Updated 3 February 2016
PDF version [512KB]
Dr Joy McCann
Politics and Public Administration Section
Introduction
-
This Quick Guide presents information about the backgrounds and
service of Australia’s 29 prime ministers, from Edmund Barton to Malcolm
Turnbull. It includes information about of their backgrounds (age, place of
birth, gender and occupational background), period in office, experience in
other parliaments, parties, electorates and military service.
-
The majority of Australia’s prime ministers have been
Australian-born, middle-aged, tertiary-educated men with experience in law or
politics, representing electorates in either Victoria or New South Wales. Only one woman has served as Prime Minister since Federation.
-
Australia’s prime ministers have ranged in age at the time of
first taking office from 37 years to 67 years. The average age is 52 years,
which reflects the age profile of Australian parliamentarians more generally
(51 years).
-
Three-quarters of Australia’s 29 prime ministers (22) were born
in Australia. Of those born overseas, all but one came from the United Kingdom
(England, Scotland or Wales). The only non-British overseas-born Prime Minister
was Chris Watson, who was born in Chile and raised in New Zealand. Of those
born in Australia, the majority were born in either Victoria (nine) or New
South Wales (eight).
-
Thirteen prime ministers have represented electorates in New
South Wales, 11 in Victoria, four in Queensland and one each in Western
Australia and Tasmania. There have been no prime ministers representing
electorates in South Australia, the Northern Territory, or the Australian
Capital Territory.
-
The length of service as prime minister ranges from over 18 years
(Robert Menzies) to eight days (Francis Forde). Most have left office after defeat
at an election, in the Parliament or in the party room.
Party abbreviations
ALP
|
Australian
Labor Party
|
CP
|
Australian
Country Party
|
FT
|
Free Trade
|
LP
|
Liberal
Party of Australia
|
NAT
|
Nationalist
Party
|
NAT LAB
|
National
Labour
|
PROT
|
Protectionist
Party
|
Traits and trends
Table 1 summarises some of the more notable aspects of
Australia’s 29 prime ministers since Federation. More detailed information
about each trait is provided under separate headings below.
Table 1: Traits and trends of Australia’s prime ministers, 1901 to 2015
Trait
|
Trend
|
Period in office
|
-
Robert Menzies was Australia’s longest-serving Prime Minister
both continuously (16 years 1 month 8 days) and in total (18 years 5 months
12 days). Francis Forde was the shortest-serving (eight days).
Most prime ministers have left office after being defeated at election, in
the Parliament or in the party room.
|
Age
|
-
Average age 52 years (at appointment): the youngest Prime
Minister was 37 years (Chris Watson) and the oldest Prime Minister was
67 years (John McEwen)
|
Country of birth
|
-
76 per cent Australian-born
one Prime Minister was born in a non-English speaking country (Chris Watson
was born in Chile and raised in New Zealand)
|
Gender
|
|
Education
|
-
68 per cent tertiary-educated
|
Occupational qualifications/experience
|
-
36 per cent with legal qualifications
32 per cent with trade union experience
|
Parliamentary experience
|
-
39 per cent with prior experience in colonial, state or
territory parliaments
|
Electoral representation
|
-
79 per cent represented NSW (12) and Victoria (11), including
Billy Hughes who represented both states during his terms in office; 21 per
cent represented Queensland (4), Tasmania (1) and Western Australia (1)
|
Military service
|
-
25 per cent enlisted for military service (including four who
saw active war service)
|
Source: Compiled by Parliamentary
Library from Parliamentary
Handbook
Diversity
Age
Australia’s prime ministers have ranged in age at the time
of first taking office from the youngest—Chris Watson, 37 years, to the
oldest—John McEwen, 67 years (see Appendix 1). The average age is 52 years,
reflecting the age profile
of Australian parliamentarians more generally (51 years).
Place of birth
Three-quarters (22) of Australia’s 29 prime ministers were
born in Australia (see Appendix 8). Of the seven prime ministers born
elsewhere, all but one came from the United Kingdom (England, Scotland or
Wales). The only non-British overseas-born Prime Minister was Chris Watson, who
was born in Chile and raised in New Zealand. Of those born in Australia, the
majority were born in either Victoria (nine) or New South Wales (eight). Only
one Prime Minister has come from a non-English speaking background (Chris
Watson), and no Prime Minister has identified as an Indigenous Australian. This
reflects the generally low level of ethnic diversity in the Commonwealth
Parliament as a whole. (Around 13 per cent of parliamentarians were migrants or
children of migrants from a non-English speaking background, and only four of the
current serving 226 senators and members are Indigenous Australians.)
Figure 1: Places of birth of Australia’s prime ministers, by
country and Australian state
Source: Compiled by Parliamentary Library from Parliamentary
Handbook
Gender
Of Australia’s 29 prime ministers since
Federation, only one has been a woman, reflecting the under-representation of
women in federal ministerial positions more generally. According to
political scientist Jennifer
Curtin, there has ‘always been a public fascination with women political
leaders, primarily because there have been so few of them; they are indeed
exceptional’.
Education and occupational background
The educational qualifications of Australia’s 29 prime
ministers have varied widely, from primary school level to postgraduate
qualifications. Three of Australia’s 29 prime ministers have held Rhodes
scholarships (Bob Hawke, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull).
