Political murders and attempted murders

Australia has a remarkably low rate of political violence. There have only been one confirmed assassination of active politicians in Australian history, alongside a handful of other politically motivated murders and prominent attempts.

John Newman (1994): The most notorious modern case occurred on September 5, 1994, when John Newman, the NSW Labor MP for Cabramatta, was shot dead outside his home in what is widely considered Australia’s first true political assassination. His murder was orchestrated by his political rival, Phuong Ngo, driven by personal and factional power struggles.

Duke of Edinburgh (1868): The first high-profile political assassination attempt on Australian soil occurred on March 12, 1868. Prince Alfred (Queen Victoria’s son) was shot in the back by an Irish nationalist, Henry James O’Farrell, at a public picnic in Sydney. The Prince survived, and O’Farrell was hanged shortly after. [1, 2]

Arthur Calwell (1965): On June 19, 1965, the federal Leader of the Opposition, Arthur Calwell, survived an assassination attempt when a sawn-off rifle was fired into his car window in Sydney following a political rally. Calwell escaped with minor facial injuries from shattered glass. [1, 2]