Prime Minister of Australia

The prime minister of Australia is the head of government of Australia. The prime minister is the
leader of the federal government and is also accountable to federal parliament under the principles Prime minister of
of responsible government. The incumbent prime minister is Scott Morrison, who took office in Australia
August 2018 as leader of the Liberal Party.

Formally appointed by the governor-general, the office of the prime minister is governed by
Westminster system convention as it is not described in the Australian constitution. To become
prime minister, a politician of the House of Representatives must be able to command the
confidence of the chamber. As such, the prime minister is typically the leader of the majority party Commonwealth Coat of Arms
or coalition. Prime ministers do not have a set duration or number of terms, but an individual's term
generally ends when their political party loses a federal election, or they lose or relinquish the
leadership of their party.

Executive power is formally vested in the monarch and exercised by the governor-general on Flag of Australia
advice from government ministers, who are nominated by the prime minister and form the Federal
Executive Council. The most senior ministers form the federal cabinet, which the prime minister
chairs. The prime minister also heads the National Cabinet and the National Security Committee.
Administrative support is provided by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The
prime minister has two official residences: The Lodge in Canberra and Kirribilli House in Sydney,
as well as an office at Parliament House.

Thirty people have served as prime minister, the first of whom was Edmund Barton taking office on
1 January 1901 following federation. The longest-serving prime minister was Robert Menzies, who
served over 18 years, and the short-serving was Frank Forde, who served one week. There is no
legislative line of succession, however convention determines that the governor-general shall
commission the deputy prime minister on a caretaker basis.

Contents Incumbent
Constitutional basis and appointment Scott Morrison
since 24 August 2018
Powers and role
Privileges of office Department of the Prime Minister
Salary and Cabinet
Residences and transport Style The Honourable[1]
After office Status Head of government
Acting prime minister Abbreviation PM
Former prime ministers Member of Parliament ·
Ages National Cabinet ·
Honours Cabinet · Federal
List Executive Council

See also Reports to House of

Representatives
References
Residence The Lodge,
Further reading
Canberra[2]
External links Kirribilli House,
Sydney[2]
Seat Canberra
Constitutional basis and appointment
Appointer Governor-general[3]
The prime minister of Australia is appointed by the governor-general of Australia under Section 64 on the ability to
of the Australian Constitution, which empowers the governor-general, as the official representative command the
of the Crown, to appoint government ministers of state on the advice of the Federal Executive confidence of the
Council, and requires them to be members of the House of Representatives or the Senate, or House of
become members within three months of the appointment. The prime minister and treasurer are Representatives
traditionally members of the House, but the Constitution does not have such a requirement.[6]
Term length At the Governor-
Before being sworn in as a Minister of State, a person must first be sworn in as a member of the
 Federal Executive Council if they are not already a General's pleasure
member. Membership of the Federal Executive Council The holder is
entitles the member to the style of The Honourable (usually required to
abbreviated to The Hon) for life, barring exceptional command the
circumstances. The senior members of the Executive
confidence of the
Council constitute the Cabinet of Australia.
House of
The prime minister is, like other ministers, normally sworn Representatives[4]
in by the governor-general and then presented with the Constituting None (constitutional
commission (letters patent) of office. When defeated in an instrument convention)
Australia's first prime minister,
election, or on resigning, the prime minister is said to "hand
Edmund Barton at the central table in Formation 1 January 1901
in the commission" and actually does so by returning it to
the House of Representatives in (federation)[3]
1901.
the governor-general. In the event of a prime minister
dying in office, or becoming incapacitated, or for other First holder Edmund Barton[3]
reasons, the governor-general can terminate the
Deputy Deputy prime
commission. Ministers hold office "during the pleasure of the governor-general" (s. 64 of the
minister
Constitution of Australia), so theoretically, the governor-general can dismiss a minister at any time,
by notifying them in writing of the termination of their commission; however, their power to do so Salary A$549,250[5]
except on the advice of the prime minister is heavily circumscribed by convention. Website pm.gov.au (https://p
m.gov.au)
According to convention, the prime minister is the leader of the majority party or largest party in a
coalition of parties in the House of Representatives which holds the confidence of the House. Some
commentators argue that the governor-general may also dismiss a prime minister who is unable to pass the government's supply bill through
both houses of parliament, including the Australian Senate, where the government doesn't normally command the majority, as happened in
the 1975 constitutional crisis.[7] Other commentators argue that the governor-general acted improperly in 1975 as Whitlam still retained the
confidence of the House of Representatives, and there are no generally accepted conventions to guide the use of the governor-general's
reserve powers in this circumstance.[8] However, there is no constitutional requirement that the prime minister sit in the House of
Representatives, or even be a member of the federal parliament (subject to a constitutionally prescribed limit of three months), though by
convention this is always the case. The only case where a member of the Senate was appointed Prime Minister was John Gorton, who
subsequently resigned his Senate position and was elected as a member of the House of Representatives.

