Leader of the Opposition (Australia)

Template:Short description Template:Featured list Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox official post

In Australian federal politics, the Leader of the Opposition is an elected member of parliament (MP) in the Australian House of Representatives who leads the opposition. The Leader of the Opposition, by convention, is the leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives that is not in government.<ref name="Handbook opp">Template:Cite book</ref>

When in parliament, the opposition leader sits on the left-hand side of the centre table, in front of the opposition and opposite the prime minister. The opposition leader is elected by their party according to its rules. A new leader of the opposition may be elected when the incumbent dies, resigns, or is challenged for the leadership.

Australia is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system and is based on the Westminster model. The term "opposition" has a specific meaning in the parliamentary sense. It is an important component of the Westminster system, with the opposition directing criticism at the government and attempts to defeat and replace the Government. The opposition is therefore known as the "government in waiting" and it is a formal part of the parliamentary system. It is in opposition to the government, but not to the Crown; hence the term "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

To date there have been 36 opposition leaders, 19 of whom also have served terms as prime minister.<ref name="hftn">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Since 13 May 2025, the Leader of the Opposition role is Sussan Ley, the first woman to hold the role.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> The current Deputy Leader of the Opposition is Ted O'Brien, who was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party on the same date.

Role

The opposition leader is the opposition's counterpart to the prime minister. The opposition leader is expected to be ready to form a new government if the incumbent government is unable to continue in office. This typically occurs when the opposition wins a federal election, after which the opposition leader is appointed prime minister. However, the opposition leader may also be called upon to form government if the incumbent government loses the confidence of the House (most recently in 1941) or if they are otherwise removed by the governor-general (most recently in 1975).<ref name="Handbook opp"/>

The opposition leader is the head of the shadow ministry, allocating portfolios and, in the case of the Coalition, determining its membership. The opposition leader is assisted by a deputy leader of the opposition, who is also recognised in the standing orders and entitled to an additional salary. Both the opposition leader and deputy opposition leader are entitled to a degree of special preference from the Speaker of the House.<ref name="Handbook opp"/>

The position of opposition leader has no constitutional basis but exists as a matter of convention in the Westminster system. A 1960 inquiry into parliamentary salaries and allowances observed:<ref name="Handbook opp"/>

The Leader of the Opposition has to make himself master of all the business which comes before the House (not merely that of one or two departments); he has to do this at times at short notice and under constant pressure; and he gets no help from permanent officials. At all times he is the spokesman for those who are critical of or opposed to the Government, and he must be unceasingly vigilant and active. He and the Prime Minister should be the most powerful agents in guiding and forming public opinion on issues of policy.{{#if:|

|}}{{#if:|

— {{#if:|, in }}Template:Comma separated entries

}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }}

Whereas according to the Coalition agreement the Leader of the National Party serves as Deputy Prime Minister when the Coalition is in government,<ref name = CoalitionDPM>Template:Cite news</ref> no such agreement exists when the Coalition is in Opposition, and no National Party politician has ever served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

History

File:Billy Snedden and Andrew Peacock in 1973 (1).jpg

Billy Snedden and Andrew Peacock on 12 October 1973. Both served as Opposition Leader, but never became Prime Minister.

George Reid became the de facto leader of the opposition in the lead-up to the inaugural 1901 federal election, following the appointment of Edmund Barton to lead a caretaker government as Australia's first prime minister. His status was confirmed when the House of Representatives met for the first time after the election. The opposition leader was initially not entitled to any salary or entitlements beyond those of an ordinary member of parliament. As a result, Reid had to maintain his legal practice in Sydney to support himself and was able to attend just over one-third of the sitting days in the first session of parliament.<ref name=heriot>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Although the role was firmly established, the House did not formally recognise the position of opposition leader in its records until 1920.<ref name="Handbook opp"/> It was recognised by statute for the first time with the passage of the Parliamentary Allowances Act 1920, which granted its holder an additional allowance.<ref name=heriot/> Prime Minister Andrew Fisher had previously offered Opposition Leader Alfred Deakin an allowance in 1910. Deakin declined, but did accept a paid secretary.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1931, the office was incorporated into the House's standing orders for the first time, with the opposition leader granted the right to exceed the time limit for speeches in certain instances.<ref name="Handbook opp"/>

Salary

The opposition leader's salary is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal, an independent statutory body.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of 1 July 2019, the incumbent is entitled to a parliamentarian's base salary of A$211,250 plus an additional 85% loading, equating to a salary of around $390,000.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

