Arthur William Fadden

‘Artie’ Fadden’s 40-day term as caretaker prime minister belied his huge influence as Menzies’ deputy. Originally perceived as a stop-gap deputy between Page and McEwen, Fadden (1894–1973) hung on for 18 years, although he failed to hold the conservatives together after Menzies’ 1941 resignation. A pragmatist with a quick wit and a devastating line of repartee, Fadden proved the perfect foil to the more pompous Menzies.

Portrait by Sir William Dargie, 1912–2003

John Joseph Curtin

Widely regarded as Australia’s saviour during WWII, Curtin (1885–1945) broke with Britain over the recall of Australian troops to defend their homeland, and turned to the USA for help in the war against Japan. A pacifist by nature, he was forced to introduce conscription despite the opposition of many in his own party. The strain contributed to his death, six weeks before the end of the war. He is seen by many on both sides of politics as Australia’s greatest leader.

Portrait by Anthony Dattilo Rubbo, 1870–1955

Francis Michael Forde

With just eight days in office, Forde (1890–1983) was Australia’s shortest-serving prime minister: as the Labor Party’s deputy leader he filled the gap between Curtin’s death and the election of Chifley. Forde continued to serve faithfully as deputy under Chifley, until he lost his seat in 1946. Ironically, Forde later became something of a Labor icon through his longevity, attending numerous party functions and celebrations until his death at the age of 92. 

Portrait by Joshua Smith, 1905–1995

Joseph Benedict Chifley

Arguably Australia’s best-loved prime minister and a modest man, Chifley (1885–1951) presided over postwar reconstruction and projects such as the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme and a comprehensive immigration program. He founded the Australian National University in Canberra, devised a national system of income tax and set up ASIO. His attempt to nationalise the banks and a refusal to end wartime rationing led to his defeat in 1949.

Portrait by Archibald D. Colquhoun, 1905–1995

Edmund Barton (1901-1903)

Barton (1849–1920) campaigned for 10 years to bring about federation and helped draft the Constitution. He coined the line “for the first time in the world’s history there will be a nation for a continent and a continent for a nation”. In establishing the infrastructure for a new nation, his government created the Federal Arbitration Court and the High Court. When he resigned in 1903, he became one of the first High Court judges.

Portrait by Norman Carter, 1875–1963

Alfred Deakin (1903-1904, 1905-1908, 1909-1910)

Three times prime minister in the first decade of federation, Deakin (1856–1919) was Australia’s first great statesman. The youngest member of the first cabinet, Deakin was flexible in his alliances and known as “Affable Alfred”. As prime minister, he helped set up the Australian Army and Navy and established Canberra as the site for the capital city. Something of a mystic, Deakin believed he could commune with spirits.

Portrait by Frederick McCubbin, 1855–1917

John Christian Watson (1904)

Chile-born Watson (1867–1941) was Australia’s first Labor prime minister and also the country’s youngest, taking office at the age of 37. However, the conservatives combined to defeat his government after less than four months. Watson’s main legacy was to reassure the electorate that the Labor Party (then spelt Labour) wasn’t a revolutionary group, but a party committed to the parliamentary process. In retirement he helped set up the NRMA.

Portrait by John Longstaff, 1862–1941

George Houston Reid (1904-1905)

Reid’s equivocal position on federation earned him the nickname “Yes/No Reid” and he was distrusted by many colleagues during his time as prime minister in a minority government. Born in Scotland, Reid (1845–1918) later became the first High Commissioner for Australia in London then won a seat in the British House of Commons, making him the only person to have sat in the colonial, federal and British parliaments.

Portrait by George Lambert, 1873–1930

Andrew Fisher (1908-1909, 1910-1913, 1914-1915)

An ex-coalminer and a dour Scot, Fisher (1862–1928) succeeded Watson as Labor leader and, like Deakin, was prime minister on three separate occasions. In his second term, Fisher passed 113 new Acts, including setting up an Australian monetary system. Fisher led Australia into WWI, promising to support Britain “to the last man and the last shilling”, but became disillusioned after Gallipoli. He instituted invalid pensions and the Commonwealth Bank.

Portrait by Emanuel Phillips Fox, 1865–1915

Joseph Cook (1913-1914)

Cook (originally Cooke, 1860–1947) was an English-born Methodist lay preacher and coalminer who came into politics through the trade-union movement but defected to join the conservatives. His administration held a majority of only one and inevitably struggled to pass new legislation. Cook’s proudest boast was that as Minister for Defence under Deakin, he brought Lord Kitchener to Australia to help set up compulsory military training.