Despite the importance of the office of Prime Minister, the Constitution does not mention the office by name. The conventions of the
Westminster system were thought to be sufficiently entrenched in Australia by the authors of the Constitution that it was deemed
unnecessary to detail these. Indeed, prior to Federation in 1901 the terms "premier" and "prime minister" were used interchangeably for the
head of government in a colony.[9]

If a government cannot get its appropriation (budget) legislation passed by the House of Representatives, or the House passes a vote of "no
confidence" in the government, the prime minister is bound by convention to immediately advise the governor-general to dissolve the House
of Representatives and hold a fresh election.

Following a resignation in other circumstances or the death of a prime minister, the governor-general generally appoints the deputy prime
minister as the new prime minister, until or if such time as the governing party or senior coalition party elects an alternative party leader. This
has resulted in the party leaders from the Country Party (now named National Party) being appointed as Prime Minister, despite being the
smaller party of their coalition. This occurred when Earle Page became caretaker prime minister following the death of Joseph Lyons in
1939, and when John McEwen became caretaker prime minister following the disappearance of Harold Holt in 1967. However, in 1941,
Arthur Fadden became the leader of the Coalition and subsequently Prime Minister by the agreement of both coalition parties, despite being
the leader of the smaller party in coalition, following the resignation of UAP leader Robert Menzies.

Excluding the brief transition periods during changes of government or leadership elections, there have only been a handful of cases where
someone other than the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives was Prime Minister:

Federation occurred on 1 January 1901, but elections for the first parliament were not scheduled until late March. In the
interim, an unelected caretaker government was necessary. In what is now known as the Hopetoun Blunder, the
governor-general, Lord Hopetoun, invited Sir William Lyne, the premier of the most populous state, New South Wales, to
form a government. Lyne was unable to do so and returned his commission in favour of Edmund Barton, who became the
first prime minister and led the inaugural government into and beyond the election.
During the second parliament, three parties (Free Trade, Protectionist and Labor) had roughly equal representation in the
House of Representatives. The leaders of the three parties, Alfred Deakin, George Reid and Chris Watson each served
as Prime Minister before losing a vote of confidence.
As a result of the Labor Party's split over conscription, Billy Hughes and his supporters were expelled from the Labor
Party in November 1916. He subsequently continued on as prime minister at the head of the new National Labor Party,
which had only 14 members out of a total of 75 in the House of Representatives. The Commonwealth Liberal Party –
despite still forming the official Opposition – provided confidence and supply until February 1917, when the two parties
agree to merge and form the Nationalist Party.
During the 1975 constitutional crisis, on 11 November 1975, the governor-general, Sir John Kerr, dismissed the Labor
Party's Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister. Despite Labor holding a majority in the House of Representatives, Kerr
appointed the Leader of the Opposition, Liberal leader Malcolm Fraser as caretaker prime minister, conditional on the
 passage of the Whitlam government's Supply bills through the Senate and the calling of an election for both houses of
parliament. Fraser accepted these terms and immediately advised a double dissolution. An election was called for 13
December, which the Liberal Party won in its own right (although the Liberals governed in a coalition with the Country
Party).