In terms of their employment experience before becoming
prime minister:
- 12 worked in the legal profession as a judge, barrister or
solicitor
-
nine were employed in business or the corporate sector
-
eight were employed in trade or clerical positions
-
five worked as a trade union organiser, official or advocate
-
five worked as journalists
-
three worked as teachers
-
three had experience in the public service
-
two worked as political staff members
-
two worked as miners
-
one worked in the medical profession
-
one was a diplomat and
-
one was a rouseabout.
As former press gallery journalist Michelle Grattan observed
in her edited book Australian
prime ministers, wealth and education have never been prerequisites for
the nation’s highest political office. Indeed, several of the early-twentieth
century prime ministers began as unskilled labourers or turned to shopkeeping
or small business, and many experienced difficult personal and family
circumstances as a result of illness, accident or financial loss. ‘It could be
said that many of them were forced to become adults before their time, assuming
responsibilities and making decisions. Many, too, were early self-improvers’.
Period in office
Australia has had 29 prime ministers since Federation
serving 35 separate terms of office (see Appendix 1). Their periods of service
range from 18.5 years (the Right Hon. Robert Menzies who held office twice,
from 1939–41 and 1949–66) to eight days (the Right Hon. Francis Forde who
served as caretaker Prime Minister for just eight days following the death of
the Right Hon. John Curtin in 1945).
Figure 2: Period in office
Source: Compiled by Parliamentary Library from Parliamentary
Handbook
Note: Excludes current serving Prime Minister, the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull
MP (15 September 2015 ̶ )
Reasons for leaving office
-
The majority of Australia’s prime ministers (22) have lost
office as the result of defeat at a general election, on the floor of the
House or the party room ballot following a leadership spill.
-
As at 31 October 2015 there has been a total of 23 changes of Prime
Minister without an election, including:
- seven
prime ministers defeated in the party-room (Billy Hughes, Robert Menzies, John
Gorton, Bob Hawke, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott)
- five
were defeated in Parliament (Alfred Deakin—who was defeated twice, Chris
Watson, George Reid, Andrew Fisher and Arthur Fadden)
- four
left office voluntarily (Edmund Barton, to take up an appointment at the High
Court, Andrew Fisher in his second term to become Australia’s High Commissioner
in London, Billy Hughes who resigned but remained in the House of
Representatives as a private member and minister, and Robert Menzies to retire
after his second-term)
- three
died whilst in office (Joseph Lyons, John Curtin and Harold Holt)
- three
deputy prime ministers served in a caretaker capacity following the death of
the Prime Minister (Earle Page replaced Lyons in 1939, Frank Forde replaced
Curtin in 1945 and John McEwen replaced Holt in 1968)—in each case they
continued in the caretaker role until a party room ballot could be conducted,
but none of the three was subsequently elected as leader and
- one
left office as a result of vice-regal intervention (Gough Whitlam).
-
Five prime ministers resigned from Parliament after losing office
(Malcolm Fraser, Robert Hawke, Paul Keating, Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd).
-
Two sitting prime ministers lost their seats at an election
(Stanley Bruce and John Howard).
Experience
in other parliaments
Eleven of Australia’s prime ministers had experience in an
Australian state parliament prior to being elected to the Commonwealth
Parliament, including five in the NSW Parliament, three in the Queensland
Parliament, two in the Victorian Parliament and one in the Tasmanian Parliament
(see Appendix 6).
Stanley Bruce is the only Australian Prime Minister to have
become a British Peer in the UK House of Lords (as Viscount Bruce of Melbourne)
following his prime ministership. The Right Hon. George Reid served in the UK
House of Commons following his prime ministership, making him the only
Australian to sit as a representative in three different parliaments (colonial,
Commonwealth and UK parliaments).
Electoral representation
The majority of Australia’s prime ministers have represented
electorates in NSW (13) or Victoria (11), including the Right Hon. Billy Hughes
who represented both states during his record 51 years in the Commonwealth
Parliament (see Appendix 1).
Figure 3: Electoral representation of Australia’s prime ministers
Source: Compiled by Parliamentary
Library from Parliamentary
Handbook
PMs from the Senate
Australia’s prime ministers have traditionally been selected
from the House of Representatives—the house where government is formed.
However, as Australian Parliamentary Fellow Scott Brenton noted in What
lies beneath: the work of senators and members in the Australian Parliament:
It
is only by convention that the leader of the majority party (or parties) in the
lower house becomes Prime Minister. This Westminster convention is largely
based on the democratic legitimacy of Britain’s elected lower house, even
though British prime ministers have sat in the unelected upper house. However,
both Australian houses are popularly elected.
The reverse is true in the United States Congress where, as
Stanley Bach noted in Platypus
and parliament: the Australian Senate in theory and practice, the
tradition is for Members of the House of Representatives to move to the Senate
as ‘the more common breeding ground for Presidential aspirants ... A US Senator
has not voluntarily relinquished his seat to run for a seat in the House since
well before the American Civil War’.
