The Leader of the Opposition, Billy Snedden, delivered his 1974 federal election policy speech on behalf of the Liberal Party, in Sydney, on April 30, 1974.
Snedden was 47 when he gave this speech. He entered parliament in 1955 as the member for the eastern suburban Melbourne electorate of Bruce.
Sir Robert Menzies appointed him Attorney-General in 1964. He subsequently became Minister for Immigration and then Minister for Labour and National Service.
He became Treasurer when William McMahon became Prime Minister in 1971, and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in August 1971 after John Gorton was sacked.
Following the Coalition’s defeat in 1972, Snedden became the Liberal Party’s 5th leader and the nation’s 18th Leader of the Opposition.