RESEARCH PAPER SERIES, 2015–16              UPDATED 3 FEBRUARY 2016

Traits and trends of Australia’s prime ministers, 1901 to 2015: a quick guide

Dr Joy McCann

Politics and Public Administration Section

Introduction

•        This Quick Guide presents information about the backgrounds and service of Australia’s 29 prime ministers, from Edmund Barton to Malcolm Turnbull. It includes information about of their backgrounds (age, place of birth, gender and occupational background), period in office, experience in other parliaments, parties, electorates and military service.

•        The majority of Australia’s prime ministers have been Australian-born, middle-aged, tertiary-educated men with experience in law or politics, representing electorates in either Victoria or New South Wales. Only one woman has served as Prime Minister since Federation.

•        Australia’s prime ministers have ranged in age at the time of first taking office from 37 years to 67 years. The average age is 52 years, which reflects the age profile of Australian parliamentarians more generally (51 years).

•        Three-quarters of Australia’s 29 prime ministers (22) were born in Australia. Of those born overseas, all but one came from the United Kingdom (England, Scotland or Wales). The only non-British overseas-born Prime Minister was Chris Watson, who was born in Chile and raised in New Zealand. Of those born in Australia, the majority were born in either Victoria (nine) or New South Wales (eight).

•        Thirteen prime ministers have represented electorates in New South Wales, 11 in Victoria, four in Queensland and one each in Western Australia and Tasmania. There have been no prime ministers representing electorates in South Australia, the Northern Territory, or the Australian Capital Territory.

•        The length of service as prime minister ranges from over 18 years (Robert Menzies) to eight days (Francis Forde). Most have left office after defeat at an election, in the Parliament or in the party room.

Party abbreviations

ALP

Australian Labor Party

CP

Australian Country Party

FT

Free Trade

LP

Liberal Party of Australia

NAT

Nationalist Party

NAT LAB

National Labour

PROT

Protectionist Party

Traits and trends

Table 1 summarises some of the more notable aspects of Australia’s 29 prime ministers since Federation. More detailed information about each trait is provided under separate headings below.

Table 1: Traits and trends of Australia’s prime ministers, 1901 to 2015

Trait

Trend

Period in office

•        Robert Menzies was Australia’s longest-serving Prime Minister both continuously (16 years 1 month 8 days) and in total (18 years 5 months 12 days). Francis Forde was the shortest-serving (eight days).
Most prime ministers have left office after being defeated at election, in the Parliament or in the party room.

Age

•        Average age 52 years (at appointment): the youngest Prime Minister was 37 years (Chris Watson) and the oldest Prime Minister was 67 years (John McEwen)

Country of birth

•        76 per cent Australian-born
one Prime Minister was born in a non-English speaking country (Chris Watson was born in Chile and raised in New Zealand)

Gender

•        28 men and one woman

Education

•        68 per cent tertiary-educated

Occupational qualifications/experience

•        36 per cent with legal qualifications
32 per cent with trade union experience

Parliamentary experience

•        39 per cent with prior experience in colonial, state or territory parliaments

Electoral representation

•        79 per cent represented NSW (12) and Victoria (11), including Billy Hughes who represented both states during his terms in office; 21 per cent represented Queensland (4), Tasmania (1) and Western Australia (1)

Military service

•        25 per cent enlisted for military service (including four who saw active war service)

Source: Compiled by Parliamentary Library from Parliamentary Handbook

Diversity

Age

Australia’s prime ministers have ranged in age at the time of first taking office from the youngest—Chris Watson, 37 years, to the oldest—John McEwen, 67 years (see Appendix 1). The average age is 52 years, reflecting the age profile of Australian parliamentarians more generally (51 years).

Place of birth

Three-quarters (22) of Australia’s 29 prime ministers were born in Australia (see Appendix 8). Of the seven prime ministers born elsewhere, all but one came from the United Kingdom (England, Scotland or Wales). The only non-British overseas-born Prime Minister was Chris Watson, who was born in Chile and raised in New Zealand. Of those born in Australia, the majority were born in either Victoria (nine) or New South Wales (eight). Only one Prime Minister has come from a non-English speaking background (Chris Watson), and no Prime Minister has identified as an Indigenous Australian. This reflects the generally low level of ethnic diversity in the Commonwealth Parliament as a whole. (Around 13 per cent of parliamentarians were migrants or children of migrants from a non-English speaking background, and only four of the current serving 226 senators and members are Indigenous Australians.)

Figure 1: Places of birth of Australia’s prime ministers, by country and Australian state

Source: Compiled by Parliamentary Library from Parliamentary Handbook

Gender

Of Australia’s 29 prime ministers since Federation, only one has been a woman, reflecting the under-representation of women in federal ministerial positions more generally. According to political scientist Jennifer Curtin, there has ‘always been a public fascination with women political leaders, primarily because there have been so few of them; they are indeed exceptional’.