There have been a few occasions where ministers in the
Senate have acted as Prime Minister for short periods. Only once since
Federation has a sitting senator been commissioned to form a government. In
early 1968, following the presumed death of Prime Minister Harold Holt, the
Liberal Party chose Senator John Gorton as its new leader. Gorton resigned his
place as a Senator on 1 February 1968 in order to seek election to the House of
Representatives. Between 1 February and 24 February Gorton was not a member of
either House but, as permitted by the Constitution, he was able to remain Prime
Minister during this period. He was subsequently elected as the Member for
Higgins, the seat left vacant by Mr Holt’s death.
Military
service
One-quarter of Australia’s prime ministers enlisted for
military service at some point in their lives (see Appendix 7). This includes
four who saw active service (Stanley Bruce, John Gorton, Earle Page and Gough
Whitlam). Two (Bruce and Gorton) were wounded during active service.
Religion
While attitudes to religious belief have changed markedly
since the 1960s when religious sectarianism underscored social, economic and
political differences in Australian society, the role of belief (or non-belief)
are still considered to be an important factor for voters who seek to
understand a prime minister’s character and actions.
Oaths and affirmations
One indicator of religious belief may be found in the oath
or affirmation sworn by prime ministers (together with ministers and
parliamentary secretaries) when becoming members of parliament and again before
being sworn in as a Minister of State. The Prime Minister determines the form
of the oath
and affirmation of office, which can be changed according to their
preference. The Official Oath sworn by the ministry in 1901 was ‘I [name] do
swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Victoria in the Office
of [name] So Help Me God’. From the second Deakin ministry in 1905, ministers
took the Oath of Allegiance, the Official Oath and the Executive Councillor’s
Oath. Julia Gillard became the first Australian Prime Minister to make an affirmation
of office rather than swearing on the Bible when she was sworn in on 24
June 2010.
Believers and non-believers
Whilst religious beliefs are difficult to quantify,
political scientist John
Warhurst attempted to categorise Australia’s 27 prime ministers from Edmund
Barton to Julia Gillard according to their religious belief, religious practice
and religious affiliations. He estimated that about half took their religion
seriously, noting that ‘[f]or some it has been a driving force and a central
part of their public personality. But for many others it has been a trivial
characteristic.’ Based on their actions and associations, Warhurst estimated
that there have been:
-
five Catholic prime ministers
-
about nine Anglican prime ministers
-
three Presbyterian prime ministers (although several others had
‘Presbyterian antecedents’)
-
one Methodist Prime Minister (although others were ‘brought up
Methodists’), and
-
a high number of agnostic and secular prime ministers when
compared with British prime ministers and American presidents.
In another study, Roy
Williams considered that 16 of the 23 prime ministers he examined believed
in God, although most of the others had some associations with Christianity.
The author concluded that only two were ‘lifelong agnostics’ (Edmund Barton and
Harold Holt).
Official residences of
Australia’s prime ministers
There are two official residences for
Australian prime ministers. These residences, whilst they are often used by the
Prime Minister for official functions, do not form part of a group of
ministerial houses, nor are they used to accommodate the Prime Minister’s
Office or the Cabinet (unlike 10 Downing Street, London, which is both an
official residence and office of the British Prime Minister’s Office). The two residences are:
- The Lodge in Canberra which was built in
1926 ̶ 7 to coincide with the opening of the first Canberra-based federal
Parliament House (now known as Old Parliament House) and
- Kirribilli House in Sydney, built in
1855 and acquired by the Commonwealth Government in 1920 as the prime
minister’s alternative residence when not in Canberra for parliamentary or
government business.
Both buildings are managed by the Official
Establishments Trust, an independent, non-statutory body that advises the Prime
Minister and Special Minister of State on the conservation and development of
the properties.
Appendix 1: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901–2015:
party, age and period in
office
No.
|
Name
|
Party
|
Electorate
|
Age
at appointments
|
Dates
in office
|
Period
in office
|
|
|
|
|
years
|
months
|
|
years
|
months
|
days
|
1st
|
Barton, the Rt Hon. Sir Edmund, GCMG,
KC
|
PROT
|
Hunter, NSW
|
51
|
11
|
1.1.1901–24.9.1903 |
2
|
8
|
24
|
2nd
|
Deakin, the Hon. Alfred
|
PROT
|
Ballaarat, Vic.
|
47
|
1
|
24.9.1903–27.4.1904 |
-
|
7
|
4
|
|
|
PROT*
|
|
|
|
5.7.1905–13.11.1908 |
3
|
4
|
9
|
|
|
PROT
|
|
|
|
2.6.1909–29.4.1910 |
-
|
10
|
28
|
3rd
|
Watson, the Hon. John Christian (Chris)
|
ALP
|
Bland, NSW; South Sydney, NSW
|
37
|
0
|
27.4.1904–17.8.1904 |
-
|
3
|
21
|
4th
|
Reid, the Rt Hon. George Houstoun, KC
(later Sir George, GCB, GCMG)
|
FT*
|
East Sydney, NSW
|
59
|
5
|
18.8.1904–5.7.1905 |
-
|
10
|
18
|
5th
|
Fisher, the Rt Hon. Andrew
|
ALP
|
Wide Bay, Qld
|
46
|
2
|
13.11.1908–2.6.1909 |
-
|
6
|
21
|
|
|
ALP
|
|
|
|
29.4.1910–24.6.1913 |
3
|
1
|
26
|
|
|
ALP
|
|
|
|
17.9.1914–27.10.1915 |
1
|
1
|
11
|
6th
|
Cook, the Rt Hon. Joseph (later Sir
Joseph, GCMG)
|
LP
|
Parramatta, NSW
|
52
|
6
|
24.6.1913–17.9.1914 |
1
|
2
|
25
|
7th
|
Hughes, the Rt Hon. William Morris, CH,
KC
|
ALP
NAT LAB
NAT
|
West Sydney, NSW; Bendigo, Vic.,
North Sydney, NSW; Bradfield, NSW
|
53
|
1
|
27.10.1915–14.11.1916
14.11.1916–17.2.1917
17.2.1917–9.2.1923 |
7
|
3
|
14
|
8th
|
Bruce, the Rt Hon. Stanley Melbourne,
CH, MC
(later 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne)
|
NAT*
|
Flinders, Vic.
