Australia's Fraser shaky after state party losses

April 5, 1982

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser seems certain to face the greatest challenge ever to his leadership after the opposition Labor Party swept to power in an election in the southern state of Victoria, Mr. Fraser's home state and the birthplace of his Liberal Party. The landslide victory ended 27 years of Conservative rule in the state, and virtually ensures a challenge for party leadership by former foreign minister Andrew Peacock.