Education and occupational background

The educational qualifications of Australia’s 29 prime ministers have varied widely, from primary school level to postgraduate qualifications. Three of Australia’s 29 prime ministers have held Rhodes scholarships (Bob Hawke, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull).

In terms of their employment experience before becoming prime minister:

•        12 worked in the legal profession as a judge, barrister or solicitor

•        nine were employed in business or the corporate sector

•        eight were employed in trade or clerical positions

•        five worked as a trade union organiser, official or advocate

•        five worked as journalists

•        three worked as teachers

•        three had experience in the public service

•        two worked as political staff members

•        two worked as miners

•        one worked in the medical profession

•        one was a diplomat and

•        one was a rouseabout.

As former press gallery journalist Michelle Grattan observed in her edited book Australian prime ministers, wealth and education have never been prerequisites for the nation’s highest political office. Indeed, several of the early-twentieth century prime ministers began as unskilled labourers or turned to shopkeeping or small business, and many experienced difficult personal and family circumstances as a result of illness, accident or financial loss. ‘It could be said that many of them were forced to become adults before their time, assuming responsibilities and making decisions. Many, too, were early self-improvers’.

Period in office

Australia has had 29 prime ministers since Federation serving 35 separate terms of office (see Appendix 1). Their periods of service range from 18.5 years (the Right Hon. Robert Menzies who held office twice, from 1939–41 and 1949–66) to eight days (the Right Hon. Francis Forde who served as caretaker Prime Minister for just eight days following the death of the Right Hon. John Curtin in 1945).

Figure 2: Period in office

Source: Compiled by Parliamentary Library from Parliamentary Handbook

Note: Excludes current serving Prime Minister, the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP (15 September 2015 ̶ )

Reasons for leaving office

•        The majority of Australia’s prime ministers (22) have lost office as the result of defeat at a general election, on the floor of the House or the party room ballot following a leadership spill.

•        As at 31 October 2015 there has been a total of 23 changes of Prime Minister without an election, including:

–      seven prime ministers defeated in the party-room (Billy Hughes, Robert Menzies, John Gorton, Bob Hawke, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott)

–      five were defeated in Parliament (Alfred Deakin—who was defeated twice, Chris Watson, George Reid, Andrew Fisher and Arthur Fadden)

–      four left office voluntarily (Edmund Barton, to take up an appointment at the High Court, Andrew Fisher in his second term to become Australia’s High Commissioner in London, Billy Hughes who resigned but remained in the House of Representatives as a private member and minister, and Robert Menzies to retire after his second-term)

–      three died whilst in office (Joseph Lyons, John Curtin and Harold Holt)

–      three deputy prime ministers served in a caretaker capacity following the death of the Prime Minister (Earle Page replaced Lyons in 1939, Frank Forde replaced Curtin in 1945 and John McEwen replaced Holt in 1968)—in each case they continued in the caretaker role until a party room ballot could be conducted, but none of the three was subsequently elected as leader and

–      one left office as a result of vice-regal intervention (Gough Whitlam).

•        Five prime ministers resigned from Parliament after losing office (Malcolm Fraser, Robert Hawke, Paul Keating, Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd).

•        Two sitting prime ministers lost their seats at an election (Stanley Bruce and John Howard).

Experience in other parliaments

Eleven of Australia’s prime ministers had experience in an Australian state parliament prior to being elected to the Commonwealth Parliament, including five in the NSW Parliament, three in the Queensland Parliament, two in the Victorian Parliament and one in the Tasmanian Parliament (see Appendix 6).

Stanley Bruce is the only Australian Prime Minister to have become a British Peer in the UK House of Lords (as Viscount Bruce of Melbourne) following his prime ministership. The Right Hon. George Reid served in the UK House of Commons following his prime ministership, making him the only Australian to sit as a representative in three different parliaments (colonial, Commonwealth and UK parliaments).

Electoral representation

The majority of Australia’s prime ministers have represented electorates in NSW (13) or Victoria (11), including the Right Hon. Billy Hughes who represented both states during his record 51 years in the Commonwealth Parliament (see Appendix 1).

Figure 3: Electoral representation of Australia’s prime ministers

Source: Compiled by Parliamentary Library from Parliamentary Handbook

PMs from the Senate

Australia’s prime ministers have traditionally been selected from the House of Representatives—the house where government is formed. However, as Australian Parliamentary Fellow Scott Brenton noted in What lies beneath: the work of senators and members in the Australian Parliament:

It is only by convention that the leader of the majority party (or parties) in the lower house becomes Prime Minister. This Westminster convention is largely based on the democratic legitimacy of Britain’s elected lower house, even though British prime ministers have sat in the unelected upper house. However, both Australian houses are popularly elected.