|
39
|
9
|
9.2.1923–22.10.1929 |
6
|
8
|
14
|
9th
|
Scullin, the Rt Hon. James Henry
|
ALP
|
Corangamite, Vic.; Yarra, Vic.
|
53
|
1
|
22.10.1929–6.1.1932 |
2
|
2
|
16
|
10th
|
Lyons, the Rt Hon. Joseph Aloysius, CH
|
UAP
UAP*
|
Wilmot, Tas.
|
52
|
3
|
6.1.1932–9.11.1934
9.11.1934–7.4.1939 |
7
|
3
|
2
|
11th
|
Page, the Rt Hon. Sir Earle Christmas
Grafton, GCMG, CH
|
CP*
|
Cowper, NSW
|
58
|
8
|
7.4.1939–26.4.1939 |
-
|
-
|
20
|
12th
|
Menzies, the Rt Hon. Robert Gordon, KC
(later Sir Robert,
KT, CH, QC)
|
UAP
UAP*
LP*
|
Kooyong, Vic.
|
44
54
|
4
11
|
26.4.1939–14.3.1940
14.3.1940–29.8.1941
19.12.1949–26.1.1966 |
2
16
|
4
1
|
4
8
|
13th
|
Fadden, the Rt Hon. Arthur William
(later Sir Arthur, GCMG)[1]
|
CP*
|
Darling Downs, Qld; McPherson, Qld
|
46
|
4
|
29.8.1941–7.10.1941 |
-
|
1
|
9
|
14th
|
Curtin, the Rt Hon. John Joseph Ambrose
|
ALP
|
Fremantle, WA
|
56
|
9
|
7.10.1941–5.7.1945 |
3
|
8
|
29
|
15th
|
Forde, the Rt Hon. Francis Michael
|
ALP
|
Capricornia, Qld
|
54
|
11
|
6.7.1945–13.7.1945 |
-
|
-
|
8
|
16th
|
Chifley, the Rt Hon. Joseph Benedict
|
ALP
|
Macquarie, NSW
|
59
|
9
|
13.7.1945–19.12.1949 |
4
|
5
|
7
|
17th
|
Holt, the Rt Hon. Harold Edward, CH
|
LP*
|
Fawkner, Vic.; Higgins, Vic.
|
57
|
5
|
26.1.1966–19.12.1967 |
1
|
10
|
23
|
18th
|
McEwen, the Rt Hon. John (later Sir
John, GCMG, CH)
|
CP*
|
Echuca, Vic.; Indi, Vic.; Murray,
Vic.
|
67
|
8
|
19.12.1967–10.1.1968 |
-
|
-
|
23
|
19th
|
Gorton, the Rt Hon. John Grey, CH
(later Sir John, GCMG, AC)
|
LP*
|
Higgins, Vic.
|
56
|
4
|
10.1.1968–10.3.1971 |
3
|
2
|
-
|
20th
|
McMahon, the Rt Hon. William, CH (later
Sir William, GCMG)
|
LP*
|
Lowe, NSW
|
63
|
0
|
10.3.1971–5.12.1972 |
1
|
8
|
25
|
21st
|
Whitlam, the Hon. Edward Gough, AC, QC
|
ALP
|
Werriwa, NSW
|
56
|
4
|
5.12.1972–11.11.1975 |
2
|
11
|
7
|
22nd
|
Fraser, the Rt Hon. John Malcolm, AC,
CH
|
LP*
|
Wannon, Vic.
|
45
|
5
|
11.11.1975–11.3.1983 |
7
|
4
|
-
|
23rd
|
Hawke, the Hon. Robert James Lee, AC
|
ALP
|
Wills, Vic.
|
53
|
3
|
11.3.1983–20.12.1991 |
8
|
9
|
9
|
24th
|
Keating, the Hon. Paul John
|
ALP
|
Blaxland, NSW
|
47
|
11
|
20.12.1991–11.3.1996 |
4
|
2
|
20
|
25th
|
Howard, the Hon. John Winston
|
LP*
|
Bennelong, NSW
|
56
|
7
|
11.3.1996–3.12.2007 |
11
|
8
|
23
|
26th
|
Rudd, the Hon. Kevin Michael
|
ALP
|
Griffith, Qld
|
50
|
2
|
3.12.2007–24.6.2010 |
2
|
6
|
22
|
|
|
ALP
|
Griffith, Qld.
|
55
|
9
|
27.6.2013–18.9.2013 |
-
|
2
|
23
|
27th
|
Gillard, the Hon. Julia Eileen
|
ALP
|
Lalor, Vic.
|
48
|
8
|
24.6.2010–27.6.2013 |
3
|
-
|
3
|
28th
|
Abbott, the Hon. Anthony (Tony) John
|
LP*
|
Warringah, NSW
|
55
|
10
|
18.9.2013–15.9.2015 |
1
|
11
|
29
|
29th
|
Turnbull, the Hon. Malcolm Bligh
|
LP*
|
Wentworth, NSW
|
60
|
11
|
15.9.2015– |
|
|
|
Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook.
