Prime Minister of Australia

The office of Prime Minister is in practice the most powerful political office in the Commonwealth of Australia. The Prime Minister is head of government for the Commonwealth and holds office on commission from the Governor-General. Barring exceptional circumstances, the Prime Minister is always the leader of the political party with majority support in the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister's official residence is the Lodge in Canberra. Since 1996 the office-holder has been John Howard of the Liberal Party.

List of Prime Ministers

Main article: List of Prime Ministers of Australia by important facts

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The political parties shown are those to which the Prime Ministers belonged at the time they held office. Several Prime Ministers belonged during their life times to parties other than those of which they were members while occupying the office of Prime Minister.

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No.NamePartyAssumed officeLeft office

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1 Edmund BartonProtectionist 1 January 190124 September 1903

Related Topics:
Edmund Barton - Protectionist - 1 January - 1901 - 24 September - 1903

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2 Alfred DeakinProtectionist24 September 190327 April 1904

Related Topics:
Alfred Deakin - Protectionist - 24 September - 1903 - 27 April - 1904

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3 Chris WatsonLabor27 April 190418 August 1904

Related Topics:
Chris Watson - Labor - 27 April - 1904 - 18 August

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4 Sir George ReidFree Trade18 August 19045 July 1905

Related Topics:
Sir George Reid - Free Trade - 18 August - 1904 - 5 July - 1905

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- Alfred Deakin (2nd time)Comwlth. Liberal5 July 190513 November 1908

Related Topics:
Alfred Deakin - Comwlth. Liberal - 5 July - 1905 - 13 November - 1908

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5 Andrew FisherLabor13 November 19082 June 1909

Related Topics:
Andrew Fisher - Labor - 13 November - 1908 - 2 June - 1909

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- Alfred Deakin (3rd time)Comwlth. Liberal 2 June 1909 29 April 1910

Related Topics:
Alfred Deakin - Comwlth. Liberal - 2 June - 1909 - 29 April - 1910

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- Andrew Fisher (2nd time)Labor29 April 191024 June 1913

Related Topics:
Andrew Fisher - Labor - 29 April - 1910 - 24 June - 1913

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6 Joseph Cook Comwlth. Liberal24 June 191317 September 1914

Related Topics:
Joseph Cook - Comwlth. Liberal - 24 June - 1913 - 17 September - 1914

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- Andrew Fisher (3rd time)Labor17 September 191427 October 1915

Related Topics:
Andrew Fisher - Labor - 17 September - 1914 - 27 October - 1915

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7 Billy HughesLabor27 October 191514 November 1916

Related Topics:
Billy Hughes - Labor - 27 October - 1915 - 14 November - 1916

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- Billy Hughes (2nd time)National Labor14 November 191617 February 1917

Related Topics:
Billy Hughes - National Labor - 14 November - 1916 - 17 February - 1917

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- Billy Hughes (3rd time)Nationalist17 February 19179 February 1923

Related Topics:
Billy Hughes - Nationalist - 17 February - 1917 - 9 February - 1923

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8 Stanley BruceNationalist9 February 192322 October 1929

Related Topics:
Stanley Bruce - Nationalist - 9 February - 1923 - 22 October - 1929

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9 James Scullin Labor22 October 19296 January 1932

Related Topics:
James Scullin - Labor - 22 October - 1929 - 6 January - 1932

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10 Joseph LyonsUnited Australia6 January 19327 April 1939

Related Topics:
Joseph Lyons - United Australia - 6 January - 1932 - 7 April - 1939

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11 Sir Earle PageCountry7 April 193926 April 1939

Related Topics:
Sir Earle Page - Country - 7 April - 1939 - 26 April

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12 Robert MenziesUnited Australia26 April 193928 August 1941

Related Topics:
Robert Menzies - United Australia - 26 April - 1939 - 28 August - 1941

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13 Arthur FaddenCountry28 August 19417 October 1941

Related Topics:
Arthur Fadden - Country - 28 August - 1941 - 7 October

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14 John CurtinLabor7 October 19415 July 1945

Related Topics:
John Curtin - Labor - 7 October - 1941 - 5 July - 1945

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15 Frank FordeLabor6 July 194513 July 1945

Related Topics:
Frank Forde - Labor - 6 July - 1945 - 13 July

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16 Ben ChifleyLabor13 July 194519 December 1949

Related Topics:
Ben Chifley - Labor - 13 July - 1945 - 19 December - 1949

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- Sir Robert Menzies (2nd time)Liberal19 December 194926 January 1966

Related Topics:
Sir Robert Menzies - Liberal - 19 December - 1949 - 26 January - 1966

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17 Harold HoltLiberal26 January 196619 December 1967

Related Topics:
Harold Holt - Liberal - 26 January - 1966 - 19 December - 1967

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18 John McEwenCountry19 December 196710 January 1968

Related Topics:
John McEwen - Country - 19 December - 1967 - 10 January - 1968

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19 John GortonLiberal10 January 196810 March 1971

Related Topics:
John Gorton - Liberal - 10 January - 1968 - 10 March - 1971

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20 William McMahonLiberal10 March 19715 December 1972

Related Topics:
William McMahon - Liberal - 10 March - 1971 - 5 December - 1972

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21 Gough WhitlamLabor5 December 197211 November 1975

Related Topics:
Gough Whitlam - Labor - 5 December - 1972 - 11 November - 1975

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22 Malcolm FraserLiberal11 November 197511 March 1983

Related Topics:
Malcolm Fraser - Liberal - 11 November - 1975 - 11 March - 1983

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23 Bob Hawke Labor11 March 198320 December 1991

Related Topics:
Bob Hawke - Labor - 11 March - 1983 - 20 December - 1991

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24 Paul KeatingLabor20 December 199111 March 1996

Related Topics:
Paul Keating - Labor - 20 December - 1991 - 11 March - 1996

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25 John HowardLiberal11 March 1996(incumbent)

Related Topics:
John Howard - Liberal - 11 March - 1996

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