The reverse is true in the United States Congress where, as Stanley Bach noted in Platypus and parliament: the Australian Senate in theory and practice, the tradition is for Members of the House of Representatives to move to the Senate as ‘the more common breeding ground for Presidential aspirants ... A US Senator has not voluntarily relinquished his seat to run for a seat in the House since well before the American Civil War’.

There have been a few occasions where ministers in the Senate have acted as Prime Minister for short periods. Only once since Federation has a sitting senator been commissioned to form a government. In early 1968, following the presumed death of Prime Minister Harold Holt, the Liberal Party chose Senator John Gorton as its new leader. Gorton resigned his place as a Senator on 1 February 1968 in order to seek election to the House of Representatives. Between 1 February and 24 February Gorton was not a member of either House but, as permitted by the Constitution, he was able to remain Prime Minister during this period. He was subsequently elected as the Member for Higgins, the seat left vacant by Mr Holt’s death.

Military service

One-quarter of Australia’s prime ministers enlisted for military service at some point in their lives (see Appendix 7). This includes four who saw active service (Stanley Bruce, John Gorton, Earle Page and Gough Whitlam). Two (Bruce and Gorton) were wounded during active service.

Religion

While attitudes to religious belief have changed markedly since the 1960s when religious sectarianism underscored social, economic and political differences in Australian society, the role of belief (or non-belief) are still considered to be an important factor for voters who seek to understand a prime minister’s character and actions.

Oaths and affirmations

One indicator of religious belief may be found in the oath or affirmation sworn by prime ministers (together with ministers and parliamentary secretaries) when becoming members of parliament and again before being sworn in as a Minister of State. The Prime Minister determines the form of the oath and affirmation of office, which can be changed according to their preference. The Official Oath sworn by the ministry in 1901 was ‘I [name] do swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Victoria in the Office of [name] So Help Me God’. From the second Deakin ministry in 1905, ministers took the Oath of Allegiance, the Official Oath and the Executive Councillor’s Oath. Julia Gillard became the first Australian Prime Minister to make an affirmation of office rather than swearing on the Bible when she was sworn in on 24 June 2010.

Believers and non-believers

Whilst religious beliefs are difficult to quantify, political scientist John Warhurst attempted to categorise Australia’s 27 prime ministers from Edmund Barton to Julia Gillard according to their religious belief, religious practice and religious affiliations. He estimated that about half took their religion seriously, noting that ‘[f]or some it has been a driving force and a central part of their public personality. But for many others it has been a trivial characteristic.’ Based on their actions and associations, Warhurst estimated that there have been:

•        five Catholic prime ministers

•        about nine Anglican prime ministers

•        three Presbyterian prime ministers (although several others had ‘Presbyterian antecedents’)

•        one Methodist Prime Minister (although others were ‘brought up Methodists’), and

•        a high number of agnostic and secular prime ministers when compared with British prime ministers and American presidents.

In another study, Roy Williams considered that 16 of the 23 prime ministers he examined believed in God, although most of the others had some associations with Christianity. The author concluded that only two were ‘lifelong agnostics’ (Edmund Barton and Harold Holt).

Official residences of Australia’s prime ministers

There are two official residences for Australian prime ministers. These residences, whilst they are often used by the Prime Minister for official functions, do not form part of a group of ministerial houses, nor are they used to accommodate the Prime Minister’s Office or the Cabinet (unlike 10 Downing Street, London, which is both an official residence and office of the British Prime Minister’s Office). The two residences are:

•        The Lodge in Canberra which was built in 1926 ̶ 7 to coincide with the opening of the first Canberra-based federal Parliament House (now known as Old Parliament House) and

•        Kirribilli House in Sydney, built in 1855 and acquired by the Commonwealth Government in 1920 as the prime minister’s alternative residence when not in Canberra for parliamentary or government business.

Both buildings are managed by the Official Establishments Trust, an independent, non-statutory body that advises the Prime Minister and Special Minister of State on the conservation and development of the properties.

Appendix 1: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901–2015: party, age and period in office

No.

Name

Party

Electorate

Age at
appointments

Dates in office

Period in office

years

months

years

months

days

1st

Barton, the Rt Hon. Sir Edmund, GCMG, KC

PROT

Hunter, NSW

51

11

1.1.1901–24.9.1903

2

8

24

2nd

Deakin, the Hon. Alfred

PROT

Ballaarat, Vic.