List of leaders of the opposition

No.	Leader		Party		Constituency	Took office	Left office	Prime Minister		Ref
1	George Reid Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:George Reid crop.jpg	rowspan="3" Template:Australian party style\|	Free Trade	East Sydney (NSW)	19 May 1901	17 August 1904	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style \|	Barton 1901–03	<ref name=Appendix>Template:Cite book</ref>
			Deakin 1903–04
			Template:Australian party style\|					Watson 1904
2	Chris Watson Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:ChrisWatsonBW crop.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	Labor	Bland (NSW)	18 August 1904	5 July 1905	Template:Australian party style\|	Reid 1904–05
(1)	George Reid Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:George Reid crop.jpg	rowspan="3" Template:Australian party style \|	Free Trade / Anti-Socialist	East Sydney (NSW)	7 July 1905	16 November 1908	Template:Australian party style\|	Deakin 1905–08
(1)	George Reid Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:George Reid crop.jpg	rowspan="3" Template:Australian party style\|	Free Trade / Anti-Socialist	East Sydney (NSW)	7 July 1905	16 November 1908	Fisher 1908–09
3	Joseph Cook Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Joseph Cook - Broothorn Studios.jpg	Anti-Socialist	Parramatta (NSW)	17 November 1908	26 May 1909
4	Alfred Deakin Template:Hsp Template:Efn Template:Efn	File:Alfred Deakin 1910 (crop).tif	Template:Australian party style\|	Liberal	Ballaarat (Vic)	26 May 1909	2 June 1909
5	Andrew Fisher Template:Hsp Template:Efn Template:Efn	File:Andrew Fisher 1908.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	Labor	Wide Bay (Qld)	2 June 1909	29 April 1910	Template:Australian party style\|	Deakin 1909
(4)	Alfred Deakin Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Alfred Deakin 1910 (crop).tif	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style \|	Liberal	Ballaarat (Vic)	1 July 1910	20 January 1913	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Fisher 1910–13
(3)	Joseph Cook Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Joseph Cook - Crown Studios 03.jpg	Parramatta (NSW)	Liberal	20 January 1913	24 June 1913			Fisher 1910–13
(5)	Andrew Fisher Template:Hsp Template:Efn Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:AndrewFisher.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	Labor	Wide Bay (Qld)	8 July 1913	17 September 1914	Template:Australian party style\|	Cook 1913–14
(3)	Joseph Cook Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Joseph Cook - Crown Studios 03.jpg	rowspan="3" Template:Australian party style\|	Liberal	Parramatta (NSW)	8 October 1914	17 February 1917	Template:Australian party style\|	Fisher 1914–15
			Template:Australian party style\|					Hughes 1915–23
			Template:Australian party style\|
6	Frank Tudor	File:Frank Tudor - Humphrey & Co.jpg	rowspan="4" Template:Australian party style \|	Labor	Yarra (Vic)	17 February 1917	10 January 1922		Template:Australian party style\|
7	Matthew Charlton	File:Matthew Charlton 1925.jpg	Hunter (NSW)		25 January 1922	29 March 1928	Template:Australian party style\|
7	Matthew Charlton	File:Matthew Charlton 1925.jpg	Hunter (NSW)		25 January 1922	29 March 1928	Template:Australian party style \|	Bruce 1923–29
8	James Scullin Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:James Scullin October 1928-02.jpg	Yarra (Vic)		29 March 1928	22 October 1929	Template:Australian party style\|	Bruce 1923–29
9	John Latham	File:Johnlatham.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	Nationalist	Kooyong (Vic)	20 November 1929	7 May 1931	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Scullin 1929–32
10	Joseph Lyons Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Joseph Lyons.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	United Australia	Wilmot (Tas)	7 May 1931	6 January 1932		Scullin 1929–32
(8)	James Scullin Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:James H. Scullin.jpg	rowspan="5" Template:Australian party style \|	Labor	Yarra (Vic)	6 January 1932	1 October 1935	Template:Australian party style \|	Lyons 1932–39
11	John Curtin Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:JohnCurtin1938.png	Fremantle (WA)		1 October 1935	7 October 1941	Template:Australian party style\|		Lyons 1932–39
							Template:Australian party style\|	Page 1939
							Template:Australian party style\|	Menzies 1939–41
							Template:Australian party style\|	Fadden 1941
12	Arthur Fadden Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:FaddenPEO.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	Country	Darling Downs (Qld)	7 October 1941	23 September 1943	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Curtin 1941–45
13	Robert Menzies Template:Hsp Template:Efn Template:Efn	File:Portrait Menzies 1950s.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	United Australia	Kooyong (Vic)	23 September 1943	19 December 1949		Curtin 1941–45
			rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Liberal				Template:Australian party style\|	Forde 1945
			Template:Australian party style\|	Liberal				Chifley 1945–49
14	Ben Chifley Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Benchifley.jpg	rowspan="8" Template:Australian party style \|	Labor	Macquarie (NSW)	19 December 1949	13 June 1951	Template:Australian party style \|	Menzies 1949–66
15	H. V. Evatt	File:Herbert V. Evatt.jpg	Barton (NSW) 1940–58 Hunter (NSW) 1958–60		20 June 1951	9 February 1960	Template:Australian party style\|
