This table shows all of Australia’s 31 prime ministers in order of their terms in office.
Some interesting facts:
- There have been 31 prime ministers and 47 elections up to 2022.
- The 31 prime ministers have served 37 separate terms of office.
- Just 9 prime ministers assumed the office for the first time through winning an election: Cook (1913), Scullin (1929), Lyons (1931), Whitlam (1972), Hawke (1983), Howard (1996), Rudd (2007), Abbott (2013), Albanese (2022).
- Another two prime ministers – Andrew Fisher and Robert Menzies – assumed the office for the first time without an election, but both went on to take their parties from opposition into government at subsequent elections, Fisher in 1910 and again in 1914, Menzies in 1949. Fisher is the only PM to twice take his party into government from opposition.
- There have been 14 prime ministers who assumed office other than at an election and subsequently won the next election: Barton (1901), Deakin (1903, 1906), Hughes (1917, 1919), Bruce (1925, 1928), Menzies (1940), Curtin (1943), Chifley (1946), Holt (1966), Gorton (1969), Fraser (1975), Keating (1993), Gillard (2010), Turnbull (2016), Morrison (2019).
- There have been 12 prime ministers defeated at a general election: Deakin (1910), Fisher (1913), Cook (1914), Bruce (1929), Scullin (1931), Chifley (1949), McMahon (1972), Fraser (1983), Keating (1996), Howard (2007), Rudd (2013) and Morrison (2022).
- There have been 7 prime ministers who never won an election: Watson, Reid, Page, Fadden, Forde, McEwen, McMahon.
- There have been 24 changes of prime minister without an election. Reasons include:
- party-room coups, pressure or inter-party deals (8): Hughes to Bruce (1923), Menzies to Fadden (1941), Gorton to McMahon (1971), Hawke to Keating (1991), Rudd to Gillard (2010), Gillard to Rudd (2013), Abbott to Turnbull (2015), Turnbull to Morrison (2018).
- defeat in Parliament (6): Deakin to Watson (1904), Watson to Reid (1904), Reid to Deakin (1905), Deakin to Fisher (1908), Fisher to Deakin (1909), Fadden to Curtin (1941).
- retirement or appointment to other posts (3): Barton to Deakin (1903), Fisher to Hughes (1915), Menzies to Holt (1966). Barton became a High Court justice; Fisher became High Commissioner to London; Menzies retired.
- death (3): Lyons to Page (1939), Curtin to Forde (1945), Holt to McEwen (1967).
- stop-gap leaders following death of predecessor (3): Page to Menzies (1939), Forde to Chifley (1945), McEwen to Gorton (1967-68).
- vice-regal intervention (1): Whitlam to Fraser (1975).
- There have been four periods of extreme volatility in the prime ministership. Caution should be taken in over-interpreting this volatility. Death and shifts in parliamentary numbers can often obscure underlying stability. Historical context matters. If anything, the resilience of the Westminster parliamentary model is also illustrated.
- 1901-1909 – Seven separate prime ministerships: Barton, Deakin, Watson, Reid, Deakin, Fisher, Deakin.
- 1939-1949 – Eight separate prime ministerships: Lyons, Page, Menzies, Fadden, Curtin, Forde, Chifley, Menzies.
- 1966-1975 – Seven separate prime ministerships: Menzies, Holt, McEwen, Gorton, McMahon, Whitlam, Fraser.
- 2008-2022 – Six separate prime ministerships: Rudd, Gillard, Rudd, Abbott, Turnbull, Morrison.
- The four prime ministers who governed for 32 years from 1975 to 2007 delivered a period of unprecedented longevity and stability. The second, third and fourth longest-serving PMs were in this period – Howard (1996-2007), Hawke (1983-1991) and Fraser (1975-1983). The fourth PM in this period was Paul Keating (1991-1996).
- There have been 15 prime ministers from New South Wales, 10 from Victoria, 4 from Queensland, and one each from Western Australia and Tasmania. Note: Hughes became prime minister in 1915 as the member for West Sydney (NSW) but spent the bulk of his prime ministership (May 1917-Dec 1922) as the member for Bendigo (Vic). He represented North Sydney (NSW) for the last few weeks of his term.
- Eighteen prime ministers also served as Leader of the Opposition at some point: Deakin, Reid, Fisher, Cook, Scullin, Lyons, Menzies, Fadden, Curtin, Chifley, Whitlam, Fraser, Hawke, Howard, Rudd, Abbott, Turnbull, Morrison.