Powers and role

Most of the prime minister's power derives from being the head of government.[10] In practice, the
Federal Executive Council acts to ratify all executive decisions made by the government and requires
the support of the prime minister. The powers of the prime minister are to direct the governor-general
through advice to grant Royal Assent to legislation, to dissolve and prorogue parliament, to call
elections and to make government appointments, which the governor-general follows.

The Constitution divides power between the federal government and the states, and the prime minister
is constrained by this.[11]

The formal power to appoint the governor-general lies with the queen of Australia, on the advice of the The first prime minister of
prime minister, whereby convention holds that the queen is bound to follow the advice. The prime Australia, Edmund Barton (sitting
second from left), with his
minister can also advise the monarch to dismiss the governor-general, though it remains unclear how
Cabinet, 1901.
quickly the monarch would act on such advice in a constitutional crisis. This uncertainty, and the
possibility of a "race" between the governor-general and prime minister to dismiss the other, was a key
question in the 1975 constitutional crisis. Prime ministers whose government loses a vote of no-
confidence in the House of Representatives, are expected to advise the governor-general to dissolve parliament and hold an election, if an
alternative government cannot be formed. If they fail to do this, the governor-general may by convention dissolve parliament or appoint an
alternative government.[7]

The prime minister is also the responsible minister for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, which is tasked with supporting
the policy agendas of the prime minister and Cabinet through policy advice and the coordination of the implementation of key government
programs, to manage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy and programs and to promote reconciliation, to provide leadership for the
Australian Public Service alongside the Australian Public Service Commission, to oversee the honours and symbols of the Commonwealth,
to provide support to ceremonies and official visits, to set whole of government service delivery policy, and to coordinate national security,
cyber, counterterrorism, regulatory reform, cities, population, data, and women's policy.[12] Since 1992, the prime minister also acts as the
chair of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), an intergovernmental forum between the federal government and the state
governments in which the prime minister, the state premiers and chief ministers, and a representative of local governments meet annually.[13]

Privileges of office

Salary
Prime ministerial salary history
As of 1 July 2019, Australia's prime minister is paid a total salary of $549,250. This is made up of the
'base salary' received by all Members of Parliament ($211,250) plus a 160 percent 'additional salary' for Effective date Salary
the role of prime minister.[22] Increases in the base salary of MPs and senators are determined annually 2 June 1999 $289,270
by the independent Remuneration Tribunal.[21]
6 September 2006 $309,270
1 July 2007 $330,356
Residences and transport
1 October 2009 $340,704[14]
While in office, the prime minister has two official residences. The 1 August 2010 $354,671[15]
primary official residence is The Lodge in Canberra. Most prime
1 July 2011 $366,366
ministers have chosen The Lodge as their primary residence
because of its security facilities and close proximity to Parliament 1 December 2011 $440,000
House. There have been some exceptions, however. James Scullin 15 March 2012 $481,000[16]
preferred to live at the Hotel Canberra (now the Hyatt Hotel) and
Ben Chifley lived in the Hotel Kurrajong. More recently, John 1 July 2012 $495,430[17]
Howard used the Sydney Prime Ministerial residence, Kirribilli 1 July 2013 $507,338[18]
Prime ministers Curtin, Fadden, House, as his primary accommodation. On her appointment on 24
Hughes, Menzies and Governor- $517,504[19]
June 2010, Julia Gillard said she would not be living in The Lodge 1 January 2016
General The Duke of Gloucester
until such time as she was returned to office by popular vote at the 1 July 2017 $527,852[20]
2nd from left, in 1945.
next general election, as she became Prime Minister by replacing an
incumbent during a parliamentary term. Tony Abbott was never 1 July 2018 $538,460[21]
able to occupy The Lodge during his term (2013–15) as it was 1 July 2019 $549,250[21]
undergoing extensive renovations, which continued into the early part of his successor Malcolm
Turnbull's term.[23] Instead, Abbott resided in dedicated rooms at the Australian Federal Police College when in Canberra.
During his first term, Rudd had a staff at The Lodge consisting of a senior chef and an assistant chef, a child carer, one senior house
attendant, and two junior house attendants. At Kirribilli House in Sydney, there is one full-time chef and one full-time house attendant.[24]
The official residences are fully staffed and catered for both the prime minister and their family. In addition, both have extensive security
facilities. These residences are regularly used for official entertaining, such as receptions for Australian of the Year finalists.

