This morning on ABC News Breakfast, a former newspaper editor told viewers that in 2013 Australia had three prime ministers “for only the second time in history”.
In the interests of accuracy, and because this is not the first time I’ve heard someone get it wrong this year, here are the figures.
The Years of Three Prime Ministers
There have been 5 years in the history of the Australian federation when three prime ministers were separately sworn into the position. They are: 1904, 1939, 1941, 1945 and 2013.
| The Years of Three Prime Ministers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First PM | Second PM | Third PM |
Protectionist defeated in House |
ALP defeated in House |
Free Trade |
|
United Australia Party died |
Country Party relinquished to new leader |
United Australia Party |
|
United Australia Party resigned leadership |
Country Party defeated in House |
ALP |
|
ALP died |
ALP relinquished to new leader |
ALP |
|
ALP deposed by party |
ALP defeated at general election |
Liberal Party |
|
1904 – The System Works
The prime ministerial changes of 1904 are notable because it was the first time government changed hands as a result of legislative difficulties in the House of Representatives. Parliamentary manoeuvres were central to each change of government, as was the role of the Governor-General in refusing requests for a dissolution of the House.