*Coalition government.
Bold text
indicates electorate represented whilst in office where more than one seat was
held.
Appendix 2: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901 ̶
2015: reason for leaving office
Name
|
Parliamentary Term(s)
|
Reason for leaving
office
|
Barton, Sir Edmund
|
29.3.01–30.9.03 (Res) |
Resigned to take up appointment to High
Court
|
Deakin, Alfred–1 |
See below (Ret)
|
Defeated on the floor of the House.
Remained in House of Representatives
|
Watson, John Christian
|
29.3.1901– 19.2.1910 (Res) |
Defeated on the floor of the House.
Became Leader of the Opposition until 5.7.05
|
Reid, George
|
29.3.1901–18.8.1903 (Res)
4.9.1903–24.12.1909 (Res) |
Defeated on the floor of the House.
Became Leader of the Opposition until 16.11.08
|
Deakin, Alfred–2 |
See below
|
Defeated on the floor of the House.
Remained in House of Representatives
|
Fisher, Andrew–1 |
See below
|
Defeated on the floor of the House
|
Deakin, Alfred–3 |
29.3.01–23.4.13 (Ret) |
Defeated at general election. Became
Leader of the Opposition until 20.1.13
|
Fisher, Andrew–2 |
See below
|
Defeated at general election. Became
Leader of the Opposition until 17.9.14
|
Cook, Joseph
|
29.3.01–11.11.21 (Res) |
Defeated at general election. Became
Leader of the Opposition until 17.2.17
|
Fisher, Andrew–3 |
30.3.01–26.10.15 (Res) |
Resigned to become High Commissioner in
London
|
Hughes, William M.
|
29.3.01–28.10.52 (Died) |
Resigned. Remained in House of
Representatives as private member and minister
|
Bruce, Stanley Melbourne
|
11.5.18–12.10.29 (Def)
19.12.31–6.10.33 (Res) |
Defeated at general election and lost
own seat.
Resigned to become High Commissioner in London
|
Scullin, James
|
13.4.10–31.5.13 (Def)
18.2.22–31.10.49 (Ret) |
Defeated at general election. Became
Leader of the Opposition until 1.10.35
|
Lyons, Joseph
|
12.10.29–7.4.39 (Died) |
Died as PM
|
Page, Sir Earle
|
13.12.19–9.12.61 (Def) |
Caretaker
|
Menzies, Robert–1 |
See below
|
Party room defeat. Remained Minister
until 7.10.41
|
Fadden, Arthur
|
19.12.36–14.12.58 (Ret) |
Defeated on the floor of the House.
Became Leader of the Opposition until 23.9.43
|
Curtin, John
|
17.11.28–19.12.31 (Def)
15.9.34–5.7.45 (Died) |
Died as PM
|
Forde, Francis
|
16.12.22 ̶ 28.9.46 (Def)
|
Caretaker
|
Chifley, Ben
|
17.11.28–19.12.31 (Def)
21.4.40–13.6.51 (Died) |
Defeated at general election. Became
Leader of the Opposition until death
|
Menzies, Robert–2 |
15.9.34–17.2.66 (Res) |
Resigned as PM and resigned from
Parliament 3 weeks later
|
Holt, Harold
|
17.8.35–19.12.67 (Died) |
Died as PM*
|
McEwen, John
|
15.9.34–1.2.71 (Res) |
Caretaker
|
Gorton, John
|
22.2.50–1.2.68 (Sen)
24.2.68–11.11.75 (Ret) |
Party room defeat, own casting vote.
Remained in Ministry for 5 months, then private member, Ind. last 5 months
|
McMahon, William
|
10.12.49–4.1.82 (Res) |
Defeated at general election. Remained
in House of Representatives as private member
|
Whitlam, Gough
|
29.11.52–31.7.78 (Res) |
Dismissed by Governor-General and then
defeated at general election. Became Leader of the Opposition until 22.12.77
, then private member for 7 months
|
Fraser, Malcolm
|
10.12.55–31.3.83 (Res) |
Defeated at general election and
resigned two weeks later
|
Hawke, Robert
|
18.10.80–20.2.92 (Res) |
Party room defeat. Resigned two months
later
|
Keating, Paul
|
25.10.69–23.4.96 (Res) |
Defeated at general election and
resigned seven weeks later
|
Howard, John
|
18.5.74–24.11.07 (Def) |
Defeated at general election on
24.11.2007 and lost own seat
|
Rudd, Kevin – 1 |
See below |
Lost support of party on 24.6.2010 (no ballot). Became Minister for Foreign Affairs on 14.9.10 until 26.2.12 |
Gillard, Julia
|
3.10.98–5.8.13 (Ret) |
Party room defeat; retired on 5.8.2013
|
Rudd, Kevin – 2 |
3.10.98 ̶ 22.11.13 (Res) |
Defeated at general election and resigned 76 days later |
Abbott, Tony
|
26.3.94– |
Party room defeat
|
Turnbull, Malcolm
|
9.10.04– |
|
Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook.
