Current Heads of Government and Opposition Leaders

There are 9 parliaments in Australia. There is 1 Federal Parliament in Canberra, 6 State Parliaments (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia & Tasmania) and 2 Territory Parliaments (Northern Territory & Australian Capital Territory).

Each parliament has a lower house from which a government is formed. The Federal Government is led by the Prime Minister, State Governments have Premiers, and Territory Governments have Chief Ministers.

There is an Opposition Leader in each Parliament.

Previous Tables

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Chronology

• Eric Ripper announced his resignation as Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia on January 18, 2012. The ALP caucus unanimously elected Mark McGowan leader on January 23, 2012.
• On August 8, 2011, Mike Rann announced he would retire as South Australian Premier on October 20. After months of speculation about his future, Rann said he would step aside in favour of Education Minister Jay Weatherill, the man endorsed by Labor Party factions as his successor. Rann tendered his resignation to the Governor on October 21 and Weatherill was sworn in as Premier on the same day.
• Jon Stanhope announced his resignation as ACT Chief Minister on May 9, 2011. Katy Gallagher was elected unopposed as the new ALP leader on May 13, 2011. Andrew Barr was elected unopposed as deputy leader. Gallagher was appointed Chief Minister on May 16, 2011, following endorsement by the Legislative Assembly.
• Campbell Newman was chosen as leader of the Queensland Liberal National Party on April 4, 2011. Since Newman did not represent a seat in the Legislative Assembly, Jeff Seeney continued as the official parliamentary Leader of the Opposition.
• John Robertson was elected unopposed as leader of the NSW Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition on March 31, 2011.
• The NSW Labor Party was defeated in the election held on March 26, 2011. Kristina Keneally announced her resignation as ALP leader. Barry O’Farrell was sworn in as Liberal Premier of NSW on March 28, 2011. Andrew Stoner, leader of the Nationals, was sworn in as Deputy Premier. The full ministry was sworn in on April 3, 2011.
• The Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell Newman, announced his intention to seek Liberal-National Party preselection for the Queensland state seat of Ashgrove on March 22, 2011. Shortly afterwards, John-Paul Langbroek announced his resignation as leader of the LNP . His deputy, Lawrence Springborg, also resigned. At a party-room meeting that evening, former leader Jeff Seeney was elected leader with Tim Nicholls as his deputy. The new Opposition Leader has committed himself to resigning in favour of Newman after the general election due in 2012.
• David Bartlett announced his resignation as Premier of Tasmania on January 23, 2011. Lara Giddings and Bryan Green were elected unopposed as leader and deputy leader of the parliamentary Labor Party on January 24, 2011, taking office as Premier and Deputy Premier the same day.
• Following John Brumby’s announcement that he would not contest the leadership following the government’s defeat at the November 27, 2010 election, Daniel Andrews was elected unopposed as leader of the Victorian ALP on December 3, 2010.
• Following the Coalition’s victory on November 27, 2010 over John Brumby’s ALP government, Liberal leader Ted Baillieu was sworn in as Premier of Victoria on December 2, 2010.
• Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard issued a challenge to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s leadership of the ALP at a meeting between 7-10pm on June 23, 2010. At the caucus meeting held at 9am on June 24, Rudd did not re-contest his position and Gillard was elected unopposed, as was Wayne Swan as her deputy. Gillard was sworn in as Prime Minister at 1pm on June 24, 2010.
• Kristina Keneally defeated NSW Premier Nathan Rees by 47 votes to 21 in an ALP caucus ballot on December 3, 2009. She was sworn in as Premier on December 4.
• Tony Abbott was elected leader of the Liberal Party on December 1, 2009, following a week of upheaval and challenges to the leadership of Malcolm Turnbull. On the first ballot, Abbott secured 35 votes, Turnbull 26 and Joe Hockey 23. On the second ballot, Abbott defeated Turnbull 42-41.
• Martin Hamilton-Smith was re-elected leader of the South Australian Liberal Party on July 4, 2009, defeating Vickie Chapman by 11 votes to 10, with one abstention. Hamilton-Smith called a second ballot on July 8, 2009 at which he did not nominate. Isobel Redmond was elected Leader of the Opposition, defeating Vickie Chapman by 13 votes to 9.
• Following his defeat at the Queensland election on March 21, 2009, Lawrence Springborg announced his resignation as Leader of the Opposition. John-Paul Langbroek was elected leader of the Liberal National Party on April 2, 2009.
• Colin Barnett was sworn in as Premier of Western Australia on September 23, 2008. Eric Ripper was elected leader of the Western Australian ALP on September 16, 2008.
• Brendan Nelson called a spill of the Liberal Party leadership on September 16, 2008. Malcolm Turnbull was elected Leader of the Opposition, defeating Nelson 45 votes to 41.
• The Western Australian election was held on September 6, 2008. Following negotiations, the Nationals announced on September 14 that they would support a minority Liberal government. Alan Carpenter announced his resignation as ALP leader on the same day.
• Morris Iemma resigned as NSW Premier on September 5, 2008. Nathan Rees was elected leader of the ALP on the same day.
