Hypen, I think you are misusing Australian history there. Bill Hayden would have led the ALP to victory in 1983, they didn't need Bob Hawke as leader to win. A drover's dog would have led the ALP to victory in 1983.
I remember Bill Hayden battling as Labor leader in the wilderness years after 1975. At the time the ALP was overrun with green lefty loonies*, and that made them unelectable. Hayden almost single-handedly dragged the party back to reality and made them a winning team. Hence his annoyance at being ousted as leader when victory was in sight.
*I may have been one of these types back in those days...