This is a list of ministers who have resigned or were dismissed from Federal Governments since Federation.
The list only includes ministers who departed under the conventions of collective or individual ministerial responsibility.
The list shows 99 resignations or dismissals from 1901 to the present, with a brief explanation of the circumstances. It includes one case (No. 45) of a minister who briefly stood aside while allegations were investigated but who did not resign.
It does not include ministers who resigned because of retirement or appointment to other offices, or ministers who were demoted or sacked in reshuffles.
Note: It is not unusual to read inaccurate statements about the causes of ministerial departures. For example, it is often claimed that ministers used to resign for misleading parliament, but only three have done so since 1901, two in 1975 and one in 1987. Many more resignations have taken place due to disputes with the prime minister, disagreements over policy matters, or personal behaviour and conflict of interest allegations.
The table below classifies the causes of ministerial departures but it is important to remember that categories sometimes overlap. For example, when Lyons and Fenton resigned in 1931, it could be represented as a dispute with the prime minister, but I have classified it more fundamentally as a dispute over policies for handling the Depression. There are other examples. I have attempted to group them logically but I’m open to suggestions.
| Causes of Ministerial Resignations and Dismissals | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Causes | Number (Total: 99) |
Percentage | Specific Cases (details on next table) |
| Disputes with Prime Minister/Party Leader | 9, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 38, 40, 48, 63-68, 69-74, 76, 82-94, 97 | ||
| Policy Disagreements | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 24, 34, 36, 44, 47 | ||
| Assorted Ministerial Impropriety and Personal Behaviour | 11, 30, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 50, 51, 52, 60, 75, 77, 78, 81, 95, 99 | ||
| Conflict of Interest/Pecuniary Interest | 20, 23, 53, 54, 56, 61, 62, 79, 96, 98 | ||
| Abuse of Travel or other Expenses | 55, 57, 58, 59, 80 | ||
| Misleading Parliament | 31, 32, 46 | ||
| Ministerial Performance/Failure | 8, 10, 49 | ||
| Token Resignation | 7 | ||
| Ministerial Resignations & Dismissals Since 1901 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Date | Reason |
| Barton Ministry – 1901-1903 (Protectionist) | |||
| Charles Kingston (MHR, SA) |
24 July 1903
|
Policy disagreement. Minister for Trade and Customs resigned over opposition to his proposal to apply conciliation and arbitration on foreign seamen engaged in Australian trade. | |
| Deakin Ministry – 1905-1908 (Protectionist) | |||
| John Forrest (Swan, WA) |
30 July 1907
|
Policy disagreement. Treasurer resigned after failing to convince Prime Minister Deakin to form and lead an anti-Labor coalition. Following the Fusion of 1909 and the formation of the Commonwealth Liberal Party, Forrest returned as Treasurer in the Third Deakin ministry. | |
| Hughes Ministry 1915-1916 (Labor) | |||
| Frank Tudor (Yarra, Vic) |
14 Sept 1916
|
Disagreement over conscription. Minister for Trade and Customs resigned over opposition to Prime Minister Hughes’ conscription policy. Following the ALP split in November 1916, Tudor became Leader of the Opposition and died in office in 1922. | |
| William Higgs (Capricornia, Qld) |
27 Oct 1916
|
Disagreement over conscription. Treasurer resigned over opposition to Prime Minister Hughes’ conscription policy. In 1919, Higgs was expelled from the ALP because of his support for Hughes’ proposals for federal industry and commerce powers. He subsequently joined the Nationalists but lost his seat to Labor’s Frank Forde in 1922. | |
| Senator Albert Gardiner (NSW) |
27 Oct 1916
|
Disagreement over conscription. Vice-President of the Executive Council resigned over opposition to Prime Minister Hughes’ conscription policy. Gardiner later served as ALP leader in the Senate. Between 1920 and 1922, he was the sole ALP senator. | |
| Senator Edward Russell (Vic) |
27 Oct 1916
|
Disagreement over conscription. Assistant Minister resigned over opposition to Prime Minister Hughes’ conscription policy. Despite this, Russell left the ALP when it split the following month. Hughes returned Russell to the ministry where he served until 1921. | |
| Hughes Ministry 1917-1923 (Nationalist) | |||
| William Morris Hughes (Bendigo, Vic) |
8 Jan 1918
|
Token resignation by Prime Minister was followed by his immediate recommissioning. Hughes fulfilled his commitment to resign if the second conscription plebiscite was not carried. | |
