other countries policies.

The planned 1971-1972 cricket tour did not precede due to the likelihood that five-day test matches would be severely disrupted by protesters. McMahon regretted the decision to cancel the tour as he said that it was wanted by ‘the great majority of Australians’.

Heenan and Dunstan research using National Archives of Australia records found that Sir Donald Bradman, Chair of the Australian Cricket Board, constantly lobbied the government to keep South Africa in international cricket.   [17] A World XI cricket tour was organised to replace the cancelled South African tour.

Olympic Games

McMahon as both prime minister and president of the Australian Olympic Federation made a speech in February 1972 to support the Olympic Appeal Fund for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. He stated:

Now you know as well as I do that the Australian is a great sportsman, and that he can compete and win in world company. So we plan to be able to announce the team in May of this year and to get them to Munich as soon as we can so that they can compete in the Games in late August and early September. [18]

McMahon government provided $80,000 to meet the Australian Olympic teams budget of $400,000.

The 1972 Munich Olympics Games were severely disrupted by the terrorist attack on the athletes village. McMahon’s 6 September 1972 media release reflected the his view to the attack.

The Prime Minister said today that the Australian Government condemned the outrage by the terrorists at the Munich Olympic Games. The attack was reckless, barbarous, and horrible. Such attacks shocked the conscience of the entire civilised world. The Prime Minister extended his sympathy and the sympathy of the Australian people to the families of those Israelis who had been the victims of these murders. The fact that such an attack had occurred at the Olympic Games which were designed to promote the brotherhood of man added a dimension of horrible cynicism to the savagery of the attack. [19]

McMahon followed with an address to Parliament 12 September 1972

The outrage by terrorists at the Olympic Games in Munich is still very much in our minds. We share the grief which swept the whole world at the barbarous acts of terrorism which led to the death of members of the Israeli team. On behalf of the Government and the Australian people I have already sent a message of sympathy to the Prime Minister of Israel and to the Israeli people. It is with sadness and with heartfelt sympathy for those who have suffered so much that I submit to the House the following motion: That this House expresses its horror and shock at the violence which was perpetrated upon competitors and officials at Munich and which threatened to destroy the spirit of the 1972 Olympic Games. The House extends its deepest sympathies to the families and relatives of the deceased, and calls upon all countries which participated in the Games to preserve this unique institution from attacks on its competitors and its ideals. [20]

Conclusion

McMahon actively participated in sport during his life including his long political career. He was well known as a strong advocate for squash. As with previous Liberal Party prime ministers, McMahon believed that government should not become involved in sporting organisations operations and decisions. This was particularly apparent regarding Australian sports organisations arranging tours by South African teams and athletes. But McMahon due to his background in foreign affairs did see how sport could improve political and economic relations with other nations.

Images

• McMahon in Sydney Grammar eights in 1926, The Sydneian Issue 261 August 1926, p32
• Former Australian Prime Minister Sir William McMahon (left) in a friendly game with Hong Kong squash team member, Neil Speakman, at the Hong Kong Cricket Club. 1977
• McMahon with squash partner Richard Woolcott

References

[1] Online biographies – Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Archives of Australia, Museum of Australian Democracy

[2] The Sydneian Issue 261 August 1926

[3] William McMahon The Canberra Times, 9 January 1968

[4] William McMahon” The Canberra Times, 9 January 1968

[5] Parliamentary Squash Courts, House of Representatives Hansard, 21 October 1965,

[6] Parliamentary Squash Courts, House of Representatives Hansard, 21 October 1965,

[7] McLeay, Leo. Parliamentary Zone Approval of Work, House of Representatives Hansard, 5 April 2000

[8] Politics podcast: Dennis Richardson on telling it like it is, The Conversation, 18 May 2017

[9] Sir William McMahon in hospital, The Canberra Times, 17 February 1985

[10] Sasha Uzunov ,The Tetnnis Offensive, Alternative Comms, 22 January 2022

[11] Personal Papers of Prime Minister McMahon – General correspondence ‘Minister for Labour and National Service, Lawn Tennis Association of Australia, Lions International, Labour assistance for Indonesia, Canberra land rent, Series M4251, Item 4681789, National Archives of Australia

[12] 1971 Springbok tour: When campaigners scored a victory against racism, Solidatity.net.au

[13] National Archives of Australia, Australia and the issue of apartheid in sport, Fact sheet 255, 2020

[14] Springboks begin Australian tour, The Canberra Times,  26 June 1971

[15] 1971 Springbok tour: When campaigners scored a victory against racism, Solidatity.net.au

[16] McMahon, William. South Africa – Question, House of Representatives Hansard, 6 April 1971

[17] Tom Heenan and David Dunstan, The dark side of the Don: Bradman, the board and Apartheid, Sport in Society, 2015, Vol. 18, No. 9, 1110–1131

[18]] William McMcMahon, Olympic Appeal Fund Speech, 21 February 1972

[19]] William McMahon, Terrorist Attack at Munich, Prime Minister Media Release, 6 September 1972

[20] William McMahon, Munich Olympic Games Speech, House of Representatives Hansard, 12 September 1972.