47

1

24.9.1903–27.4.1904

-

7

4

PROT*

5.7.1905–13.11.1908

3

4

9

PROT

2.6.1909–29.4.1910

-

10

28

3rd

Watson, the Hon. John Christian (Chris)

ALP

Bland, NSW; South Sydney, NSW

37

0

27.4.1904–17.8.1904

-

3

21

4th

Reid, the Rt Hon. George Houstoun, KC
(later Sir George, GCB, GCMG)

FT*

East Sydney, NSW

59

5

18.8.1904–5.7.1905

-

10

18

5th

Fisher, the Rt Hon. Andrew

ALP

Wide Bay, Qld

46

2

13.11.1908–2.6.1909

-

6

21

ALP

29.4.1910–24.6.1913

3

1

26

ALP

17.9.1914–27.10.1915

1

1

11

6th

Cook, the Rt Hon. Joseph (later Sir Joseph, GCMG)

LP

Parramatta, NSW

52

6

24.6.1913–17.9.1914

1

2

25

7th

Hughes, the Rt Hon. William Morris, CH, KC

ALP
NAT LAB
NAT

West Sydney, NSW; Bendigo, Vic., North Sydney, NSW; Bradfield, NSW

53

1

27.10.1915–14.11.1916
14.11.1916–17.2.1917
17.2.1917–9.2.1923

7

3

14

8th

Bruce, the Rt Hon. Stanley Melbourne, CH, MC
(later 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne)

NAT*

Flinders, Vic.

39

9

9.2.1923–22.10.1929

6

8

14

9th

Scullin, the Rt Hon. James Henry

ALP

Corangamite, Vic.; Yarra, Vic.

53

1

22.10.1929–6.1.1932

2

2

16

10th

Lyons, the Rt Hon. Joseph Aloysius, CH

UAP
UAP*

Wilmot, Tas.

52

3

6.1.1932–9.11.1934
9.11.1934–7.4.1939

7

3

2

11th

Page, the Rt Hon. Sir Earle Christmas Grafton, GCMG, CH

CP*

Cowper, NSW

58

8

7.4.1939–26.4.1939

-

-

20

12th

Menzies, the Rt Hon. Robert Gordon, KC
(later Sir Robert, KT, CH, QC)

UAP
UAP*
LP*

Kooyong, Vic.

44

54

4

11

26.4.1939–14.3.1940
14.3.1940–29.8.1941
19.12.1949–26.1.1966

2

16

4

1

4

8

13th

Fadden, the Rt Hon. Arthur William
(later Sir Arthur, GCMG)[1]

CP*

Darling Downs, Qld; McPherson, Qld

46

4

29.8.1941–7.10.1941

-

1

9

14th

Curtin, the Rt Hon. John Joseph Ambrose

ALP

Fremantle, WA

56

9

7.10.1941–5.7.1945

3

8

29

15th

Forde, the Rt Hon. Francis Michael

ALP

Capricornia, Qld

54

11

6.7.1945–13.7.1945

-

-

8

16th

Chifley, the Rt Hon. Joseph Benedict

ALP

Macquarie, NSW

59

9

13.7.1945–19.12.1949

4

5

7

17th

Holt, the Rt Hon. Harold Edward, CH

LP*

Fawkner, Vic.; Higgins, Vic.

57

5

26.1.1966–19.12.1967

1

10

23

18th

McEwen, the Rt Hon. John (later Sir John, GCMG, CH)

CP*

Echuca, Vic.; Indi, Vic.; Murray, Vic.

67

8

19.12.1967–10.1.1968

-

-

23

19th

Gorton, the Rt Hon. John Grey, CH
(later Sir John, GCMG, AC)

LP*

Higgins, Vic.

56

4

10.1.1968–10.3.1971

3

2

-

20th

McMahon, the Rt Hon. William, CH
(later Sir William, GCMG)

LP*

Lowe, NSW

63

0

10.3.1971–5.12.1972

1

8

25

21st

Whitlam, the Hon. Edward Gough, AC, QC

ALP

Werriwa, NSW

56

4

5.12.1972–11.11.1975

2

11

7

22nd

Fraser, the Rt Hon. John Malcolm, AC, CH

LP*

Wannon, Vic.

45

5

11.11.1975–11.3.1983

7

4

-

23rd

Hawke, the Hon. Robert James Lee, AC

ALP

Wills, Vic.

53

3

11.3.1983–20.12.1991

8

9

9

24th

Keating, the Hon. Paul John

ALP

Blaxland, NSW

47

11

20.12.1991–11.3.1996

4

2

20

25th

Howard, the Hon. John Winston

LP*

Bennelong, NSW

56

7

11.3.1996–3.12.2007

11

8

23

26th

Rudd, the Hon. Kevin Michael

ALP

Griffith, Qld

50

2

3.12.2007–24.6.2010

2

6

22

ALP

Griffith, Qld.

55

9

27.6.2013–18.9.2013

-

2

23

27th

Gillard, the Hon. Julia Eileen

ALP

Lalor, Vic.

48

8

24.6.2010–27.6.2013

3

-

3

28th

Abbott, the Hon. Anthony (Tony) John

LP*

Warringah, NSW

55

10

18.9.2013–15.9.2015

1

11

29

29th

Turnbull, the Hon. Malcolm Bligh

LP*

Wentworth, NSW

60

11

15.9.2015–

Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook.

