Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Leader of the Liberal Party
Type The Honourable
Member of
  • Federal executive[lower-alpha 1]
  • federal council
  • parliamentary Liberal Party
Term length No fixed term
Constituting instrument Clause 14.2, Constitution of the Federal Liberal Party[1]
Inaugural holder Robert Menzies
Formation 21 February 1945
Unofficial names Leader of the Coalition
Deputy Sussan Ley
Website www.liberal.org.au/member/scott-morrison

The Leader of the Liberal Party, also known as Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, is the highest office within the Liberal Party of Australia and the Liberal–National Coalition. The position is currently, and has been since 30 May 2022, held by Peter Dutton, who represents the Division of Dickson in Queensland. Peter Dutton is the fifteenth leader of the Liberal Party.

The current Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is Sussan Ley.

History

The Liberal Party leadership was first held by former United Australia Party leader and eventual co–founder Robert Menzies, along with eighteen political organisations and groups.[2]

Scott Morrison is the current leader and was elected to be Leader and Prime Minister, first in a leadership spill,[3][4] and second, in an upset federal election victory on the 18th of May 2019.[5][6]

Following the oustings of two Liberal Prime Ministers in 3 years, Scott Morrison introduced a new threshold to trigger a Liberal Party leadership change in government, requiring two-thirds of the partyroom vote to trigger a spill motion. The change was introduced at an hour long party room meeting on the evening of 3 December 2018. Morrison said the changes, which were drafted with feedback from former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott, would only apply to leaders who lead the party to victory at a federal election.[7]

Role

Since the days of Menzies, the Liberal Party has either been in government with a coalition or in opposition to the Labor. Thus, the leader of the Liberal Party can often be the Prime Minister of Australia or Leader of the Opposition. Furthermore, the leader picks the Cabinet and is also the leader of the Coalition. The Liberal Party only had one leader of the party from the Senate, John Gorton, for a brief period in January 1968 before he resigned from the Senate to contest the Higgins by-election in February 1968.

Leaders of the Liberal Party

Note: the right-hand column does not allocate height proportional to time in office.

A list of leaders (including acting leaders) since 1945.[8]

No. Leader
(birth–death)		 Portrait Electorate Took office Left office Prime Minister (term)
1 Robert Menzies
(1894–1978)		 60px Kooyong, Vic. 21 February 1945 20 January 1966 Curtin (1941–1945)
Forde (1945)
Chifley (1945–1949)
Himself (1949–1966)
2 Harold Holt
(1908–1967)		 60px Higgins, Vic. 20 January 1966
(unopposed)		 17 December 1967
(died in office)		 Himself (1966–1967)
3 John Gorton
(1911–2002)		 60px Senator for Victoria
(9 January – 1 February)
Higgins, Vic.		 9 January 1968
(elected)		 10 March 1971 McEwen[lower-alpha 2] (1967–1968)
Himself (1967–1971)
4 William McMahon
(1908–1988)		 60px Lowe, NSW 10 March 1971
(elected)		 20 December 1972 Himself (1971–1972)
Whitlam (1972–1975)
5 Billy Snedden
(1926–1987)		 60px Bruce, Vic. 20 December 1972
(elected)		 21 March 1975
6 Malcolm Fraser
(1930–2015)		 60px Wannon, Vic. 21 March 1975
(elected)		 11 March 1983
Himself (1975–1983)
Hawke (1983–1991)
7 Andrew Peacock
(1939–2021)
(1st time)		 Andrew Peacock.jpg Kooyong, Vic. 11 March 1983
(elected)		 5 September 1985
8 John Howard
(b. 1939)
(1st time)		 John howard.jpg Bennelong, NSW 5 September 1985
(elected)		 9 May 1989
(7) Andrew Peacock
(1939–2021)
(2nd time)		 Andrew Peacock.jpg Kooyong, Vic. 9 May 1989
(elected)		 3 April 1990
9 John Hewson
(b. 1946)		 60px Wentworth, NSW 3 April 1990
(elected)		 23 May 1994
Keating (1991–1996)
10 Alexander Downer
(b. 1951)		 60px Mayo, SA 23 May 1994
(elected)		 30 January 1995
(8) John Howard
(b. 1939)
(2nd time)		 60px Bennelong, NSW 30 January 1995
(unopposed)		 29 November 2007
Himself (1996–2007)
11 Brendan Nelson
(b. 1958)		 60px Bradfield, NSW 29 November 2007
(elected)		 16 September 2008 Rudd (2007–2010)
12 Malcolm Turnbull
(b. 1954)
(1st time)		 Turnbull.JPG Wentworth, NSW 16 September 2008
(elected)		 1 December 2009
13 Tony Abbott
(b. 1957)		 60px Warringah, NSW 1 December 2009
(elected)		 14 September 2015
Gillard (2010–2013)
Rudd (2013)
Himself (2013–2015)
(12) Malcolm Turnbull
(b. 1954)
(2nd time)		 60px Wentworth, NSW 14 September 2015
(elected)		 24 August 2018 Himself (2015–2018)
14 Scott Morrison
(b. 1968)		 60px Cook, NSW 24 August 2018
(elected)		 30 May 2022 Himself (2018–2022)
Albanese (2022–present)
15 Peter Dutton
(b. 1970)		 60px Dickson, QLD 30 May 2022
(unopposed)		 Incumbent