Portrait by Norman Carter, 1875–1963

William Morris Hughes (1916-1923)

Arriving in Melbourne from the rough and tumble of NSW Labor politics, Hughes (1862–1952) was ruthless and abrasive. An enthusiastic supporter of Australia’s involvement in WWI, he split the Labor Party over conscription and became known as “The Little Digger” for his jingoistic speeches. Hughes formed an alliance with conservatives, but after the war he lost the support of the Country Party and was dumped. He remained in parliament for almost 30 more years.

Portrait by George Lambert, 1873–1930

Stanley Melbourne Bruce (1923-1929)

The antithesis of Hughes, Bruce (1883–1967) was an aristocrat who won the Military Cross and Croix de Guerre in WWI. While in office, he increased the Federal Government’s financial power over the States, increased exports of primary produce, set up the precursor to the CSIRO and oversaw the transfer of parliament from Melbourne to Canberra. In the election following the move, Bruce lost his seat, the first sitting prime minister to have done so.

Portrait by William McInnes, 1889–1939

James Henry Scullin (1929-1932)

Australia’s first Roman Catholic prime minister, Scullin (1876–1953) had the misfortune to take office at the onset of the Great Depression. With a conservative-controlled Senate and the Bank of England thwarting all Scullin’s attempts at reform, the Labor Party split again. Ironically, the conservative government that followed pursued many of his policies. Scullin established the ABC and appointed Sir Isaac Isaacs as the first Australian-born governor-general.

Portrait by William McInnes, 1889–1939

Joseph Aloysius Lyons (1932-1939)

The only prime minister born in Tasmania, Lyons (1879–1939) defected from the Labor Party, but was known as “Honest Joe”. He was devoted to his 11 children and his wife Enid who in 1943 became the first woman elected to the House of Representatives. Lyons oversaw Australia’s economic recovery from the Depression and won three successive elections. As WWII approached, his health failed and he became the first prime minister to die in office.

Portrait by William McInnes, 1889–1939

Earle Christmas Page (1939)

A medical doctor from Grafton in northern NSW, Page (1880–1961), a founder of the Country Party, became a caretaker prime minister for just 19 days. After refusing to support Menzies, he handed party leadership to Fadden. In other governments he served in several portfolios, including the thankless position of Treasurer while world commodity prices plummeted. As Health Minister, Page initiated Australia’s first national health scheme.

Portrait by Fred Leist, 1873–1945

Robert Gordon Menzies (1939-1941, 1949-1966)

Menzies’ first term as prime minister was undisting­uished – his inability to oversee Australia’s war effort forced an early resignation. During his next period in opposition he formed the modern Liberal Party and returned to power in 1949 for a record 17-year term marked by economic growth, increased immigration and Cold War rhetoric. A brilliant politician, Menzies (1894–1973) kept his enemies divided and his party su­bservient. He retired by choice, heaped with honours.

Portrait by Ivor Hele, 1912–93

Harold Edward Holt (1966-1967)

Menzies hand-picked Holt – then Treasurer – as his successor. Holt (1908–67) had initial public success during the Vietnam War when he declared that Australia was “all the way with L.B.J.” (US President Lyndon Baines Johnson). Recognising that Australia’s future was tied to Asia, he made an effort to form relationships with Asian leaders, but Holt had continual problems in parliament and there were moves to replace him before his mystery disappearance in 1967.

Portrait by William Pidgeon, 1909–81

John McEwen (1967-1968)

Known as “Black Jack” for his dark complexion and harsh treatment of rivals, McEwen (1900–80) became a short-term caretaker prime minister after Holt’s death. In 22 years as the minister responsible for trade, McEwen saw his chief role as protecting jobs and rural interests, locking Australia into a high-tariff regime that lasted into the 1970s. He negotiated an international sugar agreement and trade agreements with the UK and Japan.

Portrait by Sir William Dargie, 1912–2003

John Grey Gorton (1968-1971)

The first senator to be made prime minister, Gorton (1911–2002) moved to Holt’s seat in the House of Repre­sen­tatives after the latter’s death. During his time in office, women won the right to equal pay for equal work and the government legislated to protect Australian fisheries. After a series of crises during which several ministers resigned, Gorton demanded a vote of confidence from his party. With the vote tied, he used his casting vote against himself.

Portrait by June Mendoza, 1920s–

William McMahon (1971-1972)

Like many parliamentarians, “Billy” McMahon (1908–88) was a solicitor before being elected to parliament. As prime minister, he began the withdrawal of Austra­lian troops from Vietnam, promising they’d all be home by Christmas 1971, although some still remained when Whitlam came to power in 1972. In efforts to preserve the “Australianness” of corporate life, his government passed an Act allowing the government to block the takeover of Australian companies.