| Jens Jensen (Bass, Tas) |
13 Dec 1918
|
Ministerial Performance. Minister for the Navy resigned following Royal Commission on Navy and Defence Administration. The Commission found that Jensen had incurred costly and unauthorised expenditures. Jensen, a former Labor member, left the Nationalists and was defeated as an independent at the 1919 election. | |
| Bruce-Page Ministry 1923-1929 (Nationalist-Country Party) | |||
| Percy Stewart (Wimmera, Vic) |
5 Aug 1924
|
Protest over electoral pact. Minister for Works and Railways objected to Prime Minister Bruce’s agreement with Earle Page to protect sitting members of the coalition from electoral competition. Subsequently instrumental in formation of the Victorian Country Progressive Party. | |
| Littleton Groom (Darling Downs, Qld) |
18 Dec 1925
|
Ministry failure. Attorney-General resigned over attempts to deport ‘foreign agitators’ and his conduct at the League of Nations. Subsequently served as Speaker of the House. | |
| Scullin Ministry 1929-1931 (Labor) | |||
| Edward Theodore (Dalley, Qld) |
9 July 1930
|
Ministerial impropriety. Treasurer implicated by a Queensland Royal Commission into the business dealings of a copper mine at Mungana. A former premier of Queensland, Theodore was accused of corruptly profiting from authorising the government purchase of the mine, whilst having a financial interest in it. After nearly seven months on the backbench, it became clear that no charges would be laid against Theodore, so Prime Minister Scullin reinstated him as Treasurer. Theodore lost his seat (Dalley-NSW) at the 1931 election. | |
| Joseph Lyons (Wilmot, Tas) |
4 Feb 1931
|
Policy disagreement. Postmaster-General, Minister for Works and Railways and Acting Treasurer resigned in protest at Theodore’s reinstatement as Treasurer. Theodore favoured a Keynesian approach to the Depression, whilst Lyons supported more conventional deflationary policies. A month after resigning, Lyons and five other MPs defected to the Nationalist Party, which then became the United Australia Party with Lyons as Leader of the Opposition. | |
| James Fenton (Maribyrnong, Vic) |
4 Feb 1931
|
Policy disagreement. Minister for Trade and Customs supported Lyons in his protest against Theodore’s reinstatement as Treasurer. With Lyons and three others, Fenton defected to the United Australia Party and voted to bring down the Scullin government in November 1931. He narrowly retained his seat (Maribyrnong-Vic) at the 1931 election but was defeated in 1934. | |
| Edward Holloway (Flinders, Vic) |
12 June 1931
|
Policy disagreement. Assistant Minister for Industry, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and Assistant to the Treasurer, resigned in protest at the government’s support for the Premiers’ Plan. Holloway believed the deflationary policies supported by the cabinet were anti-working-class. Holloway had defeated Stanley Melbourne Bruce in Flinders (Vic) in 1929. In 1931, he transferred to Melbourne Ports (Vic), which he represented until 1951. | |
| Charles Culley (Denison, Tas) |
24 June 1931
|
Protest over Premiers’ Plan. Assistant Minister for Transport and War Service Homes resigned in protest at the cabinet’s suppport for the Premiers’ Plan. Culley served just over three months in the position. Elected in 1928, he lost his seat at the 1931 election and later returned to the Tasmanian state parliament, where he had previously served. | |
| Lyons Ministry 1932-1934 (United Australia Party) | |||
| Charles Hawker (Wakefield, SA) |
23 Sep 1932
|
Policy disagreement. Minister for Markets and Minister for Commerce resigned over government refusal to reduce parliamentary salaries. | |
| James Fenton (Maribyrnong, Vic) |
13 Oct 1932
|
Policy disagreement. Postmaster-General resigned after voting against a bill ratifying the Ottawa Agreement, establishing Imperial Preference. | |
| Lyons Ministry 1934-1939 (UAP-CP Coalition) | |||
| William Morris Hughes (North Sydney, UAP) |
6 Nov 1935
|
Policy disagreement. Vice-President of the Executive Council, Minister for Health and Minister for Repatriation resigned after publication of his book, Australia and the War Today, which alleged a lack of war preparation. Hughes returned to the ministry on February 6, 1936. | |
| Henry Gullett (Henty, Vic) |
11 Mar 1937
|
Policy disagreement. Minister without portfolio directing negotiations for trade treaties resigned over disagreement with trade policy. | |
| Senator Alexander McLachlan (SA) |
7 Nov 1938
|
Conflict of interest. Postmaster-General resigned over the letting of a contract by his department to the Hume Pipe Company. McLachlan remained on the backbench until he left parliament in 1944. | |
| Thomas White (Balaclava, Vic) |
8 Nov 1938
|