- Thirteen prime ministers never served as Leader of the Opposition: Barton, Watson, Hughes, Bruce, Page, Forde, Holt, McEwen, Gorton, McMahon, Keating, Gillard, Morrison.
- One prime minister, Frank Forde, never served as leader of his party. Forde was deputy leader of the ALP when he assumed the prime ministership following the death of John Curtin. He was defeated by Ben Chifley in the subsequent Caucus ballot for the leadership.
- Only the electorate of Higgins (Vic) has been represented by two prime ministers. Holt held the seat from 1949 until his death in 1967. John Gorton, a senator, became prime minister in January 1968 and was then elected as the member for Higgins.
- There have been 11 Opposition Leaders who led their parties to 20 elections but never became Prime Minister: Tudor (1917, 1919), Charlton (1922, 1925), Evatt (1954, 1955, 1958), Calwell (1961, 1963, 1966), Snedden (1974), Hayden (1980), Peacock (1984, 1990), Hewson (1993), Beazley (1998, 2001), Latham (2004), Shorten (2016, 2019). Sixteen of these elections were ALP defeats.
- Prime Ministers by LENGTH OF TERM IN OFFICE
- Prime Ministers by AGE UPON TAKING OFFICE
- Prime Ministers By ORDER OF DEATH
- Prime Ministers and Living Ex-Prime Ministers
- Complete lists of all living former PMs, Premiers and Chief Ministers
- Number of Elections Won by Australian Prime Ministers
- 2013 and the Years of Three Prime Ministers
- Jan 3, 2013: Julia Gillard’s Place Amongst The List Of Australian Prime Ministers
- Sept 17, 2013: Why is Kevin Rudd Still Prime Minister?
- Federal Opposition Leaders Since 1901
| Australian Prime Ministers Since 1901 – chronological order | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Party | Began | Left | Length | Method of Departure |
|
1.
|
Barton, Edmund |
Prot
|
01-01-01
|
24-09-03
|
2 years, 8 months, 24 days
|
Appointed Justice of High Court |
|
2.
|
Deakin, Alfred |
Prot
|
24-09-03
|
27-04-04
|
7 months, 4 days
|
Resigned Following House Amendment of Conciliation and Arbitration Bill |
|
3.
|
Watson, John Christian |
ALP
|
27-04-04
|
17-08-04
|
3 months, 21 days
|
Resigned Following House Amendment of Conciliation and Arbitration Bill and Governor-General’s Refusal To Dissolve House |
|
4.
|
Reid, George Houston |
FT
|
18-08-04
|
05-07-05
|
10 months, 18 days
|
Resigned Following House Amendment of Address-In-Reply and Governor-General’s Refusal to Dissolve House |
| Deakin, Alfred |
Prot
|
05-07-05
|
13-11-08
|
3 years, 4 months, 9 days
|
Defeated on Floor of House | |
|
5.
|
Fisher, Andrew |
ALP
|
13-11-08
|
02-06-09
|
6 months, 21 days
|
Resigned Following Defeat on Floor of House and Governor-General’s Refusal to Dissolve House |
| Deakin, Alfred |
Lib
|
02-06-09
|
29-04-10
|
10 months, 28 days
|
Defeated at General Election | |
| Fisher, Andrew |
ALP
|
29-04-10
|
24-06-13
|
3 years, 1 month, 26 days
|
Defeated at General Election | |
|
6.
|
Cook, Joseph |
Lib
|
24-06-13
|
17-09-14
|
1 year, 2 months, 25 days
|
Defeated at General Election |
| Fisher, Andrew |
ALP
|
17-09-14
|
27-10-15
|
1 year, 1 month, 11 days
|
Resigned, Appointed High Commissioner to London | |
|
7.
|
Hughes, William Morris |
ALP
Nat |
27-10-15
|
09-02-23
|
7 years, 3 months, 14 days
|
Country Party vetoed Hughes as PM in coalition |
|
8.
|
Bruce, Stanley Melbourne |
Nat
|
09-02-23
|
22-10-29
|
6 years, 8 months, 14 days
|
Defeated and Lost Seat at General Election |
|
9.
|
Scullin, James Henry |
ALP
|
22-10-29
|
06-01-32
|
2 years, 2 months, 16 days
|
Defeated at General Election Following Party Split |
|
10.
