Billy Snedden

The Right Honourable Sir Billy Snedden KCMG, QC
Snedden in 1973
Leader of the Opposition
In office 20 December 1972 – 21 March 1975
Prime Minister	Gough Whitlam
Deputy	Phillip Lynch
Preceded by	Gough Whitlam
Succeeded by	Malcolm Fraser
Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office 17 February 1976 – 4 February 1983
Preceded by	Gordon Scholes
Succeeded by	Harry Jenkins Sr.
Party leadership positions Leader of the Liberal Party In office 20 December 1972 – 21 March 1975 Deputy Phillip Lynch Preceded by William McMahon Succeeded by Malcolm Fraser Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party In office 18 August 1971 – 20 December 1972 Leader William McMahon Preceded by John Gorton Succeeded by Phillip Lynch
Ministerial offices Treasurer of Australia In office 22 March 1971 – 4 December 1972 Prime Minister William McMahon Preceded by Leslie Bury Succeeded by Gough Whitlam Minister for Labour and National Service In office 12 November 1969 – 22 March 1971 Prime Minister John Gorton William McMahon Preceded by Les Bury Succeeded by Phillip Lynch Leader of the House In office 12 November 1969 – 10 March 1971 Leader John Gorton Preceded by Dudley Erwin Succeeded by Reginald Swartz In office 13 February 1967 – 13 February 1969 Leader Harold Holt John Gorton Preceded by David Fairbairn Succeeded by Dudley Erwin Minister for Immigration In office 14 December 1966 – 12 November 1969 Prime Minister Harold Holt John McEwen John Gorton Preceded by Hubert Opperman Succeeded by Phillip Lynch Attorney-General In office 4 March 1964 – 14 December 1966 Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies Harold Holt Preceded by Sir Garfield Barwick Succeeded by Nigel Bowen
Constituency Member of the Australian Parliament for Bruce In office 10 December 1955 – 21 April 1983 Preceded by Constituency established Succeeded by Ken Aldred
Personal details
Born	Billy Mackie Snedden (1926-12-31)31 December 1926 West Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Died	27 June 1987(1987-06-27) (aged 60) Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Joy Forsyth ​ (m. 1950)​
Children	4
Education	Highgate State School Perth Boys' School Perth Technical College
Alma mater	University of Western Australia
Occupation	Commercial lawyer Public servant Politician

Sir Billy Mackie Snedden, KCMG, QC (31 December 1926 – 27 June 1987) was an Australian politician who served as the leader of the Liberal Party from 1972 to 1975. He was also a cabinet minister from 1964 to 1972, and Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1976 to 1983.

Snedden was born in Perth, Western Australia. He served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II, and then studied law at the University of Western Australia. From 1951 to 1952, he was the inaugural federal chairman of the Young Liberal Movement. After a period working overseas for the Department of Immigration, Snedden returned to Australia in 1954 and settled in Melbourne. He was elected to the House of Representatives the following year, aged 28.

In 1964, Snedden was elevated to cabinet by Robert Menzies. He served as a government minister until the Liberal government's defeat at the 1972 election, under an additional four prime ministers. Snedden spent periods as Attorney-General (1964–1966), Minister for Immigration (1966–1969), Minister for Labour and National Service (1969–1971), and Treasurer (1971–1972). He was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party in 1971, and replaced William McMahon as leader after the following year's election loss, thus becoming Leader of the Opposition.

Snedden led the Liberal Party to the 1974 federal election, which saw the Labor Party retain government with a narrow majority. Malcolm Fraser mounted two leadership challenges in early 1975, winning on the second attempt; by the end of the year he was prime minister. Snedden was elected to the speakership when the parliament next sat. He held the position for almost seven years, gaining a reputation for impartiality. In retirement, Snedden served as chairman of the Melbourne Football Club and on the board of the Victorian Football League. The unusual circumstances of his death in 1987, which involved the ex-girlfriend of his own son, attracted much public interest.