Dispute with Prime Minister. Minister for Trade and Customs resigned after learning that he had been excluded from an inner cabinet established by Prime Minister Lyons. After Lyons’ death six months later, White contested the United Australia Party leadership but was defeated by Robert Menzies. He served in various portfolios until he left parliament in 1951 to become High Commissioner in London. | |
| Robert Menzies Kooyong, Vic |
20 Mar 1939
|
Policy disagreement. Attorney-General resigned, citing the government’s decision to abandon the National Insurance Scheme in favour of a medical service plan. Menzies’ parliamentary secretary, John Lawson, also resigned. Prime Minister Lyons died a couple of weeks later and Menzies was elected leader of the United Australia Party, becoming prime minister on April 26, 1939. | |
| Menzies Ministry 1939-1941 (United Australia Party) | |||
| John Lawson (Macquarie, NSW) |
23 Feb 1940
|
Conflict of interest. Minister for Trade and Customs resigned over his leasing of a racehorse, although Menzies had initially reprimanded him only. Lawson had defeated Ben Chifley in Macquarie in 1931 and was defeated by Chifley in 1940. | |
| Menzies Ministry 1949-1966 (Liberal-CP Coalition) | |||
| Leslie Bury (Wentworth, NSW) |
27 July 1962
|
Policy disagreement. Bury was sacked for speaking in favour of the United Kingdom entering the European Economic Community, a position at odds with government trade policy. Bury was returned to the Cabinet in 1963. | |
| Gorton Ministry 1968-1971 (Liberal-CP Coalition) | |||
| David Fairbairn (Farrer, NSW) |
12 Nov 1969
|
Dispute with Prime Minister. Minister for National Development unsuccessfully challenged Prime Minister Gorton for the Liberal Party leadership following the 1969 election. Fairbairn resigned from the ministry after the challenge but returned in 1971. | |
| Malcolm Fraser (Wannon, Vic) |
8 Mar 1971
|
Dispute with Prime Minister. Minister for Defence resigned, alleging disloyalty by Prime Minister Gorton. In a speech to the House of Representatives, Fraser said Gorton’s conduct was “intolerable and not to be endured”. Fraser’s resignation led to a leadership contest that saw Gorton replaced by William McMahon. Fraser returned to the Cabinet in August 1971. | |
| McMahon Ministry 1971-1972 (Liberal-CP Coalition) | |||
| Leslie Bury (Wentworth, NSW) |
2 Aug 1971
|
Dispute with Prime Minister. Minister for Foreign Affairs was sacked by Prime Minister McMahon after just four months in that position. McMahon claimed Bury was retiring due to ill health but Bury said he had been sacked. | |
| John Gorton (Higgins, Vic) |
13 Aug 1971
|
Dispute with Prime Minister. Minister for Defence and deputy leader of the Liberal Party was sacked for disloyalty, following the publication of newspaper articles by Gorton, headlined “I Did It My Way”. | |
| Whitlam Ministry 1972-1975 (Labor) | |||
| Clyde Cameron (Hindmarsh, SA) |
6 Jun 1975
|
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Labour and Immigration refused to accept demotion to Minister for Science and Consumer Affairs. Prime Minister Whitlam advised the Governor-General to withdraw Cameron’s commission. Cameron ultimately accepted the transfer. | |
| Dr. Jim Cairns (Lalor, Vic) |
6 Jun 1975
|
Ministerial irregularities relating to overseas loans. Treasurer Cairns authorised George Harris to seek overseas loans on behalf of the government. Prime Minister Whitlam argued that Cairns’ action was taken without his knowledge and without advice from the Treasury. Cairns accepted demotion to Minister for the Environment. | |
| Dr. Jim Cairns (Lalor, Vic) |
2 Jul 1975
|
Misleading parliament in relation to overseas loans. Minister for the Environment denied signing a letter agreeing to pay George Harris a 2.5% commission on overseas loans. He later claimed not to remember signing the letter. Cairns refused to tender his resignation, so Prime Minister Whitlam advised Governor-General Sir John Kerr to withdraw Cairns’ commission. | |
| Rex Connor (Cunningham, NSW) |
14 Oct 1975
|
Misleading parliament. Minister for Minerals and Energy was forced to resign over parliamentary denials of dealings with Tirath Khemlani in connection with overseas loans. | |
| Fraser Ministry 1975-1983 (Liberal-National Coalition) | |||
| Victor Garland (Curtin, WA) |
6 Feb 1976
|
Personal behaviour in relation to electoral irregularities. Minister for Post and Telecommunications resigned after being accused of electoral offences. The ACT Magistrates Court dismissed the charges and Garland returned to the ministry in 1977. | |
| Robert Ellicott (Wentworth, NSW) |
6 Sep 1977
|
