Australian Prime Ministers

Edmund Barton

Jan 1, 1901

Lord Hopetoun became the first Governor-General and Edmund Barton the first Prime Minister. Both were sworn in at the ceremony inaugurating the Commonwealth of Australia.

Alfred Deakin

Sep 24, 1903

When Edmund Barton resigned to become a judge of the High Court, his friend and deputy Prime Minister Alfred Deakin succeeded him.

Chris Watson

Apr 27, 1904

Australia’s first federal Labor government led by JC Watson, achieved office when Labor members withdrew support for the Deakin government on an amendment to the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill.

George Reid

Aug 18, 1904

Leader of the Opposition from 1901, GH Reid became Australia’s fourth Prime Minister in three years.

Alfred Deakin

Jul 6, 1905

Alfred Deakin became Prime Minister for the second time, when the Reid government lost majority support in the House of Representatives.

Andrew Fisher

Nov 13, 1908

Andrew Fisher became Prime Minister after Labor withdrew its support from the minority Deakin government.

Alfred Deakin

Jun 2, 1909

Alfred Deakin became Prime Minister for the third time after negotiating the ‘fusion’ of members from the three non-Labor political groups in the House of Representatives.

Andrew Fisher

Apr 29, 1910

Andrew Fisher was sworn in as Prime Minister for the second time. On 1 July 1910 the fourth parliament was opened, the first time a Prime Minister had a majority in both Houses.

Joseph Cook

Jun 24, 1913

Sworn in after a close election result, Prime Minister Joseph Cook held a majority of only one in the House of Representatives.

Andrew Fisher

Sep 17, 1914

Andrew Fisher was sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time. Labor was comfortably returned to government at Australia's first double dissolution election on 5 September.

William Morris Hughes

Oct 27, 1915

After the forced resignation of Andrew Fisher, Labor parliamentarians elected WM Hughes as Party leader.

William Morris Hughes

Jan 10, 1918

Prime Minister WM Hughes was again sworn in as Prime Minister. He had vowed to resign if the conscription referendum failed. It did, so he had resigned on 8 January. The Nationalists held a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives, and Hughes was not replaced as party leader. The Governor-General thus swore Hughes in again.

Stanley Melbourne Bruce

Feb 9, 1923

Stanley Melbourne Bruce was sworn in as Prime Minister after the Nationalist Party displaced WM Hughes as leader.

James Scullin

Oct 22, 1929

James Scullin was sworn in as Prime Minister after the election of Australia’s third Labor government.

Joseph Lyons

Jan 6, 1932

Joseph Lyons was sworn in as Prime Minister. His new United Australia Party won government at the election on 19 December.

Earle Page

Apr 7, 1939

Earle Page became the eleventh Prime Minister following the death of Joseph Lyons. His term lasted nineteen days.

Robert Menzies

Apr 26, 1939

Robert Menzies was sworn in as Prime Minister, after he was elected leader of the United Australia Party.

Arthur Fadden

Aug 29, 1941

Arthur Fadden succeeded Robert Menzies as Prime Minister.

John Curtin

Oct 7, 1941

John Curtin was sworn in as Prime Minister after the Fadden coalition government lost majority support in the House of Representatives.

Francis Forde

Jul 6, 1945

On the death of John Curtin, deputy Prime Minister Frank Forde was sworn in until the federal parliamentary Labor Party elected a new leader.

Ben Chifley

Jul 13, 1945

New Prime Minister Ben Chifley was sworn in after being chosen the day before as the new leader of the Labor Party.

Robert Menzies

Dec 19, 1949

Robert Menzies became Prime Minister for the second time, starting a 16-year term that set a record in Australian politics. The Liberal/Country Party coalition had been convincingly returned at the federal election on 10 December.

Harold Holt

Jan 26, 1966

After a record 16-year term, Sir Robert Menzies resigned and Harold Holt was sworn in.

John McEwen

Dec 19, 1967

John McEwen was sworn in as Prime Minister two days after Harold Holt disappeared in the ocean off Portsea, Victoria.

John Gorton

Jan 10, 1968

After the Liberal Party elected Senator John Gorton as the new Party leader, he was sworn in as Prime Minister.

William McMahon

Mar 10, 1971

After displacing John Gorton as Liberal Party leader, William McMahon was sworn in as Prime Minister.

Gough Whitlam

Dec 5, 1972

Labor was elected to government for the first time in 23 years. Gough Whitlam and deputy Lance Barnard were sworn in to comprise the first ministry until a Cabinet was chosen.

Malcolm Fraser

Nov 11, 1975

After the Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed the Labor government, Malcolm Fraser became ‘caretaker’ Prime Minister pending a general election.

Robert Hawke

Mar 11, 1983

A Labor government was sworn in and Bob Hawke became Prime Minister.

Paul Keating

Dec 20, 1991

In an exchange of Labor Party leadership, Paul Keating became prime minister, succeeding Bob Hawke, who left parliament on 20 February 1992 after 12 years representing the seat of Wills.

John Howard

Mar 11, 1996

The first Coalition government for 13 years was sworn in, with John Howard as Prime Minister.

Kevin Rudd

Dec 3, 2007

Ministers of the new Labor government led by Kevin Rudd, with Julia Gillard as Australia’s first female deputy Prime Minister, sworn in by the Governor-General.

Julia Gillard

Jun 24, 2010

In a leadership challenge, Julia Gillard became Australia's 27th Prime Minister and the first woman to hold the office. She was elected unopposed by the Parliamentary Labor Party.

Kevin Rudd

Jun 26, 2013

In a leadership challenge, Kevin Rudd was elected Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party and became Prime Minister for the second time

Tony Abbott

Sep 18, 2013

The new Coalition government was sworn in, with Tony Abbott as Prime Minister.