Calwell and the Labor Party came close to victory at the 1961 election , gaining 15 seats and finishing only two seats shy of a majority . However , those gains were wiped out at the 1963 election . Calwell was one of the most prominent opponents of Australia 's involvement in the Vietnam War , a stance that was not electorally popular at the time . In 1966 , Calwell survived a leadership challenge from his deputy Gough Whitlam , survived an assassination attempt with minor injuries , and finally led his party to a landslide defeat at the 1966 election , winning less than one-third of the total seats . He was 70 years old by that point , and resigned the leadership a few months later . He remained in parliament until the 1972 election , which saw Whitlam become prime minister , and died the following year
an assassination attempt
Attempted assassination of Arthur Calwell
Arthur Calwell