*Coalition government.

Bold text indicates electorate represented whilst in office where more than one seat was held.

Appendix 2: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901 ̶ 2015: reason for leaving office

Name

Parliamentary Term(s)

Reason for leaving office

Barton, Sir Edmund

29.3.01–30.9.03 (Res)

Resigned to take up appointment to High Court

Deakin, Alfred–1

See below (Ret)

Defeated on the floor of the House. Remained in House of Representatives

Watson, John Christian

29.3.1901–19.2.1910 (Res)

Defeated on the floor of the House. Became Leader of the Opposition until 5.7.05

Reid, George

29.3.1901–18.8.1903 (Res)
4.9.1903–24.12.1909 (Res)

Defeated on the floor of the House. Became Leader of the Opposition until 16.11.08

Deakin, Alfred–2

See below

Defeated on the floor of the House. Remained in House of Representatives

Fisher, Andrew–1

See below

Defeated on the floor of the House

Deakin, Alfred–3

29.3.01–23.4.13 (Ret)

Defeated at general election. Became Leader of the Opposition until 20.1.13

Fisher, Andrew–2

See below

Defeated at general election. Became Leader of the Opposition until 17.9.14

Cook, Joseph

29.3.01–11.11.21 (Res)

Defeated at general election. Became Leader of the Opposition until 17.2.17

Fisher, Andrew–3

30.3.01–26.10.15 (Res)

Resigned to become High Commissioner in London

Hughes, William M.

29.3.01–28.10.52 (Died)

Resigned. Remained in House of Representatives as private member and minister

Bruce, Stanley Melbourne

11.5.18–12.10.29 (Def)
19.12.31–6.10.33 (Res)

Defeated at general election and lost own seat.
Resigned to become High Commissioner in London

Scullin, James

13.4.10–31.5.13 (Def)
18.2.22–31.10.49 (Ret)

Defeated at general election. Became Leader of the Opposition until 1.10.35

Lyons, Joseph

12.10.29–7.4.39 (Died)

Died as PM

Page, Sir Earle

13.12.19–9.12.61 (Def)

Caretaker

Menzies, Robert–1

See below

Party room defeat. Remained Minister until 7.10.41

Fadden, Arthur

19.12.36–14.12.58 (Ret)

Defeated on the floor of the House. Became Leader of the Opposition until 23.9.43

Curtin, John

17.11.28–19.12.31 (Def)
15.9.34–5.7.45 (Died)

Died as PM

Forde, Francis

16.12.22–28.9.46 (Def)

Caretaker

Chifley, Ben

17.11.28–19.12.31 (Def)
21.4.40–13.6.51 (Died)

Defeated at general election. Became Leader of the Opposition until death

Menzies, Robert–2

15.9.34–17.2.66 (Res)

Resigned as PM and resigned from Parliament 3 weeks later

Holt, Harold

17.8.35–19.12.67 (Died)

Died as PM*

McEwen, John

15.9.34–1.2.71 (Res)

Caretaker

Gorton, John

22.2.50–1.2.68 (Sen)
24.2.68–11.11.75 (Ret)

Party room defeat, own casting vote. Remained in Ministry for 5 months, then private member, Ind. last 5 months

McMahon, William

10.12.49–4.1.82 (Res)

Defeated at general election. Remained in House of Representatives as private member

Whitlam, Gough

29.11.52–31.7.78 (Res)

Dismissed by Governor-General and then defeated at general election. Became Leader of the Opposition until 22.12.77 , then private member for 7 months

Fraser, Malcolm

10.12.55–31.3.83 (Res)

Defeated at general election and resigned two weeks later

Hawke, Robert

18.10.80–20.2.92 (Res)

Party room defeat. Resigned two months later

Keating, Paul

25.10.69–23.4.96 (Res)

Defeated at general election and resigned seven weeks later

Howard, John

18.5.74–24.11.07 (Def)

Defeated at general election on 24.11.2007 and lost own seat

Rudd, Kevin – 1

See below

Lost support of party on 24.6.2010 (no ballot). Became Minister for Foreign Affairs on 14.9.10 until 26.2.12

Gillard, Julia

3.10.98–5.8.13 (Ret)

Party room defeat; retired on 5.8.2013

Rudd, Kevin – 2

3.10.98 ̶ 22.11.13 (Res)

Defeated at general election and resigned 76 days later

Abbott, Tony

26.3.94–

Party room defeat

Turnbull, Malcolm

9.10.04–

Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook.

*Disappeared in sea on 17 December 1967 and presumed dead on 19 December 1967.

Note: In the early post-Federation years, 'defeated on the floor of the House' was used for occasions when the Prime Minister resigned before a vote was taken, having seen where the shifting alliances were headed.