*Disappeared in sea on 17 December 1967 and presumed dead on 19 December
1967.
Note: In the early post-Federation years, 'defeated on the floor of the
House' was used for occasions when the Prime Minister resigned before a vote
was taken, having seen where the shifting alliances were headed.
Appendix 3: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901–2015:
party representation
Party
|
Prime Minister
|
Total by party
|
Australian Labor Party
|
Chris Watson
Andrew Fisher
William Hughes*
James Scullin
John Curtin
Francis (Frank) Forde
Ben Chifley
Gough Whitlam
Robert Hawke
Paul Keating
Kevin Rudd
Julia Gillard
|
12
|
Country Party/National Party of Australia/The Nationals
|
William Hughes*
Stanley Bruce
Earle Page
Arthur Fadden
John McEwen
|
5
|
Free Trade Party
|
George Reid
|
1
|
Liberal Party/Liberal Party of Australia
|
Joseph Cook
Robert Menzies*
Harold Holt
John Gorton
William McMahon
Malcolm Fraser
John Howard
Tony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull
|
9
|
National Labour Party
|
William Hughes*
|
1
|
Protectionist Party
|
Edmund Barton
Alfred Deakin
|
2
|
United Australia Party
|
Joseph Lyons
Robert Menzies*
|
2
|
Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook.
*Led more than one party.
Appendix
4: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901–2015: first speeches
Prime Minister
|
Source
|
Abbott,
Tony
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 31 May 1994, p. 1080
|
Barton,
Sir Edmund
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 21 May 1901, p. 106
|
Bruce,
Stanley
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 24 May 1918, p. 5137
|
Chifley,
Ben
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 21 Feb 1929, p. 499
|
Cook,
Joseph
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 22 May 1901, p. 169
|
Curtin,
John
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 14 Feb 1929, p. 274
|
Deakin,
Alfred
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 6 Jun 1901, p. 789
|
Fadden,
Arthur
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 17 June 1937, p. 35
|
Fisher,
Andrew
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 18 Jul 1901, p. 2761
|
Forde,
Francis
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 2 Mar 1923, p. 127
|
Fraser,
Malcolm
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 22 Feb 1956, p. 149
|
Gillard,
Julia
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 11 Nov 1998, p. 59
|
Gorton,
John
Gorton,
John
|
Senate, Debates, 1 Mar 1950, p. 204
Senate, Debates, 2 Mar 1950, p. 258
|
Hawke,
Robert
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 26 Nov 1980, p. 97
|
Holt,
Harold
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 10 Oct 1935, p. 660
|
Howard,
John
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 26 Sep 1974, p. 1911
|
Hughes,
William
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 23 May 1901, p. 321
|
Keating,
Paul
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 17 Mar 1970, p. 512
|
Lyons,
Joseph
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 28 Nov 1929, p. 465
|
McEwen,
John
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 15 Nov 1934, p. 373
|
McMahon,
William
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 2 Mar 1950, p. 313
|
Menzies,
Robert
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 2 Nov 1934, p. 164
|
Page,
Earle
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 4 Mar 1920, p. 194
|
Reid,
George
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 21 May 1901, p. 92
|
Rudd,
Kevin
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 11 Nov 1998, p. 162
|
Scullin,
James
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 1 July 1910, p. 41
|
Turnbull,
Malcolm
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 29 November 2004, p. 63
|
Watson,
Chris
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 22 May 1901, p. 182
|
Whitlam,
Gough
|
House of Representatives, Debates, 19 Mar 1953, p. 1423
|
Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook.
Appendix
5: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901 ̶ 2015: prior employment experience
Occupational category
|
Name*
|
Employment experience
|
Legal
|
Edmund Barton
Stanley Bruce
Alfred Deakin
Julia Gillard
Harold Holt
John Howard
William Hughes
William McMahon
Robert Menzies
George Reid
Malcolm Turnbull
Gough Whitlam
|
Barrister, judge
Barrister
Barrister
Solicitor, legal partner
Solicitor, barrister
Solicitor
Barrister
Solicitor
Barrister
Barrister
Lawyer
Barrister
|
Business
|
Stanley Bruce
Malcolm Fraser
John Gorton
John McEwen
Earle Page
Kevin Rudd
James Scullin
Malcolm Turnbull
Chris Watson
|
Businessman
Primary producer
Orchardist
Farmer
Businessman
Consultant
Grocer
Investment banker and venture capitalist
Company director
|
Trade/clerical
|
Ben Chifley
Joseph Cook
John Curtin
Arthur Fadden
Andrew Fisher
Francis Forde
Paul Keating
Chris Watson
|
Engine-driver
Coal-miner, clerk
Clerk
Accountant
Miner, engine-driver, finance manager
Railway clerk, electrical engineer
Pay clerk
Newspaper compositor
|
Trade union
|
John Curtin
Robert Hawke
Paul Keating
James Scullin
Chris Watson
|
Union organiser
Research officer and advocate, ACTU
Union advocate
Union organiser
Union official
|
Journalism
|
Tony Abbott
John Curtin
Alfred Deakin
James Scullin
Malcolm Turnbull
|
Journalist
Journalist
Journalist
Journalist
Journalist
|
Teaching
|
Frank Forde
William Hughes
Joseph Lyons
|
Teacher
Teacher
Teacher
|
Public service
|
Stanley Bruce
George Reid
Kevin Rudd
|
Public servant
Public servant
Public servant
|
Political organisation
|
Tony Abbott
Julia Gillard
|
Press secretary and political adviser to Leader of the Opposition
Chief of staff to Victorian Leader of the Opposition
|
Medical
|
Earle Page
|
Surgeon
|
Diplomatic service
|
Kevin Rudd
|
Diplomat
|
Labourer
|
William Hughes
|
Rouseabout
|
Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from National Archives of
Australia, Australia’s prime ministers, accessed 21 October 2015.
