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Who was our worst Prime Minister and why? Any notable state leaders we need to add? (aussie.zone)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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With the US result some friends and I have been discussing who the worst PM was/is.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

This thread is a product of our collective ages. Billy McMahon is pretty universally thought of as the worst PM ever, but we're too young to remember him first-hand. A rich guy, I think he still holds the record for longest time in parliament. He was probably gay, but persecuted LGBT+ people.

Laurie Oakes: [he was] "devious, nasty, dishonest - he lied all the time and stole things". He tells a story where McMahon tried to steal (clearly labelled) radio station gear after an interview, claiming to own it.

Robert Menzies: "the most characterless man who was ever prime minister of Australia – a dreadful little man"

John McEwan almost succeeded in keeping McMahon out of the PM spot, by absolutely refusing to work with him. McMahon couldn't get party leadership until after McEwan retired. Gough Witlam reportedly called him a "notorious homosexual" and a "cunt" in a story told by McMahon - who complained that he "couldn't be both".

Challenge for anyone here: Google him and see if you can find anyone with something nice to say about him. The quotes you'll find about him are honestly hysterical. 😃

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah recency bias is always a thing.