The prime minister receives a number of transport amenities for official business. The Royal Australian Air Force's No. 34 Squadron
transports the prime minister within Australia and overseas by specially converted Boeing Business Jets and smaller Challenger aircraft. The
aircraft contain secure communications equipment as well as an office, conference room and sleeping compartments. The call-sign for the
aircraft is "Envoy". For ground travel, the prime minister is transported in an armoured BMW 7 Series model. It is referred to as "C-1", or
Commonwealth One, because of its number plate. It is escorted by police vehicles from state and federal authorities.[25]

Privileges of office

The Lodge Kirribilli House Prime Ministerial Limousine

Official aircraft

After office

Politicians, including prime ministers, are usually granted certain privileges after leaving office, such as office accommodation, staff
assistance, and a Life Gold Pass, which entitles the holder to travel within Australia for "non-commercial" purposes at government expense.
In 2017, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the pass should be available only to former prime ministers, though he would not use it
when he was no longer PM.[26]

Only one prime minister who had left the Federal Parliament ever returned. Stanley Bruce was defeated in his own seat in 1929 while Prime
Minister but was re-elected to parliament in 1931. Other prime ministers were elected to parliaments other than the Australian federal
parliament: Sir George Reid was elected to the UK House of Commons (after his term as High Commissioner to the UK), and Frank Forde
was re-elected to the Queensland Parliament (after his term as High Commissioner to Canada, and a failed attempt to re-enter the Federal
Parliament).

Acting prime minister

It is a convention for the deputy prime minister to serve as acting prime minister when the prime minister is travelling outside Australia or
absent due to illness. If the deputy prime minister is also unavailable, another senior member of the government is appointed as acting prime
minister.[27] If a prime minister is to die, disappear, or otherwise become permanently unable to act as the prime minister while in office, the
governor-general, by convention, shall commission the deputy prime minister to be prime minister until the House of Representatives can
determine another politician who can command the confidence of the chamber.[28]

The Acts Interpretation Act 1901 confers upon acting ministers "the same power and authority with respect to the absent Minister's statutory
responsibilities".[29]

In the early 20th century, overseas travel generally required long journeys by ship. As a result, some held the position of acting prime
minister for significant periods of time, including William Watt (16 months, 1918–1919),[30] George Pearce (7 months, 1916),[31] Alfred
Deakin (6 months, 1902),[32] Joseph Cook (5 months, 1921),[33] James Fenton (19 weeks, 1930–1931),[34] John Forrest (4 months,
1907),[35] and Arthur Fadden (4 months, 1941). Fadden was acting prime minister for a cumulative total of 676 days (over 22 months)
between 1941 and 1958.[36]
Former prime ministers
As of October 2020, there are six living former Australian prime ministers.[37]

Paul Keating John Howard Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull,
In office: 1991– In office: 1996– In office: 2007– In office: 2010– In office: 2013– In office: 2015–
1996 2007 2010; 2013 2013 2015 2018
Age: 76 Age: 81 Age: 63 Age: 59 Age: 62 Age: 65

The greatest number of living former prime ministers at any one time was eight. This has occurred twice:

Between 7 October 1941 (when John Curtin succeeded Arthur Fadden) and 18 November 1941 (when Chris Watson
died), the eight living former prime ministers were Bruce, Cook, Fadden, Hughes, Menzies, Page, Scullin and Watson.
Between 13 July 1945 (when Ben Chifley succeeded Frank Forde) and 30 July 1947 (when Sir Joseph Cook died), the
eight living former prime ministers were Bruce, Cook, Fadden, Forde, Hughes, Menzies, Page and Scullin.