Portrait by Ivor Hele, 1912–93

Edward Gough Whitlam (1972-1975)

Whitlam (1916–2014) came to power with a monumental program for social change – a record 253 bills were introduced in the first year – but with a ministry that lacked experience. Hamstrung by a hostile Senate, his government was driven to an election within 14 months when financial supply was refused. After a series of crises in 1975, the Senate again refused to approve the budget. On 11 November 1975, Whitlam was sacked by Governor-General Sir John Kerr.

Detail of portrait by Clifton Pugh, 1924–90

John Malcolm Fraser (1975-1983)

Fraser (1930–2015) was appointed caretaker prime minister by Kerr and won two subsequent elections against Whitlam in landslide victories. Although he attempted to wind back some of the sweeping changes instituted by Whitlam, he passed legislation on Aboriginal Land Rights and supported some conservation issues. He once famously proclaimed “Life wasn’t mean to be easy”. Since leaving politics he’s been involved in international charity work.

Portrait by Ivor Hele, 1912–93

Robert James Lee Hawke (1983-1991)

An immensely popular trade union leader who boasted of what he called his love affair with the Australian people, Hawke (1929–) became Labor leader in time to ambush Fraser at the 1983 election. Abandoning many traditional Labor economic policies in his first term, he floated the Australian dollar, deregulated the banking industry and achieved agreement on a wage freeze. He won four elections to become the Labor Party’s longest-serving prime minister.

Portrait by Bill Leak, 1956–

Paul John Keating (1991-1996)

As Hawke’s treasurer, Keating (1944–) had overseen the deregulation of the Australian economy. As prime minister he focused on what he called “the big picture items” – Australia’s relationship with Asia, reconciliation with Indigenous Australians and the push for Australia to become a republic. A ferocious debater, he was seen by many as out of touch with the everyday concerns of the electorate. He was defeated in 1996, ending 13 years of Labor rule.

Portrait by Robert Hannaford, 1944–

John Winston Howard (1996-2007)

Howard (1939–) was first elected after ongoing leadership instability in the Liberal Party. In 2000, he introduced a goods and service tax (GST) and in 2001 strengthened ties with the USA when he sent Australian forces to Iraq. He was defeated in 2007, largely due to ‘WorkChoices’, an amendment to the Workplace Relations Act. He became the second prime minister, after Bruce, to lose his own parliamentary seat at election, and was our second-longest-serving PM, after Menzies.

Portrait by Jaiwei Shen, 1948–

Kevin Michael Rudd (2007-2010, 2013)

Although he claimed the 2007 election after a 23-seat swing, Rudd (1957–) was the first Australian prime minister to be ousted from office by his own party during his first term. While in power, he signed the Kyoto Protocol, delivered an apology to Indigenous Australians for the Stolen Generation and largely dismantled WorkChoices. In response to the Global Financial Crisis he provided economic stimulus packages that helped Australia avoid recession. After the June 2013 Labor leadership spill, Kevin Rudd succesfully challenged successor Julia Gillard to become prime minister and Labor leader until Liberal leader Tony Abbott was elected in September.

Rudd does not yet have an official portrait.

Image credit: AUSPIC

Julia Eileen Gillard (2010-2013)

Australia’s first female prime minister, Gillard (1961-) came into power after Rudd lost party support and she stepped up from deputy. During her first day in office, she confirmed Australia’s continuing support for the US-led military campaign in Afghanistan, and on her 23rd day announced the 2010 federal election, which resulted in the first hung parliament in Australia since 1940. Gillard made alliances with the Australian Greens and three independent MPs to form a minority government. She lost party support in the lead up to the 2013 election, and was replaced by Kevin Rudd in June.

Gillard does not yet have an official portrait.

Image credit: DPS AUSPIC

Anthony John Abbott (2013-2015)

Australia’s first Liberal prime minister in six years, Tony Abbott was elected on a policy of austerity and economic restraint. Forming a coalition with the National Party, Abbott’s government focussed on restoring the budget deficit and tighter asylum seeker laws. Under Operation Sovereign Borders, the Abbott government saw only one boat with asylum seekers arrive during its term. In September 2015, Malcolm Turnbull successfully challenged Abbott for Liberal party leadership, citing unfavourable public polling.

Abbott does not yet have an official portrait.

Image credit: Auspic

Malcolm Turnbull (2015-)

Malcolm Turnbull became prime minister in September 2015 after a Liberal Party leadership spill. Turnbull has remained committed to the same policies as the Abbott government, although has shifted the spotlight to focus on small business and entrepreneurship. He also shuffled the front bench – notably, Tony Abbott and former treasurer Joe Hockey were sent to the backbench.

Turnbull called a double dissolution election for July 2, 2016, after the senate rejected an anti-corruption watchdog bill for the construction industry. The Coalition was re-elected with the minimum 76 elected seats required to form government.

As he is currently in office, Turnbull does not have an official portrait.

Image source: Parliamentary Education Office