Cabinet decision protest. Attorney-General resigned over a Cabinet decision concerning the payment of costs in the Sankey v Whitlam case. Ellicott argued Sankey’s costs should have been paid. Ellicott returned to the ministry following the 1977 election. | |
| Philip Lynch (Flinders, Vic) |
19 Nov 1977
|
Ministerial Impropriety. Treasurer faced allegations of irregularities in relation to land deals in Victoria. | |
| Senator Glen Sheil (Qld) |
21 Dec 1977
|
Dispute with prime minister. Sheil took the oath as an Executive Councillor on December 20, preparatory to his swearing-in as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. That same day, he gave an interview expressing support for South African apartheid. The following day, Prime Minister Fraser advised Governor-General Sir Zelman Cowen to terminate Sheil’s Executive Council appointment. Sheil never became a minister. | |
| Senator Reg Withers (WA) |
7 Aug 1978
|
Ministerial impropriety. Minister for Administrative Services and Vice-President of the Executive Council was dismissed after a Royal Commission finding that he had used his ministerial position to improperly influence the naming of seats in an electoral redistribution. | |
| Eric Robinson (McPherson, Qld) |
23 Feb 1979
|
Dispute with Prime Minister. Minister for Finance resigned, stating that he could no longer give “unqualified support” to Prime Minister Fraser. Four days later, Robinson was reinstated as Minister for Finance. He was dropped from the ministry after the 1980 election. | |
| Ian Sinclair (New England, NSW) |
27 Sep 1979
|
Alleged criminal offences. Minister for Primary Industry resigned after a dispute over his father’s will led to him being charged with forging his father’s signature. Sinclair was acquitted of the charges in 1980 and he returned to the ministry just before that year’s election. | |
| Andrew Peacock (Kooyong, Vic) |
16 Apr 1981
|
Dispute with Prime Minister. Minister for Industrial Relations resigned, alleging that Prime Minister Fraser was eroding the cabinet system and concentrating power in the prime ministership. | |
| Michael MacKellar (Warringah, NSW) |
20 Apr 1982
|
Ministerial impropriety. Minister for Health resigned in relation to importation of a colour television set. MacKellar declared the television to be a black and white set, thus lowering the duty to be paid. | |
| John Moore (Ryan, Qld) |
20 Apr 1982
|
Ministerial impropriety. Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs resigned in relation to Michael MacKellar’s importation of a colour television set (see No.41). Moore was the minister in charge of Customs. | |
| Hawke Ministry 1983-1991 (Labor) | |||
| Mick Young (Port Adelaide, SA) |
14 Jul 1983
|
Ministerial impropriety. Special Minister of State resigned over allegations he had leaked Cabinet discussions concerning the Combe-Ivanov affair. He was cleared by the Hope Royal Commission and was reinstated as Special Minister of State in January 1984. | |
| Stewart West (Cunningham, NSW) |
04 Nov 1983
|
Collective Responsibility. Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs resigned from Cabinet because he disagreed with its decision on uranium mining. He remained in his portfolio and the ministry, returning to the Cabinet on April 3, 1984. | |
| Mick Young (Port Adelaide, SA) |
26 July 1984
|
Personal behaviour. Special Minister of State was accused of making a false Customs Declaration regarding a Paddington Bear and $1093.00 of duty. Young stood aside but did not resign. He resumed his duties a few weeks later, following an investigation by Michael Black QC. Black said Young should have exercised greater care but had no intention to evade the duty. | |
| John Brown (Parramatta, NSW) |
18 Dec 1987
|
Misleading Parliament. Minister for the Arts and Territories resigned over remarks he made over the tendering process for a theatre within the Australian Pavilion at Brisbane’s Expo ’88. | |
| Gary Punch (Barton, NSW) |
28 Mar 1989
|
Policy disagreement. Minister for Telecommunications and Aviation Support resigned over a decision to build a third runway at Sydney Airport, adjacent to his electorate. He returned to the ministry when Paul Keating became prime minister. | |
| Paul Keating (Blaxland, NSW) |
3 Jun 1991
|
Dispute with Prime Minister. Treasurer Keating claimed Hawke had reneged on a deal to stand down from the leadership in order to allow Keating to assume the prime ministership. Keating announced he would challenge Hawke’s leadership but was defeated by 66 votes to 44 in a caucus ballot. | |
| John Kerin (Werriwa, NSW) |
9 Dec 1991
|
Inability to explain policy. Treasurer resigned after stumbling over the term Gross Operating Surplus at a press conference. His time as Treasurer was troubled and he was replaced just before Keating successfully challenged Hawke for the prime ministership on December 19, 1991. | |