Living former party leaders

There are seven living former party leaders, all of whom were elected, and four who were Prime Minister. From oldest to youngest:

Leader Term of office Date of birth
John Howard 1985–1989; 1995–2007 (1939-07-26) 26 July 1939 (age 85)
John Hewson 1990–1994 (1946-10-28) 28 October 1946 (age 78)
Alexander Downer 1994–1995 (1951-09-09) 9 September 1951 (age 73)
Malcolm Turnbull 2008–2009; 2015–2018 (1954-10-24) 24 October 1954 (age 70)
Tony Abbott 2009–2015 (1957-11-04) 4 November 1957 (age 67)
Brendan Nelson 2007–2008 (1958-08-19) 19 August 1958 (age 66)
Scott Morrison 2018-2022 (1968-05-13) 13 May 1968 (age 56)

Federal leaders by time in office

No Name Term began Term ended Time in office Term as Prime Minister
1 Sir Robert Menzies 21 February 1945 20 January 1966 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. (UAP 1939–41), 1949–66
(8) John Howard 30 January 1995 29 November 2007 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. 1996–2007
6 Malcolm Fraser 21 March 1975 11 March 1983 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. 1975–83
13 Tony Abbott 1 December 2009 14 September 2015 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. 2013–15
9 John Hewson 3 April 1990 23 May 1994 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
8 John Howard 5 September 1985 9 May 1989 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
14 Scott Morrison 24 August 2018 30 May 2022 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. 2018–2022
3 Sir John Gorton 10 January 1968 10 March 1971 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. 1968–71
(12) Malcolm Turnbull 14 September 2015 24 August 2018 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. 2015–2018
7 Andrew Peacock 11 March 1983 5 September 1985 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
5 Sir Billy Snedden 20 December 1972 21 March 1975 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
2 Harold Holt 20 January 1966 19 December 1967 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. 1966–67
4 Sir William McMahon 10 March 1971 5 December 1972 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. 1971–72
12 Malcolm Turnbull 16 September 2008 1 December 2009 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
(7) Andrew Peacock 9 May 1989 3 April 1990 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
11 Brendan Nelson 29 November 2007 16 September 2008 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
10 Alexander Downer 23 May 1994 30 January 1995 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
15 Peter Dutton 30 May 2022 Incumbent Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.

Totals for leaders who served multiple non-consecutive terms:

Federal deputy leaders

# Name State Term start Term end Duration Leader(s)
1 Eric Harrison New South Wales 21 February 1945 26 September 1956 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Robert Menzies
2 Harold Holt Victoria 26 September 1956 20 January 1966 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
3 William McMahon New South Wales 20 January 1966 10 March 1971 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Harold Holt
John Gorton
4 John Gorton Victoria 10 March 1971 16 August 1971 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. William McMahon
5 Billy Snedden Victoria 18 August 1971 20 December 1972 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
6 Phillip Lynch Victoria 20 December 1972 8 April 1982 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Billy Snedden
Malcolm Fraser
7 John Howard New South Wales 8 April 1982 5 September 1985 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Malcolm Fraser
Andrew Peacock
8 Neil Brown Victoria 5 September 1985 17 July 1987 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. John Howard
9 Andrew Peacock Victoria 17 July 1987 9 May 1989 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
10 Fred Chaney[lower-alpha 3] Western Australia 9 May 1989 3 April 1990 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Andrew Peacock
11 Peter Reith Victoria 24 March 1990 13 March 1993 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. John Hewson
12 Michael Wooldridge Victoria 13 March 1993 23 May 1994 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
13 Peter Costello Victoria 23 May 1994 29 November 2007 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Alexander Downer
John Howard
14 Julie Bishop Western Australia 29 November 2007 24 August 2018 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Brendan Nelson
Malcolm Turnbull
Tony Abbott
15 Josh Frydenberg Victoria 24 August 2018 30 May 2022 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Scott Morrison
16 Sussan Ley New South Wales 30 May 2022 Incumbent Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Peter Dutton