All except Cook and Bruce, as former Prime Ministers served in Parliament at the same time between Chifley succeeding Forde on 13 July
1945 and Forde losing his seat at the 1946 election. This marks the greatest number (six) of former prime ministers serving in Parliament
concurrently at any one time.

Ben Chifley lived the least of all former prime ministers, as he died one year and six months after his term as prime minister.[38] All other
deceased former prime ministers have lived at least another 10 years, with the longest surviving former prime minister being Gough
Whitlam, who lived 38 years and 11 months after office, surpassing Stanley Bruce's previous record of 37 years and 10 months.[39]

Ages

The youngest person to become prime minister was Chris Watson –

37,[40] who was also 37 when he ceased being prime minister. The
oldest person to become prime minister was John McEwen – 67 as an
interim prime minister,[41] otherwise William McMahon – 63.[42]
Robert Menzies was the oldest person to ever be prime minister,
leaving office at 71 years old.[43]

Honours
Prime Ministers have been granted numerous honours, typically after
their period as Prime Minister has concluded, with a few exceptions.
Prime Ministers were awarded honours within the British honours Six Australian prime ministers – Forde, Curtin, Menzies, Hughes,
Fadden and Holt – at a meeting of the Advisory War Council in
system before 1975, when appointment to the Order of Australia
1940. Percy Spender (Minister for the Army) seated third from the
began. Only one former Prime Minister, John Howard, has been
right.
awarded a British Honour since 1975, being the Order of Merit (within
the Queen's personal gift) in 2012.[44]

Nine former Prime Ministers were awarded knighthoods: Barton (GCMG, 1902),[45] Reid (GCMG, 1911),[46] Cook (GCMG, 1918),[47]
Page (GCMG, 1938),[48] Menzies (KT, 1963),[49] Fadden (KCMG, 1951),[50] McEwen (GCMG, 1971),[51] Gorton (GCMG, 1977),[52]
and McMahon (GCMG, 1977).[53] Of those awarded, Barton and Menzies were knighted whilst still serving as Prime Minister, with Page
awarded his before becoming Prime Minister, and the remainder awarded after leaving office. Reid (GCB, 1916)[54], Menzies (AK,
1976)[55] and Fadden (GCMG, 1958)[56] were awarded a second knighthood after leaving office.

Non-titular honours were also bestowed on former Prime Ministers, usually the Order of the Companions of Honour. This honour was
awarded to Bruce (1927),[57] Lyons (1936),[58] Hughes (1941),[59] Page (1942),[60] Menzies (1951),[61] Holt (1967),[62] McEwen
(1969),[63] Gorton (1971),[64] McMahon (1972),[65] and Fraser (1977),[66] mostly during office as Prime Minister. John Howard was
appointed to the Order of Merit in 2012.
In almost all occasions these honours were only accepted by non-Labor/conservative Prime Ministers. However, appointment to the Privy
Council of the United Kingdom was accepted by all Prime Ministers until 1983 (with the exception of Alfred Deakin, Chris Watson and
Gough Whitlam), with Malcolm Fraser being the last Prime Ministerial appointee.

Since its introduction in 1975, former Prime Ministers of Australia have been appointed to the Order of Australia and to its highest level –
Companion: Whitlam (1978),[67] Fraser (1988),[68] Gorton (1988),[69] Howard (2008),[70] Gillard (2017),[71] Rudd (2019),[72] and Abbott
(2020).[73] Keating refused appointment in 1997.[74] Bob Hawke was appointed a Companion in 1979, for service to trade unionism and
industrial relations, before becoming Prime Minister in 1983.[75] Menzies was appointed to the higher grade of Knight of the Order, which
is no longer awarded, in 1976.

In addition to these honours, all deceased former Prime Ministers of Australia currently have federal electorates named after them, with the
exceptions of Joseph Cook (a Division of Cook does exist, but it is only named after explorer James Cook) and the recently late Bob
Hawke.

List
The longest-serving prime minister was Sir Robert Menzies, who served in office twice: from 26 April 1939 to 28 August 1941, and again
from 19 December 1949 to 26 January 1966. In total Robert Menzies spent 18 years, 5 months and 12 days in office. He served under the
United Australia Party and the Liberal Party respectively.