Appendix 3: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901–2015: party representation

Party

Prime Minister

Total by party

Australian Labor Party

Chris Watson
Andrew Fisher
William Hughes*
James Scullin
John Curtin
Francis (Frank) Forde
Ben Chifley
Gough Whitlam
Robert Hawke
Paul Keating
Kevin Rudd
Julia Gillard

12

Country Party/National Party of Australia/The Nationals

William Hughes*
Stanley Bruce
Earle Page
Arthur Fadden
John McEwen

5

Free Trade Party

George Reid

1

Liberal Party/Liberal Party of Australia

Joseph Cook
Robert Menzies*
Harold Holt
John Gorton
William McMahon
Malcolm Fraser
John Howard
Tony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull

9

National Labour Party

William Hughes*

1

Protectionist Party

Edmund Barton
Alfred Deakin

2

United Australia Party

Joseph Lyons
Robert Menzies*

2

Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook.

*Led more than one party.

Appendix 4: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901–2015: first speeches

Prime Minister

Source

Abbott, Tony

House of Representatives, Debates, 31 May 1994, p. 1080

Barton, Sir Edmund

House of Representatives, Debates, 21 May 1901, p. 106

Bruce, Stanley

House of Representatives, Debates, 24 May 1918, p. 5137

Chifley, Ben

House of Representatives, Debates, 21 Feb 1929, p. 499

Cook, Joseph

House of Representatives, Debates, 22 May 1901, p. 169

Curtin, John

House of Representatives, Debates, 14 Feb 1929, p. 274

Deakin, Alfred

House of Representatives, Debates, 6 Jun 1901, p. 789

Fadden, Arthur

House of Representatives, Debates, 17 June 1937, p. 35

Fisher, Andrew

House of Representatives, Debates, 18 Jul 1901, p. 2761

Forde, Francis

House of Representatives, Debates, 2 Mar 1923, p. 127

Fraser, Malcolm

House of Representatives, Debates, 22 Feb 1956, p. 149

Gillard, Julia

House of Representatives, Debates, 11 Nov 1998, p. 59

Gorton, John
Gorton, John

Senate, Debates, 1 Mar 1950, p. 204
Senate, Debates, 2 Mar 1950, p. 258

Hawke, Robert

House of Representatives, Debates, 26 Nov 1980, p. 97

Holt, Harold

House of Representatives, Debates, 10 Oct 1935, p. 660

Howard, John

House of Representatives, Debates, 26 Sep 1974, p. 1911

Hughes, William

House of Representatives, Debates, 23 May 1901, p. 321

Keating, Paul

House of Representatives, Debates, 17 Mar 1970, p. 512

Lyons, Joseph

House of Representatives, Debates, 28 Nov 1929, p. 465

McEwen, John

House of Representatives, Debates, 15 Nov 1934, p. 373

McMahon, William

House of Representatives, Debates, 2 Mar 1950, p. 313

Menzies, Robert

House of Representatives, Debates, 2 Nov 1934, p. 164

Page, Earle

House of Representatives, Debates, 4 Mar 1920, p. 194

Reid, George

House of Representatives, Debates, 21 May 1901, p. 92

Rudd, Kevin

House of Representatives, Debates, 11 Nov 1998, p. 162

Scullin, James

House of Representatives, Debates, 1 July 1910, p. 41

Turnbull, Malcolm

House of Representatives, Debates, 29 November 2004, p. 63

Watson, Chris

House of Representatives, Debates, 22 May 1901, p. 182

Whitlam, Gough

House of Representatives, Debates, 19 Mar 1953, p. 1423

Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook.

Appendix 5: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901 ̶ 2015: prior employment experience

Occupational category

Name*

Employment experience

Legal

Edmund Barton
Stanley Bruce
Alfred Deakin
Julia Gillard
Harold Holt
John Howard
William Hughes
William McMahon
Robert Menzies
George Reid
Malcolm Turnbull
Gough Whitlam

Barrister, judge
Barrister
Barrister
Solicitor, legal partner
Solicitor, barrister
Solicitor
Barrister
Solicitor
Barrister
Barrister
Lawyer
Barrister

Business

Stanley Bruce
Malcolm Fraser
John Gorton
John McEwen
Earle Page
Kevin Rudd
James Scullin
Malcolm Turnbull
Chris Watson

Businessman
Primary producer
Orchardist
Farmer
Businessman
Consultant
Grocer
Investment banker and venture capitalist
Company director

Trade/clerical

Ben Chifley
Joseph Cook
John Curtin
Arthur Fadden
Andrew Fisher
Francis Forde
Paul Keating
Chris Watson

Engine-driver
Coal-miner, clerk
Clerk
Accountant
Miner, engine-driver, finance manager
Railway clerk, electrical engineer
Pay clerk
Newspaper compositor