Leaders in the Senate

Leader Term began Term ended Portfolio[11] Status Parliamentary leader Term in office Deputy
Neil O'Sullivan 21 February 1950[12] 8 December 1958 <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Government Menzies Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Bill Spooner 8 December 1958[13] 2 June 1964[14] <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Shane Paltridge
Shane Paltridge 10 June 1964[15] 19 January 1966[16] Defence Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Denham Henty
Denham Henty 26 January 1966[17] 16 October 1967 Supply Holt Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. John Gorton
John Gorton 16 October 1967 1 February 1968 <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Denham Henty
None
Himself
Ken Anderson 28 February 1968[lower-alpha 4] 5 December 1972 <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Gorton Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Annabelle Rankin
McMahon
Reg Wright
Reg Withers 20 December 1972 11 November 1975 Opposition Snedden Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Opposition Fraser
12 November 1975[19] 7 August 1978[20] <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Government
John Carrick 7 August 1978[21] 11 March 1983 <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Fred Chaney 11 March 1983[22] 27 February 1990 <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Opposition Peacock Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
<templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Howard
<templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Industrial Relations (1989-1990)
  • Deputy Leader of the Opposition (1989-1990)
 Peacock
Robert Hill 3 April 1990[23] 11 March 1996 <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Foreign Affairs (1990-1993)[24]
  • Defence, Public Administration (1993-1994)
 Hewson Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Education, Science and Technology Downer
Howard
11 March 1996[25] 20 January 2006 <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Government Howard Nick Minchin
Nick Minchin 27 January 2006[26] 3 December 2007 <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Helen Coonan
3 December 2007[27] 3 May 2010
Defence Opposition Nelson Eric Abetz
Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Turnbull
Resources and Energy Abbott
Eric Abetz 3 May 2010[28][29] 18 September 2013 Employment and Workplace Relations Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. George Brandis
18 September 2013[30][29] 21 September 2015 Employment Government Abbott
George Brandis 21 September 2015 20 December 2017 Attorney-General
V-P Exec. Council		 Turnbull Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Mathias Cormann
Mathias Cormann 20 December 2017 30 October 2020 Finance and the Public Service
V-P Exec. Council		 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Mitch Fifield
Simon Birmingham
Morrison
Simon Birmingham 30 October 2020 Incumbent Finance
Trade, Tourism and Investment (to Dec 2020)
V-P Exec. Council		 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Michaelia Cash
Foreign Affairs Opposition Dutton

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Not to be confused with the federal cabinet of Australia.
  2. ↑ After the Disappearance of Harold Holt, the Deputy Prime Minister, McEwen, took over as a caretaker until the leadership election of the Liberal Party was concluded.
  3. ↑ From 23 May 1989 to 24 March 1990 (Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.), Wal Fife occupied the unique position of "Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Representatives". This was because Fred Chaney was a member of the Senate during that time; it was necessary to elect a temporary House-only deputy for procedural reasons.[9][10]
  4. ↑ Anderson was appointed Leader of the Government before the second session of the 26th Parliament,[18] and Gorton made his appointments on 28 February 1968.[11]
  5. ↑ Withers was appointed Vice-President of the Executive Council the day after the Dismissal as part of Fraser's Caretaker Cabinet, but he continued in that office for his entire tenure as Leader of the Government. On the same date, he was appointed caretaker the Capital Territory, Special Minister of State, Minister for the Media, and Tourism and Recreation. He served in those offices until 22 December, when Fraser's first full Cabinet was sworn in. The Senate did not meet during the period 12 November to 22 December 1975 (indeed it was dissolved for most of that time). Withers gained the Administrative Services portfolio as part of 22 December reshuffle.
  6. ↑ Minister for Environment 1996–98.

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Leader_of_the_Liberal_Party_of_Australia&oldid=726463382"