16	Arthur Calwell	File:Arthur Calwell 1966.jpg	Melbourne (Vic)		7 March 1960	8 February 1967	Template:Australian party style\|
16	Arthur Calwell	File:Arthur Calwell 1966.jpg	Melbourne (Vic)		7 March 1960	8 February 1967	Template:Australian party style \|	Holt 1966–67
17	Gough Whitlam Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Gough Whitlam - Leader of the Opposition (cropped).jpg	Werriwa (NSW)		8 February 1967	2 December 1972	Template:Australian party style\|	Holt 1966–67
							Template:Australian party style\|	McEwen 1967–68
							Template:Australian party style\|	Gorton 1968–71
							Template:Australian party style\|	McMahon 1971–72
18	Billy Snedden	File:Billy Snedden 1973 (1).jpg	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style \|	Liberal	Bruce (Vic)	20 December 1972	21 March 1975	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Whitlam 1972–75
19	Malcolm Fraser Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Fraser Malcolm BANNER.jpg	Wannon (Vic)	Liberal	21 March 1975	11 November 1975			Whitlam 1972–75
(17)	Gough Whitlam Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Gough Whitlam headshot.jpg	rowspan="3" Template:Australian party style \|	Labor	Werriwa (NSW)	11 November 1975	22 December 1977	rowspan="3" Template:Australian party style\|	Fraser 1975–83
20	Bill Hayden	File:Bill Hayden 1974 (cropped).jpg	Oxley (Qld)		22 December 1977	8 February 1983
21	Bob Hawke Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Hawke Bob BANNER.jpg	Wills (Vic)		8 February 1983	11 March 1983
22	Andrew Peacock	File:Andrew Peacock 1974 (cropped).jpg	rowspan="7" Template:Australian party style \|	Liberal	Kooyong (Vic)	11 March 1983	5 September 1985	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style \|	Hawke 1983–91
23	John Howard Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:John Howard 1974 (cropped).jpg	Bennelong (NSW)		5 September 1985	9 May 1989	<ref name="Howard aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
(22)	Andrew Peacock	File:Andrew Peacock 1974 (cropped).jpg	Kooyong (Vic)		9 May 1989	3 April 1990	Template:Australian party style\|	<ref name="Appendix" />
24	John Hewson	File:John Hewson 2016 01.jpg	Wentworth (NSW)		3 April 1990	23 May 1994	Template:Australian party style\|
24	John Hewson	File:John Hewson 2016 01.jpg	Wentworth (NSW)		3 April 1990	23 May 1994	rowspan="3" Template:Australian party style\|		Keating 1991–96
25	Alexander Downer	File:Alexander Downer 1990s.jpg	Mayo (SA)		23 May 1994	30 January 1995	<ref name="Downer aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
(23)	John Howard Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:John howard.jpg	Bennelong (NSW)		30 January 1995	11 March 1996	<ref name="Howard aph" />
26	Kim Beazley	File:Kim Beazley crop.jpg	rowspan="5" Template:Australian party style \|	Labor	Brand (WA)	19 March 1996	22 November 2001	rowspan="5" Template:Australian party style\|	Howard 1996–07	<ref name="Beazley aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
27	Simon Crean	File:Simon Crean 1990s.jpg	Hotham (Vic)		22 November 2001	2 December 2003	<ref name="Crean aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
28	Mark Latham	File:Ac.marklatham.jpg	Werriwa (NSW)		2 December 2003	18 January 2005	<ref name="Latham aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
(26)	Kim Beazley	File:Kim Beazley crop.jpg	Brand (WA)		28 January 2005	4 December 2006	<ref name="Beazley aph" />
29	Kevin Rudd Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Kevin Rudd official portrait.jpg	Griffith (Qld)		4 December 2006	3 December 2007	<ref name="Rudd aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
30	Brendan Nelson	File:BrendanNelson.JPG	rowspan="5" Template:Australian party style \|	Liberal	Bradfield (NSW)	3 December 2007	16 September 2008	Template:Australian party style \|	Rudd 2007–10	<ref name="Nelson aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
31	Malcolm Turnbull Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Turnbull.JPG	Wentworth (NSW)		16 September 2008	1 December 2009	Template:Australian party style\|	<ref name="Turnbull aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
32	Tony Abbott Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Tony Abbott - 2010 b.jpg	Warringah (NSW)		1 December 2009	18 September 2013	Template:Australian party style\|	<ref name="Abbott aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
							Template:Australian party style\|		Gillard 2010–13
							Template:Australian party style\|		Rudd 2013
33	Bill Shorten	File:Bill Shorten-crop.jpg	rowspan="4" Template:Australian party style\|	Labor	Maribyrnong (Vic)	13 October 2013	30 May 2019	rowspan="4" Template:Australian party style \|	Abbott 2013–15	<ref name="Bowen aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
			Turnbull 2015–18					<ref name="Shorten aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
			Morrison 2018–22					<ref name="Albanese aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
34	Anthony Albanese Template:Hsp Template:Efn	File:Anthony Albanese portrait (cropped).jpg	Morrison 2018–22		Grayndler (NSW)	30 May 2019	23 May 2022	<ref name="Albanese aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
35	Peter Dutton	File:Peter Dutton May 2018 (cropped).jpg	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style \|	Liberal	Dickson (Qld)	30 May 2022	3 May 2025	Template:Australian party style\|	Albanese 2022–
36	Sussan Ley	File:Leysussanoppositionleader b.jpg	Farrer (NSW)	Liberal	13 May 2025	Incumbent	Template:Australian party style\|		Albanese 2022–