Trade union

John Curtin
Robert Hawke
Paul Keating
James Scullin
Chris Watson

Union organiser
Research officer and advocate, ACTU
Union advocate
Union organiser
Union official

Journalism

Tony Abbott
John Curtin
Alfred Deakin
James Scullin
Malcolm Turnbull

Journalist
Journalist
Journalist
Journalist
Journalist

Teaching

Frank Forde
William Hughes
Joseph Lyons

Teacher
Teacher
Teacher

Public service

Stanley Bruce
George Reid
Kevin Rudd

Public servant
Public servant
Public servant

Political organisation

Tony Abbott
Julia Gillard

Press secretary and political adviser to Leader of the Opposition
Chief of staff to Victorian Leader of the Opposition

Medical

Earle Page

Surgeon

Diplomatic service

Kevin Rudd

Diplomat

Labourer

William Hughes

Rouseabout

Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from National Archives of Australia, Australia’s prime ministers, accessed 21 October 2015.

*Some prime ministers are represented in more than one occupational category. 

Appendix 6: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901–2015: other parliamentary experience

Name

Service in other parliaments

Barton, Edmund

NSW Legislative Assembly 8.1879 ̶ 11.1880 (University of Sydney); 11.1880 ̶ 11.1882 (Wellington); 11.1882 ̶  6.1894 (East Sydney); 9.1898 ̶ 2.1900 (Hastings-Macleay); NSW Legislative Council 3.1887 ̶ 6.1891, 5.1897 ̶ 7.1898

Bruce, Stanley

Member of the House of Lords (UK) after serving as Prime Minister of Australia

Cook, Joseph

NSW Legislative Assembly 7.1891 ̶ 6.1901 (Hartley)

Deakin, Alfred

Victorian Legislative Assembly 7.1879 ̶ 8.1879; 7.1880 ̶ 3.1889 (West Bourke); 4.1889 ̶ 10.1900 (Essendon and Flemington)

Fadden, Arthur

Queensland Legislative Assembly 6.1932 ̶ 5.1935 (Kennedy)

Fisher, Andrew

Queensland Legislative Assembly 4.1893 ̶ 3.1896; 3.1899 ̶ 5.1901 (Gympie)

Forde, Francis

Queensland Legislative Assembly 5.1917 ̶ 10.1922 (Rockhampton); 3.1955 ̶ 8.1957 (Flinders)

Hughes, William

NSW Legislative Assembly 7.1894 ̶ 6.1901 (Sydney-Lang)

Lyons, Joseph

Tasmanian Legislative Assembly 4.1909 ̶ 9.1929 (Wilmot); Premier 10.1923 ̶ 6.1928

Menzies, Robert

Victorian Legislative Council 10.1928 ̶ 11.29 (East Yarra); Victorian Legislative Assembly 11.1929 ̶ 7.1934 (Nunawading)

Reid, George

NSW Legislative Assembly 11.1880 ̶ 6.1894 (East Sydney); 7.1884 ̶ 6.1901 (East Sydney-King); Premier 8.1894 ̶ 9.1899; Member of the House of Commons (UK) 10.1.1916 ̶ 12.9.1918

Watson, Chris

NSW Legislative Assembly 7.1894 ̶ 6.1901 (Young)

Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook; Re-Member (former Members), Parliament of Victoria; Former Members, Parliament of New South Wales; Former Members register, Queensland Parliament; ‘Lyons, Joseph Aloysius’, The Parliament of Tasmania from 1856, all accessed 18 August 2015.

Appendix 7: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901–2015: military service

Prime Minister

Military service

Bruce, Stanley

Commissioned in the UK Worcestershire Regiment in World War I and seconded to the Royal Fusiliers as temporary captain. Wounded in Gallipoli campaign and invalided to England. Awarded Military Cross and Croix de Guerre avec Palme.

Gorton, John

Served as RAAF fighter pilot during World War II. Posted to British squadron in 1942 which was sent to Singapore four weeks before Japanese occupation. Injured after being forced to crash land his aircraft on Bintarn Island. Rescued and evacuated on ammunition ship that was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. He survived 24 hours on life raft before being rescued by HMAS Ballarat. Served with No. 77 Squadron in Darwin where he had a second flying accident, then sent to Milne Bay, New Guinea where he survived a third flying accident. Posted back to Australia in 1943 and became instructor in fighter tactics.

Holt, Harold

Whilst serving in Cabinet he enlisted in army in May 1940 and trained as gunner in 2nd Australian Imperial Force but never left Australian shores. Returned to Cabinet following death of three ministers in an air crash in Canberra on 13 August 1940 and discharged from AIF.

McEwen, John

Enlisted in 1st Australian Imperial Force and called up in 1918, but World War I ended while awaiting departure for France and subsequently discharged.