|
Lyons, Joseph Aloysius |
UAP
|
06-01-32
|
07-04-39
|
7 years, 3 months, 2 days
|
Died in Office |
|
11.
|
Page, Earle Christmas Grafton |
CP
|
07-04-39
|
26-04-39
|
20 days
|
Relinquished Position to new UAP Leader |
|
12.
|
Menzies, Robert Gordon |
UAP
|
26-04-39
|
29-08-41
|
2 years, 4 months, 4 days
|
Resigned |
|
13.
|
Fadden, Arthur William |
CP
|
29-08-41
|
07-10-41
|
1 month, 9 days
|
Defeated on Floor of House |
|
14.
|
Curtin, John |
ALP
|
07-10-41
|
05-07-45
|
3 years, 8 months, 29 days
|
Died in Office |
|
15.
|
Forde, Francis Michael |
ALP
|
06-07-45
|
13-07-45
|
8 days
|
Relinquished Position to New ALP Leader |
|
16.
|
Chifley, Joseph Benedict |
ALP
|
13-07-45
|
19-12-49
|
4 years, 5 months, 7 days
|
Defeated at General Election |
| Menzies, Robert Gordon |
Lib
|
19-12-49
|
26-01-66
|
16 years, 1 month, 7 days
|
Retired | |
|
17.
|
Holt, Harold Edward |
Lib
|
26-01-66
|
19-12-67
|
1 year, 10 months, 23 days
|
Missing, Presumed Drowned |
|
18.
|
McEwen, John |
CP
|
19-12-67
|
10-01-68
|
23 days
|
Relinquished Position to New Liberal Leader |
|
19.
|
Gorton, John Grey |
Lib
|
10-01-68
|
10-03-71
|
3 years, 2 months
|
Technically resigned as leader but effectively deposed |
|
20.
|
McMahon, William |
Lib
|
10-03-71
|
05-12-72
|
1 year, 8 months, 25 days
|
Defeated at General Election |
|
21.
|
Whitlam, Edward Gough |
ALP
|
05-12-72
|
11-11-75
|
2 years, 11 months, 7 days
|
Commission Terminated by Governor-General |
|
22.
|
Fraser, John Malcolm |
Lib
|
11-11-75
|
11-03-83
|
7 years, 4 months
|
Defeated at General Election |
|
23.
|
Hawke, Robert James Lee |
ALP
|
11-03-83
|
20-12-91
|
8 years, 9 months, 9 days
|
Deposed as Party Leader |
|
24.
|
Keating, Paul John |
ALP
|
20-12-91
|
11-03-96
|
4 years, 2 months, 20 days
|
Defeated at General Election |
|
25.
|
Howard, John Winston |
Lib
|
11-03-96
|
03-12-07
|
11 years, 8 months, 22 days
|
Defeated and Lost Seat at General Election |
|
26.
|
Rudd, Kevin Michael |
ALP
|
03-12-07
|
24-06-10
|
2 years, 6 months, 21 days
|
Deposed as Party Leader |
|
27.
|
Gillard, Julia Eileen |
ALP
|
24-06-10
|
27-06-13
|
3 years, 3 days
|
Deposed as Party Leader |
| Rudd, Kevin Michael |
ALP
|
27-06-13
|
Defeated at General Election | |||
|
28.
|
Abbott, Anthony John |
Lib
|
18-09-13
|
15-09-15
|
1 year, 11 months, 28 days
|
Deposed as Party Leader |
|
29.
|
Turnbull, Malcolm Bligh |
Lib
|
15-09-15
|
24-08-18
|
2 years, 11 months, 9 days
|
Deposed as Party Leader |
|
30.
|
Morrison, Scott John |
Lib
|
24-08-18
|
23-05-22
|
3 years, 8 months, 30 days
|
Defeated at General Election |
|
31.
|
Albanese, Anthony Norman |
ALP
|
23-05-22
|
–
|
–
|
– |
Legend
ALP = Australian Labor Party
CP = Country Party
FT = Free Trade (fused with Protectionists to form Liberal Party in 1909)
LP = Liberal Party (first formed in 1909 from Free Traders & Protectionists; reformed in 1944 to replace UAP)
NAT = Nationalist (formed out of Liberal Party and ALP defectors in 1916)
PROT = Protectionist (fused with Free Traders to form Liberal Party in 1909)
UAP = United Australia Party (formed out of Nationalists and ALP defectors in 1931)