*Some prime ministers are represented in more than one occupational
category.
Appendix
6: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901–2015: other parliamentary experience
Name
|
Service in other parliaments
|
Barton, Edmund
|
NSW Legislative Assembly 8.1879–11.1880 (University of
Sydney); 11.1880–11.1882 (Wellington); 11.1882–6.1894 (East
Sydney); 9.1898–2.1900 (Hastings-Macleay); NSW Legislative Council
3.1887–6.1891, 5.1897–7.1898 |
Bruce, Stanley
|
Member of the House of Lords (UK) after serving as Prime Minister of
Australia
|
Cook, Joseph
|
NSW Legislative Assembly 7.1891–6.1901 (Hartley) |
Deakin, Alfred
|
Victorian Legislative Assembly 7.1879–8.1879; 7.1880–3.1889 (West Bourke); 4.1889–10.1900 (Essendon and Flemington) |
Fadden, Arthur
|
Queensland Legislative Assembly 6.1932–5.1935 (Kennedy) |
Fisher, Andrew
|
Queensland Legislative Assembly 4.1893–3.1896; 3.1899–5.1901 (Gympie) |
Forde, Francis
|
Queensland Legislative Assembly 5.1917–10.1922 (Rockhampton);
3.1955–8.1957 (Flinders) |
Hughes, William
|
NSW Legislative Assembly 7.1894–6.1901 (Sydney-Lang) |
Lyons, Joseph
|
Tasmanian Legislative Assembly 4.1909–9.1929 (Wilmot); Premier
10.1923–6.1928 |
Menzies, Robert
|
Victorian Legislative Council 10.1928–11.29 (East Yarra);
Victorian Legislative Assembly 11.1929–7.1934 (Nunawading) |
Reid, George
|
NSW Legislative Assembly 11.1880–6.1894 (East Sydney); 7.1884–6.1901 (East Sydney-King); Premier 8.1894–9.1899; Member of the
House of Commons (UK) 10.1.1916–12.9.1918 |
Watson, Chris
|
NSW Legislative Assembly 7.1894–6.1901 (Young) |
Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook; Re-Member (former Members), Parliament of
Victoria; Former Members, Parliament of New South Wales; Former Members register, Queensland Parliament; ‘Lyons, Joseph Aloysius’, The Parliament of Tasmania from
1856, all accessed 18 August 2015.
Appendix
7: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901–2015: military service
Prime Minister
|
Military service
|
Bruce, Stanley
|
Commissioned in the UK Worcestershire Regiment in World
War I and seconded to the Royal Fusiliers as temporary captain. Wounded in
Gallipoli campaign and invalided to England. Awarded Military Cross and Croix
de Guerre avec Palme.
|
Gorton, John
|
Served as RAAF fighter pilot during World War II. Posted
to British squadron in 1942 which was sent to Singapore four weeks before
Japanese occupation. Injured after being forced to crash land his aircraft on
Bintarn Island. Rescued and evacuated on ammunition ship that was torpedoed
by a Japanese submarine. He survived 24 hours on life raft before being
rescued by HMAS Ballarat. Served with No. 77 Squadron in Darwin where
he had a second flying accident, then sent to Milne Bay, New Guinea where he
survived a third flying accident. Posted back to Australia in 1943 and became
instructor in fighter tactics.
|
Holt, Harold
|
Whilst serving in Cabinet he enlisted in army in May 1940
and trained as gunner in 2nd Australian Imperial Force but never
left Australian shores. Returned to Cabinet following death of three
ministers in an air crash in Canberra on 13 August 1940 and discharged from
AIF.
|
McEwen, John
|
Enlisted in 1st Australian Imperial Force and
called up in 1918, but World War I ended while awaiting departure for France
and subsequently discharged.
|
McMahon, William
|
Called up in 1940 and served in a militia infantry
battalion and machine-gun training battalion before becoming a staff officer
at the Headquarters of Eastern Command and the Second Australian Army.