| Keating Ministry 1991-1996 (Labor) | |||
| Senator Graham Richardson (NSW) |
18 May 1992
|
Ministerial impropriety. Minister for Transport and Communications, and Vice-President of the Executive Council, resigned over the Marshall Islands affair. Richardson was accused of using his position to help a relation who had been jailed over a migration scam. Richardson returned to the cabinet as Minister for Health after the 1993 election. | |
| Alan Griffiths (Maribyrnong, Vic) |
23 Jan 1994
|
Ministerial impropriety. Minister for Industry, Technology and Regional Development resigned over the Sandwich Shop affair. He was accused of using party funds and electorate office resources to rescue a business partner from a failed sandwich shop business. Inquiries by the Department of Prime Minister and the Federal Police cleared Griffith of any wrongdoing but he retired from parliament at the 1996 election. | |
| Ros Kelly (Canberra, ACT) |
1 Mar 1994
|
Ministerial performance. Minister for the Environment, Sport and Territories, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women, resigned over the Sports Rorts affair. Kelly revealed that grants for sports programs were decided around a whiteboard in her office. She resigned from parliament in January 1995 and the by-election for her electorate of Canberra was won by the Liberal Party with a 16.2% swing. | |
| Howard Ministry 1996-2007 (Liberal-Nationals Coalition) | |||
| Senator Jim Short (Vic) |
14 Oct 1996
|
Ministerial impropriety in relation to conflict of interest concerning bank licences. Assistant Treasurer resigned after misleading the Senate. He resigned the following year and took up a position at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. | |
| Senator Brian Gibson (Tas) |
15 Oct 1996
|
Ministerial impropriety in relation to conflict of interest concerning bank licences. Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer resigned and never returned to the ministry. | |
| Senator Bob Woods (NSW) |
3 Feb 1997
|
Alleged improprieties in relation to expenses claims. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Family Services resigned from his executive position and the Senate. | |
| Geoff Prosser (Forrest, WA) |
18 Jul 1997
|
Ministerial impropriety in relation to conflict of interest. Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs resigned over his business dealings as a retail landlord. | |
| David Jull (Fadden, Qld) |
25 Sept 1997
|
Ministerial impropriety in relation to Travel Rorts affair. Minister for Administrative Services resigned following criticism of his failure to prevent MPs from abusing their parliamentary allowances. | |
| John Sharp (Hume, NSW) |
9 Oct 1997
|
Ministerial impropriety in relation to Travel Rorts affair. Minister for Transport and Regional Development resigned after an audit of expense claims revealed he had submitted incorrect travel claims. Sharp resigned from parliament the following year, prior to the 1998 election. | |
| Peter McGauran (Gippsland, Vic) |
9 Oct 1997
|
Ministerial impropriety in relation to Travel Rorts affair. Minister for Science and Technology resigned after an audit of expense claims revealed he had submitted incorrect travel claims. He returned to the ministry in 1998 and served until the defeat of the Howard government in 2007. | |
| Sen. Ian Campbell (WA) |
3 Mar 2007
|
Ministerial impropriety in relation to dealings with Brian Burke. Minister for Human Services resigned in the wake of government attacks on Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd for having met with the disgraced former Western Australian Premier. Treasurer Peter Costello had said that anyone dealing with Burke was “morally compromised”. Campbell resigned from the Senate on May 31, 2007. | |
| Sen. Santo Santoro (Qld) |
21 Mar 2007
|
Conflict of interest and ministerial impropriety in relation to private share dealings. Minister for Ageing resigned after revealing he held shares in CBio, a biotechnology company related to his portfolio. A former member of the Queensland Parliament (1989-2001), Santoro resigned his Senate seat on April 11, 2007. | |
| Rudd Ministry 2007-2010 (Labor) | |||
| Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, NSW) |
4 Jun 2009
|
Ministerial impropriety in relation to conflict of interest. Minister for Defence resigned over a breach of the Prime Minister’s Code of Conduct, after admitting that business meetings had been held between his brother, the head of health fund NIB, and the Defence Department. Fitzgibbon became Government Whip in 2010 and briefly served as a minister in the second Rudd government in 2013. | |
| Gillard Ministry 2010-2013 (Labor) | |||
| Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Qld) |