The shortest-serving prime minister was Frank Forde, who was appointed to the position on 6 July 1945 after the death of John Curtin, and
served until 13 July 1945 when Ben Chifley was elected leader of the Australian Labor Party.

The last prime minister to serve out a full government term in the office was John Howard, who won the 2004 election and led his party to
the 2007 election, but lost. Since then, the five subsequent prime ministers have been either voted out of the office mid-term by the caucuses
of their own parties, assumed the office mid-term under such circumstances, or both.
 Name
No. Portrait Party Term of office Elections won Ministry
(birth–death)

Sir Edmund Barton 1 January 24 September

1 Protectionist 1901 Barton
(1849–1920) 1901 1903

Alfred Deakin 24 September 27 April

2 Protectionist 1903 1st Deakin
(1856–1919) 1903 1904

Chris Watson 27 April 18 August

3 Labor — Watson
(1867–1941) 1904 1904

George Reid 18 August 5 July

4 Free Trade — Reid
(1845–1918) 1904 1905

Alfred Deakin 5 July 13 November

(2) Protectionist 1906 2nd Deakin
(1856–1919) 1905 1908

Andrew Fisher 13 November 2 June

5 Labor — 1st Fisher
(1862–1928) 1908 1909

Alfred Deakin 2 June 29 April

(2) Liberal — 3rd Deakin
(1856–1919) 1909 1910

Andrew Fisher 29 April 24 June

(5) Labor 1910 2nd Fisher
(1862–1928) 1910 1913

Joseph Cook 24 June 17 September

6 Liberal 1913 Cook
(1860–1947) 1913 1914

Andrew Fisher 17 September 27 October

(5) Labor 1914 3rd Fisher
(1862–1928) 1914 1915

27 October 14 November
Labor — 1st Hughes
1915 1916
14 November 17 February
7 National Labor – 2nd Hughes
Billy Hughes 1916 1917
(1862–1952)
– 3rd Hughes
17 February 9 February
Nationalist 1917 4th Hughes
1917 1923
1919 5th Hughes

1922 1st Bruce

Stanley Bruce Nationalist 9 February 22 October

8 1925 2nd Bruce
(1883–1967) (Coalition) 1923 1929
1928 3rd Bruce

9 James Scullin Labor 22 October 6 January 1929 Scullin

 (1876–1953) 1929 1932

1931 1st Lyons

Joseph Lyons United Australia 6 January 7 April 1934 2nd Lyons

10
(1879–1939) (Coalition after Nov. 1934) 1932 1939† — 3rd Lyons

1937 4th Lyons

Sir Earle Page Country 7 April 26 April

11 — Page
(1880–1961) (Coalition) 1939 1939

1st Menzies
—
Robert Menzies United Australia 26 April 29 August
12 2nd Menzies
(1894–1978) (Coalition after Mar. 1940) 1939 1941
1940 3rd Menzies

Arthur Fadden Country 29 August 7 October

13 — Fadden
(1894–1973) (Coalition) 1941 1941

— 1st Curtin
John Curtin 7 October 5 July
14 Labor
(1885–1945) 1941 1945†
1943 2nd Curtin

Frank Forde 6 July 13 July

15 Labor — Forde
(1890–1983) 1945 1945

— 1st Chifley
Ben Chifley 13 July 19 December
16 Labor
(1885–1951) 1945 1949
1946 2nd Chifley

1949 4th Menzies

1951 5th Menzies

1954 6th Menzies

Sir Robert Menzies Liberal 19 December 26 January
(12) 1955 7th Menzies
(1894–1978) (Coalition) 1949 1966
1958 8th Menzies

1961 9th Menzies

1963 10th Menzies

— 1st Holt
Harold Holt Liberal 26 January 19 December
17
(1908–1967) (Coalition) 1966 1967†
1966 2nd Holt

John McEwen Country 19 December 10 January

18 — McEwen
(1900–1980) (Coalition) 1967 1968

— 1st Gorton
John Gorton Liberal 10 January 10 March
19
(1911–2002) (Coalition) 1968 1971
1969 2nd Gorton