Volunteered for overseas service but classified as medically unfit due to a
hearing problem. Resigned his commission in 1943.
|
Page, Earle
|
Enlisted in Australian Army Medical Corps in 1916 and
served overseas as doctor in Egypt, England and France before securing an
early discharge.
|
Whitlam, Gough
|
Enlisted in RAAF in 1941 and called up in 1942. Served as
navigator and stationed at Gove in the Northern Territory, protecting convoys
off northern Australia. Undertook bombing raids on enemy supply camps. Ended
his war service as Flight Lieutenant Navigator in 1945.
|
Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook; Australian National University, Australian
Dictionary of Biography; National Archives of Australia, Australia’s prime ministers, M Lumb, S Bennett and J Moremon, Commonwealth Members of Parliament who
have served in war,
Research brief 10, 2006 ̶ 07, 26 March 2007, all accessed 18 August 2015.
Appendix
8: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901–2015: birthplaces and places of
burial/cremation
Name
|
Party
|
Seat
|
Birthplace
|
Place of burial/cremation
|
Abbott, Tony
|
LIB
|
Warringah, NSW
|
London, England, UK
|
|
Barton, Sir Edmund
|
PROT
|
Hunter, NSW
|
Glebe, NSW
|
South Head Cemetery, NSW
|
Bruce, Stanley
|
NAT
|
Flinders, VIC
|
Melbourne, VIC
|
Cremated, ashes over Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, ACT
|
Chifley, Ben
|
ALP
|
Macquarie, NSW
|
Bathurst, NSW
|
Bathurst Cemetery, NSW
|
Cook, Joseph
|
LIB
|
Parramatta, NSW
|
Staffordshire, England
|
Cremated, Northern Suburbs Crematorium, NSW
|
Curtin, John
|
ALP
|
Fremantle, WA
|
Creswick, VIC
|
Karakatta Cemetery, WA
|
Deakin, Alfred
|
PROT
|
Ballarat, VIC
|
Fitzroy, VIC
|
St Kilda Cemetery, Vic.
|
Fadden, Arthur
|
CP
|
Darling Downs, QLD
|
Ingham, QLD
|
Cremated, Mt Thomson Crematorium, Brisbane, Qld
|
Fisher, Andrew
|
ALP
|
Wide Bay, QLD
|
Ayrshire, Scotland
|
Hamstead Cemetery, England
|
Forde, Francis
|
ALP
|
Capricornia, QLD
|
Mitchell, QLD
|
Brisbane General Cemetery, Qld
|
Fraser, Malcolm
|
LIB
|
Wannon, VIC
|
Melbourne, VIC
|
*
|
Gillard, Julia
|
ALP
|
Lalor,VIC
|
Barry, Wales, UK
|
|
Gorton, John
|
LIB
|
Higgins, VIC
|
Melbourne, VIC
|
*
|
Hawke, Robert
|
ALP
|
Wills, VIC
|
Bordertown, SA
|
|
Holt, Harold
|
LIB
|
Higgins, VIC
|
Sydney, NSW
|
Never recovered from sea. Plaque set into rock at Portsea, visible
low tide.
|
Howard, John
|
LIB
|
Bennelong, NSW
|
Earlwood, NSW
|
|
Hughes, William
|
ALP/
NAT LAB/
NAT
|
West Sydney, NSW
Bendigo, VIC
North Sydney, NSW
|
London, England
|
Northern Suburbs Cemetery, NSW
|
Keating, Paul
|
ALP
|
Blaxland, NSW
|
Sydney, NSW
|
|
Lyons, Joseph
|
UAP
|
Wilmot, TAS
|
Stanley, TAS
|
Mersey Vale Memorial Park, Quoiba, Tas.
|
McEwen, John
|
CP
|
Murray, VIC
|
Chiltern, VIC
|
Cremated Springvale Crematorium, Vic.
|
McMahon, William
|
LIB
|
Lowe, NSW
|
Sydney, NSW
|
Cremated, Northern Suburbs Crematorium, NSW
|
Menzies, Robert
|
UAP
|
Kooyong, VIC
|
Jeparit, VIC
|
Cremated, Melbourne, Vic.
|
Page, Earle
|
CP
|
Cowper, NSW
|
Grafton, NSW
|
Cremated, Northern Suburbs Crematorium, NSW
|
Reid, George
|
FT
|
East Sydney, NSW
|
Renfrewshire, Scotland
|
Putney Vale Cemetery, England
|
Rudd, Kevin
|
ALP
|
Griffith, Qld
|
Nambour, QLD
|
|
Scullin, James
|
ALP
|
Yarra, VIC
|
Trawalla, VIC
|
Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Vic.
|
Turnbull, Malcolm
|
LIB
|
Wentworth, NSW
|
Sydney, NSW
|
|
Watson, Chris
|
ALP
|
Bland, NSW
|
Valparaiso, Chile
|
Cremated, Northern Suburbs Crematorium, NSW
|
Whitlam, Gough
|
ALP
|
Werriwa, NSW
|
Kew, VIC
|
*
|
Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook
and information supplied by
the Office of Australian War Graves.
*Information not available at time of publication.
[1].
Arthur Fadden was Prime Minister for six weeks in 1941, but also served as
acting Prime Minister for periods totalling nearly two years during Prime
Minister Menzies’ visits to Britain in 1949 ̶ 58.
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