22 Feb 2012
|
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Foreign Affairs resigned alleging prime minister did not repudiate attack on him by ministerial colleague. | |
| Simon Crean (Hotham, Vic) |
21 Mar 2013
|
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, and Minister for the Arts dismissed after privately and publicly demanding prime minister call a leadership spill. | |
| Richard Marles (Corio, Vic) |
21 Mar 2013
|
Dispute with prime minister. Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs resigned after supporting prime minister’s opponent, Kevin Rudd, in leadership spill. | |
| Chris Bowen (McMahon, NSW) |
22 Mar 2013
|
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, and Minister for Small Business resigned after supporting prime minister’s opponent, Kevin Rudd, in leadership spill. | |
| Martin Ferguson (Batman, Vic) |
22 Mar 2013
|
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Resources and Energy, and Minister for Tourism resigned after supporting prime minister’s opponent, Kevin Rudd, in leadership spill. | |
| Senator Kim Carr (Vic) |
22 Mar 2013
|
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Human Services resigned after supporting prime minister’s opponent, Kevin Rudd, in leadership spill. | |
| Rudd Ministry 2013 (Labor) | |||
| Wayne Swan (Lilley, Qld) |
26 Jun 2013
|
Dispute with prime minister. Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister refused to serve in Rudd ministry following overthrow of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. | |
| Greg Combet (Charlton, NSW) |
26 Jun 2013
|
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation refused to serve in Rudd ministry following overthrow of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. | |
| Craig Emerson (Rankin, Qld) |
26 Jun 2013
|
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, and Minister for Trade and Competitiveness refused to serve in Rudd ministry following overthrow of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. | |
| Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, NSW) |
26 Jun 2013
|
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth refused to serve in Rudd ministry following overthrow of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. | |
| Senator Stephen Conroy (Vic) |
26 Jun 2013
|
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, and Leader of the Government in the Senate refused to serve in Rudd ministry following overthrow of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. | |
| Senator Joe Ludwig (Qld) |
26 Jun 2013
|
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry refused to serve in Rudd ministry following overthrow of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. | |
| Abbott Ministry 2013-2015 (Liberal-Nationals Coalition) | |||
| Senator Arthur Sinodinos (NSW) |
19 Mar 2014
|
Assistant Treasurer stood aside pending investigations by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption. Sinodinos returned to the ministry on September 21, 2015 as Cabinet Secretary under Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. | |
| Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, NSW) |
14 Sep 2015
|
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Communications resigned and informed Prime Minister Tony Abbott that he was launching a challenge for the Liberal Party leadership. Turnbull was elected leader of the Liberal Party on the evening of September 14 and was sworn in as prime minister on September 15. | |
| Turnbull Ministry 2015-2018 (Liberal-Nationals Coalition) | |||
| Jamie Briggs (Mayo, SA) |
29 Dec 2015
|
Personal behaviour. Minister for Cities and the Built Environment resigned over allegations of inappropriate behaviour involving a female public servant during an official visit to Hong Kong in November 2015. Briggs lost his seat to the Nick Xenophon Team at the 2016 election. | |
| Mal Brough (Fisher, Qld) |
29 Dec 2015
|
Personal behaviour. Special Minister of State and Minister for Defence Materiel and Science stood aside pending the outcome of a police investigation into allegations about his behaviour in relation to former Speaker Peter Slipper and James Ashby. Brough announced his retirement from parliament on February 13, 2016 and did not contest the 2016 election. In 2017, the Federal Police investigation was concluded without any charges being laid. | |
| Stuart Robert (Fadden, Qld) |
12 Feb 2016
|
Conflict of Interest. Minister for Human Services, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC was forced to resign for being in breach of ministerial standards because of an indirect financial stake in a company he helped in Beijing. Robert returned to the Morrison ministry in 2018 as Assistant Treasurer. | |