20 William McMahon Liberal 10 March 5 December — McMahon

(1908–1988) (Coalition) 1971 1972
 1972 1st Whitlam

Gough Whitlam 5 December 11 November

21 Labor — 2nd Whitlam
(1916–2014) 1972 1975
1974 3rd Whitlam

— 1st Fraser

Malcolm Fraser Liberal 11 November 11 March 1975 2nd Fraser

22
(1930–2015) (Coalition) 1975 1983 1977 3rd Fraser

1980 4th Fraser

1983 1st Hawke

Bob Hawke 11 March 20 December 1984 2nd Hawke

23 Labor
(1929–2019) 1983 1991 1987 3rd Hawke

1990 4th Hawke

— 1st Keating
Paul Keating 20 December 11 March
24 Labor
(1944–) 1991 1996
1993 2nd Keating

1996 1st Howard

John Howard Liberal 11 March 3 December 1998 2nd Howard

25
(1939–) (Coalition) 1996 2007 2001 3rd Howard

2004 4th Howard

Kevin Rudd 3 December 24 June

26 Labor 2007 1st Rudd
(1957–) 2007 2010

— 1st Gillard
Julia Gillard 24 June 27 June
27 Labor
(1961–) 2010 2013
2010 2nd Gillard

Kevin Rudd 27 June 18 September

(26) Labor — 2nd Rudd
(1957–) 2013 2013

Tony Abbott Liberal 18 September 15 September

28 2013 Abbott
(1957–) (Coalition) 2013 2015

— 1st Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull Liberal 15 September 24 August
29
(1954–) (Coalition) 2015 2018
2016 2nd Turnbull

— 1st Morrison
Scott Morrison Liberal 24 August
30 Incumbent
(1968–) (Coalition) 2018
2019 2nd Morrison

See also
Historical rankings of Prime Ministers of Australia
List of Australian Leaders of the Opposition
 List of Commonwealth heads of government
List of Prime Ministers of Australia
List of Prime Ministers of Australia (graphical)
List of Prime Ministers of Australia by age
List of prime ministers of Elizabeth II
Prime Ministers Avenue in Horse Chestnut Avenue in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens contains a collection of bronze
busts of former Australian prime ministers.
Prime Minister's XI
Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia

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Further reading
Abjorensen, Norman (2015). The Manner of Their Going: Prime Ministerial Exits from Lyne to Abbott. Australian Scholarly.
ISBN 9781925333213.
Grattan, Michelle (2016). Australian Prime Ministers. New Holland. ISBN 9781742579337.
Hughes, Colin (1976). Mr Prime Minister: Australian Prime Ministers 1901–1972. Oxford University Press.
ISBN 0195504712.
Strangio, Paul (2013). "Evaluating Prime-Ministerial Performance: The Australian Experience". In Strangio, Paul; 't Hart,
Paul; Walter, James (eds.). Understanding Prime-Ministerial Performance: Comparative Perspectives. Oxford University
Press. ISBN 9780199666423.
Strangio, Paul; 't Hart, Paul; Walter, James (2016). Settling the Office: The Australian Prime Ministership from Federation
to Reconstruction. Melbourne University Press. ISBN 9780522868722.
 Strangio, Paul; 't Hart, Paul; Walter, James (2017). The Pivot of Power: Australian Prime Ministers and Political
Leadership, 1949-2016. Melbourne University Press. ISBN 9780522868746.
Whitington, Don (1972). Twelfth Man?. Jacaranda Press. ISBN 0701605855.

External links
Official website of the prime minister of Australia (https://www.pm.gov.au/)
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (http://www.pmc.gov.au/)
Australia's Prime Ministers (http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/) – National Archives of Australia reference site and research
portal
Biographies of Australia's Prime Ministers (http://www.nma.gov.au/primeministers) / National Museum of Australia
Classroom resources on Australian Prime Ministers (https://web.archive.org/web/20080718201628/http://dl.filmaust.com.a
u/tag/Prime+Ministers/)

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