• Troy Buswell announced his resignation as Western Australian Opposition Leader on August 4, 2008. Colin Barnett was unanimously re-elected leader of the Liberal Party on August 6, 2008.
• Paul Lennon resigned as Premier of Tasmania on May 26, 2008. David Bartlett was elected ALP leader on the same day and sworn in as Premier.
• Terry Mills returned to the leadership of the Northern Territory Country-Liberal Party on January 29, 2008, following a challenge to Jodeen Carney. The party-room-ballot was tied 2-all but Carney chose to resign.
• Jeff Seeney called a Queensland National Party meeting to resolve leadership tensions on January 21, 2008. He was replaced as leader by his predecessor, Lawrence Springborg.
• Troy Buswell was elected leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party after Paul Omodei called a party-room meeting. Omodei did not contest the ballot.
• Bill Stefaniak advised his party room of his intention to resign as ACT Opposition Leader on December 12, 2007. Zed Seselja was elected unopposed as Liberal Party leader on December 13, 2007.
• John Howard’s coalition government was defeated at the election on November 24, 2007. Kevin Rudd and his Labor ministry was sworn into office on December 3, 2007.
• Following its defeat at the federal election of November 24, 2007, the Liberal Party elected Brendan Nelson as its leader and Opposition Leader on November 29, 2007.
• Clare Martin announced her intention to resign as Chief Minister of the Northern Territory on November 26, 2007. Paul Henderson was elected unanimously to replace her on the same day.
• Peter Beattie announced his retirement as Queensland Premier on September 10, 2007. Anna Bligh was elected unopposed as Labor leader on September 12, 2007 and became Premier on September 13, 2007.
• Steve Bracks announced his retirement as Premier of Victoria on July 27, 2007. John Brumby was elected unopposed as Labor leader on July 30.
• Martin Hamilton-Smith was elected South Australian Liberal Party leader by 13 votes to 10 on April 11, 2007, after mounting a challenge to Iain Evans.
• Barry O’Farrell was elected unopposed to replace Peter Debnam as NSW Liberal Party leader on April 4, 2007. Debnam was defeated at the election of March 24 and withdrew from the leadership contest on April 2.
• Kevin Rudd became Federal Leader of the Australian Labor Party in a Caucus ballot on December 4, 2006, defeating Kim Beazley by 49 votes to 39.
• Lawrence Springborg announced his resignation as Queensland National Party leader on September 14, 2006, following the coalition’s defeat at the election of September 9, 2006. Jeff Seeney was chosen as Leader of the Opposition on September 18, 2006.
• Bill Stefaniak replaced Brendan Smyth as A.C.T. Leader of the Opposition on May 16, 2006, following a party-room challenge. Stefaniak defeated Smyth by 4 votes to 3.
• Robert Doyle announced his resignation as Victorian Liberal Party leader on May 4, 2006. Ted Baillieu was elected unopposed as Leader of the Opposition on May 8, 2006.
• Rene Hidding stood aside as Tasmanian Liberal Party Leader, following the election of March 18, 2006. Will Hodgman was elected unopposed as Leader of the Opposition on March 30, 2006.
• Rob Kerin confirmed his resignation as South Australian Leader of the Opposition, following the election of March 18, 2006. Iain Evans was elected Leader of the Opposition on March 30, 2006.
• Paul Omodei replaced Matt Birney as Western Australian Leader of the Opposition on March 24, 2006, following a party-room-challenge.
• Geoff Gallop announced his resignation as Western Australian Premier on January 16, 2006. Alan Carpenter was chosen as ALP leader and Premier on January 24, 2006.
• John Brogden announced his resignation as NSW Leader of the Opposition on August 29, 2005. Peter Debnam was elected Leader of the Opposition on September 1, 2005.
• Bob Carr announced his resignation as NSW Premier on July 27, 2005. Morris Iemma became Premier on August 3, 2005.
• Denis Burke lost re-election for his seat of Brennan at the Northern Territory elections on June 18, 2005. Ms Jodeen Carney was elected Leader of the Opposition.
• Colin Barnett announced his resignation as Western Australian Opposition Leader on February 27, 2005, following his defeat in the State election. Matt Birney was elected unopposed to the leadership of the Liberal Party on March 9, 2005.
• Terry Mills announced his resignation as Northern Territory Opposition Leader on February 4, 2005. Denis Burke was re-elected to the position on February 7, 2005.
• Mark Latham announced his resignation as Federal Opposition Leader on January 18, 2005. Kim Beazley was re-elected ALP leader on January 28, 2005.
• Jim Bacon announced his retirement as Premier of Tasmania on February 23, 2004. Paul Lennon acted as Premier until he was sworn in as Premier on March 21, 2004.
• Simon Crean announced his resignation as Federal Opposition Leader on November 28, 2003. Mark Latham was elected to the position on December 2, 2003.
• Terry Mills replaced Denis Burke as Northern Territory Opposition Leader on November 14, 2003.
• Lawrence Springborg replaced Mike Horan as Queensland Opposition Leader on February 04, 2003.
• Brendan Smyth replaced Gary Humphries as ACT Opposition Leader on November 25, 2002.
• Robert Doyle replaced Denis Napthine as Victorian Opposition Leader on August 20, 2002.
• Rene Hidding replaced Bob Cheek as Tasmanian Opposition Leader on August 06, 2002.
• John Brogden replaced Kerry Chikarovski as NSW Opposition Leader on March 28, 2002.