| Sussan Ley (Farrer, NSW) |
13 Jan 2017
|
Abuse of travel expenses. Minister for Health and Aged Care, and Minister for Sport, resigned, in the wake of departmental investigations into her travel expenses, particularly concerning visits to the Gold Coast. Ley purchased an investment property during one visit. Ley had stood aside on January 9 but political reaction continued to be adverse. She returned to the Morrison ministry in 2018 as an assistant minister. | |
| Barnaby Joyce (New England, NSW) |
Personal behaviour. Nationals leader, Deputy PM and Minister for Infrastructure resigned following allegations of sexual harassment, revelations about his affair with a staff member and an investigation into his travel expenses. | ||
| Peter Dutton (Dickson, Qld) |
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Home Affairs, and Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, resigned following his defeat in a ballot for the Liberal Party leadership and the prime ministership. After PM Turnbull declared the leadership vacant, he defeated Dutton by 48 votes to 35. Prime Minister Scott Morrison restored Dutton to the ministry after defeating him in a second leadership ballot on August 24. | ||
| Sen. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW) |
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for International Development and the Pacific resigned following a partyroom vote that re-elected Malcolm Turnbull as leader and prime minister. Fierravanti-Wells supported Peter Dutton in the ballot. Click to view resignation letter. Fierravanti-Wells was dropped from the ministry when Scott Morrison succeeded Turnbull as prime minister. | ||
| Sen. James McGrath (Qld) |
Dispute with prime minister. Assistant Minister (Parliamentary Secretary) to the Prime Minister resigned following a partyroom vote that re-elected Malcolm Turnbull as leader and prime minister. McGrath was one of eight ministers who tendered their resignations. The other seven were persuaded to stay in the ministry and pledge their support to the prime minister. McGrath met again with Turnbull to insist that his resignation be accepted. Click to view resignation letter. McGrath was dropped from the ministry when Scott Morrison succeeded Turnbull as prime minister. | ||
| Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Vic) |
Dispute with prime minister. Assistant Minister to the Treasurer resigned following a partyroom vote that re-elected Malcolm Turnbull as leader and prime minister. PM Turnbull did not initially accept Sukkar’s resignation. Sukkar was dropped from the ministry when Scott Morrison succeeded Turnbull as prime minister. | ||
| Sen. Zed Seselja (ACT) |
Dispute with prime minister. Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation resigned following a partyroom vote that re-elected Malcolm Turnbull as leader and prime minister. PM Turnbull did not initially accept Seselja’s resignation. Seselja returned to the ministry when Scott Morrison succeeded Turnbull as prime minister. | ||
| Michael Keenan (Stirling, WA) |
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Human Services, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Transformation, resigned following a partyroom vote that re-elected Malcolm Turnbull as leader and prime minister. PM Turnbull did not initially accept Keenan’s resignation. Keenan returned to the ministry when Scott Morrison succeeded Turnbull as prime minister. | ||
| Steve Ciobo (Moncrieff, Qld) |
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment resigned following a partyroom vote that re-elected Malcolm Turnbull as leader and prime minister. PM Turnbull did not initially accept Ciobo’s resignation. Ciobo returned to the ministry when Scott Morrison succeeded Turnbull as prime minister. | ||
| Alan Tudge (Aston, Vic) |
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs resigned following a partyroom vote that re-elected Malcolm Turnbull as leader and prime minister. PM Turnbull did not initially accept Tudge’s resignation. Tudge returned to the ministry when Scott Morrison succeeded Turnbull as prime minister. | ||
| Angus Taylor (Hume, NSW) |
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security resigned following a partyroom vote that re-elected Malcolm Turnbull as leader and prime minister. PM Turnbull did not initially accept Taylor’s resignation. Click to view resignation letter. Taylor returned to the ministry when Scott Morrison succeeded Turnbull as prime minister. | ||
| Greg Hunt (Flinders, Vic) |
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Health resigned following a partyroom vote that re-elected Malcolm Turnbull as leader and prime minister. PM Turnbull did not initially accept Hunt’s resignation. Click to view resignation letter. Hunt returned to the ministry when Scott Morrison succeeded Turnbull as prime minister. | ||