McMahon, William

Called up in 1940 and served in a militia infantry battalion and machine-gun training battalion before becoming a staff officer at the Headquarters of Eastern Command and the Second Australian Army. Volunteered for overseas service but classified as medically unfit due to a hearing problem. Resigned his commission in 1943.

Page, Earle

Enlisted in Australian Army Medical Corps in 1916 and served overseas as doctor in Egypt, England and France before securing an early discharge.

Whitlam, Gough

Enlisted in RAAF in 1941 and called up in 1942. Served as navigator and stationed at Gove in the Northern Territory, protecting convoys off northern Australia. Undertook bombing raids on enemy supply camps. Ended his war service as Flight Lieutenant Navigator in 1945.

Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook; Australian National University, Australian Dictionary of Biography; National Archives of Australia, Australia’s prime ministers, M Lumb, S Bennett and J Moremon, Commonwealth Members of Parliament who have served in war, Research brief 10, 2006 ̶ 07, 26 March 2007, all accessed 18 August 2015.

Appendix 8: Australia’s prime ministers, 1901–2015: birthplaces and places of burial/cremation

Name

Party

Seat

Birthplace

Place of burial/cremation

Abbott, Tony

LIB

Warringah, NSW

London, England, UK

Barton, Sir Edmund

PROT

Hunter, NSW

Glebe, NSW

South Head Cemetery, NSW

Bruce, Stanley

NAT

Flinders, VIC

Melbourne, VIC

Cremated, ashes over Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, ACT

Chifley, Ben

ALP

Macquarie, NSW

Bathurst, NSW

Bathurst Cemetery, NSW

Cook, Joseph

LIB

Parramatta, NSW

Staffordshire, England

Cremated, Northern Suburbs Crematorium, NSW

Curtin, John

ALP

Fremantle, WA

Creswick, VIC

Karakatta Cemetery, WA

Deakin, Alfred 

PROT

Ballarat, VIC

Fitzroy, VIC

St Kilda Cemetery, Vic.

Fadden, Arthur

CP

Darling Downs, QLD

Ingham, QLD

Cremated, Mt Thomson Crematorium, Brisbane, Qld

Fisher, Andrew

ALP

Wide Bay, QLD

Ayrshire, Scotland

Hamstead Cemetery, England

Forde, Francis

ALP

Capricornia, QLD

Mitchell, QLD

Brisbane General Cemetery,  Qld

Fraser, Malcolm

LIB

Wannon, VIC

Melbourne, VIC

*

Gillard, Julia

ALP

Lalor,VIC

Barry, Wales, UK

Gorton, John

LIB

Higgins, VIC

Melbourne, VIC

*

Hawke, Robert

ALP

Wills, VIC

Bordertown, SA

Holt, Harold

LIB

Higgins, VIC

Sydney, NSW

Never recovered from sea. Plaque set into rock at Portsea, visible low tide.

Howard, John

LIB

Bennelong, NSW

Earlwood, NSW

Hughes, William

ALP/
NAT LAB/
NAT

West Sydney, NSW
Bendigo, VIC
North Sydney, NSW

London, England

Northern Suburbs Cemetery, NSW

Keating, Paul

ALP

Blaxland, NSW

Sydney, NSW

Lyons, Joseph

UAP

Wilmot, TAS

Stanley, TAS

Mersey Vale Memorial Park, Quoiba, Tas.

McEwen, John

CP

Murray, VIC

Chiltern, VIC

Cremated Springvale Crematorium, Vic.

McMahon, William

LIB

Lowe, NSW

Sydney, NSW

Cremated, Northern Suburbs Crematorium, NSW

Menzies, Robert 

UAP

Kooyong, VIC

Jeparit, VIC

Cremated, Melbourne, Vic.

Page, Earle

CP

Cowper, NSW

Grafton, NSW

Cremated, Northern Suburbs Crematorium, NSW

Reid, George

FT

East Sydney, NSW

Renfrewshire, Scotland

Putney Vale Cemetery, England

Rudd, Kevin

ALP

Griffith, Qld

Nambour, QLD

Scullin, James

ALP

Yarra, VIC

Trawalla, VIC

Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Vic.

Turnbull, Malcolm

LIB

Wentworth, NSW

Sydney, NSW

Watson, Chris

ALP

Bland, NSW

Valparaiso, Chile

Cremated, Northern Suburbs Crematorium, NSW

Whitlam, Gough

ALP

Werriwa, NSW

Kew, VIC

*

Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from the Parliamentary Handbook and information supplied by the Office of Australian War Graves.

*Information not available at time of publication.

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[1].               Arthur Fadden was Prime Minister for six weeks in 1941, but also served as acting Prime Minister for periods totalling nearly two years during Prime Minister Menzies’ visits to Britain in 1949 ̶ 58.