| Sen. Mathias Cormann (WA) |
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Finance, Special Minister of State, and Government Leader in the Senate, resigned claiming that PM Turnbull had lost the support of the partyroom. Cormann returned to the ministry when Scott Morrison succeeded Turnbull as prime minister. | ||
| Sen. Mitch Fifield (Vic) |
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Communications and Minister for the Arts resigned claiming that PM Turnbull had lost the support of the partyroom. Fifield returned to the ministry when Scott Morrison succeeded Turnbull as prime minister. | ||
| Sen. Michaelia Cash (WA) |
Dispute with prime minister. Minister for Jobs and Innovation resigned claiming that PM Turnbull had lost the support of the partyroom. Cash returned to the ministry when Scott Morrison succeeded Turnbull as prime minister. | ||
| Morrison Ministry – 2018- (Liberal-Nationals Coalition) | |||
| Andrew Broad (Mallee-Vic) |
Personal behaviour. Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister resigned after allegations about his behaviour in Hong Kong were referred to the Australian Federal Police. New Idea magazine reported that Broad used a dating website to meet a woman in Hong Kong. | ||
| Sen. Bridget McKenzie (Vic) |
Conflict of Interest. Minister for Agriculture resigned following report by the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Phil Gaetjens. The report cleared her of rorting allegations and pork barrelling in the allocation of sporting grants. The report said she was guilty of two instances of a conflict of interest in relation to the allocation of grants to the Wangaratta Clay Target Club and the Northern Territory branch of Field and Game Australia. McKenzie returned to the ministry on July 2, 2021, after Barnaby Joyce re-took the leadership of The Nationals. | ||
| Sen. Matthew Canavan (Qld) |
Dispute with party leader. Minister for Resources and Northern Australia resigned ahead of a Nationals party-room meeting to elect a new deputy, and announced he supported replacing leader Michael McCormack with former leader Barnaby Joyce. McCormack was re-elected on February 4. Canavan remains on the backbench. | ||
| Christian Porter (Pearce-WA) |
Perception of conflict of interest. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology resigned, claiming to be unable to provide the Prime Minister with information on who donated to a fund, allegedly a blind trust, established to help Porter pay for legal expenses arising from a defamation action against the ABC. The defamation action related to a rape allegation made against Porter, an allegation he denied. In announcing the resignation, Prime Minister Morrison said Porter was upholding ministerial standards and any further action over the fundraising was a matter for the Parliament. | ||
| Alan Tudge (Aston-Vic) |
Personal Behaviour. Minister for Education and Youth resigned, despite the findings of an official review into whether he had breached ministerial standards during an affair with a former staff member, Rachelle Miller. Tudge stood aside from the ministry on December 2, 2021, after Miller alleged her relationship with him had been emotionally and, on one occasion, physically abusive. Prime Minister Morrison asked Vivienne Thom, a former Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, to inquire into the matter. Miller refused to participate. Thom’s inquiry found there was insufficient evidence to show that Tudge breached ministerial standards. Tudge cited the interests of his family and his desire to concentrate on the forthcoming election as reasons for resigning.
April 1, 2022 UPDATE: Opposition shadow minister Tanya Plibersek said government officials had confirmed that Tudge was still Education Minister. It wasn’t immediately clear if he was still receiving a ministerial salary. April 10, 2022 UPDATE: At his press conference announcing the May 21 election, Prime Minister Morrison was asked whether Alan Tudge would be returned to Cabinet if the government won re-election. “Alan Tudge is still in my Cabinet,” Morrison replied. April 11, 2022 UPDATE: In various interviews, Prime Minister Morrison said Alan Tudge had not resigned and had not been dismissed. He had “stood aside” and was on personal/family leave and not being paid a ministerial salary. Morrison said Tudge retained his warrant from the Governor-General and was “technically” still in Cabinet. He said the Acting Education Minister was Stuart Robert, pending Tudge’s return to the ministry after the election. |
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