Timeline

<timeline> ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:12 PlotArea = top:3 bottom:90 right:90 left:10 AlignBars = late

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1900 till:31/12/{{#expr:{{#time:Y}}+1}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:01/01/1900 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:2 start:01/01/1900

Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y}}

Colors =

 id:FreeTrade           value:rgb(0.75,1,0)        legend:Free_Trade_/_Anti-Socialist
 id:Labor               value:rgb(0.87,0.17,0.20)  legend:Australian_Labor_Party
 id:CommonwealthLiberal value:rgb(0.55,0.71,0.82)  legend:Fusion_Liberal
 id:NationalLabor       value:rgb(0.89,0.51,0.42)  legend:National_Labor_Party
 id:Nationalist         value:rgb(0.39,0.58,0.93)  legend:Nationalist_Party
 id:UnitedAustralia     value:rgb(0,0,0.55)        legend:United_Australia_Party
 id:Country             value:rgb(0,0.40,0.27)     legend:Australian_Country_Party
 id:Liberal             value:rgb(0,0.28,0.67)     legend:Liberal_Party

Legend = columns:1 left:150 top:60 columnwidth:150

TextData =

 pos:(20,60) textcolor:black fontsize:M
 text:"Political parties:"

BarData =

bar:GeorgeReid
bar:ChrisWatson
bar:JosephCook
bar:AlfredDeakin
bar:AndrewFisher
bar:FrankTudor
bar:MatthewCharlton
bar:JamesScullin
bar:JohnLatham
bar:JosephLyons
bar:JohnCurtin
bar:ArthurFadden
bar:RobertMenzies
bar:BenChifley
bar:HVEvatt
bar:ArthurCalwell
bar:GoughWhitlam
bar:BillySnedden
bar:MalcolmFraser
bar:BillHayden
bar:BobHawke
bar:AndrewPeacock
bar:JohnHoward
bar:JohnHewson
bar:AlexanderDowner 
bar:KimBeazley
bar:SimonCrean
bar:MarkLatham
bar:KevinRudd
bar:BrendanNelson
bar:MalcomTurnbull
bar:TonyAbbott
bar:BillShorten
bar:AnthonyAlbanese
bar:PeterDutton
bar:SussanLey

PlotData =

  width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

bar:GeorgeReid
 from: 19/05/1901 till: 17/08/1904 color:FreeTrade
 from: 07/07/1905 till: 16/11/1908 color:FreeTrade           text:"George Reid"
bar:ChrisWatson
 from: 18/05/1904 till: 05/07/1905 color:Labor               text:"Chris Watson"
bar:JosephCook
 from: 17/11/1908 till: 26/05/1909 color:FreeTrade          
 from: 20/01/1913 till: 24/06/1913 color:CommonwealthLiberal
 from: 08/10/1914 till: 17/02/1917 color:CommonwealthLiberal text:"Joseph Cook"
bar:AlfredDeakin
 from: 26/05/1909 till: 02/06/1909 color:CommonwealthLiberal
 from: 01/07/1910 till: 20/01/1913 color:CommonwealthLiberal text:"Alfred Deakin"
bar:AndrewFisher
 from: 02/06/1909 till: 29/04/1910 color:Labor
 from: 08/07/1913 till: 17/09/1914 color:Labor               text:"Andrew Fisher"
bar:FrankTudor
 from: 17/02/1917 till: 10/01/1922 color:Labor               text:"Frank Tudor"
bar:MatthewCharlton
 from: 25/01/1922 till: 29/03/1928 color:Labor               text:"Matthew Charlton"
bar:JamesScullin
 from: 29/03/1928 till: 22/10/1929 color:Labor
 from: 06/01/1932 till: 01/10/1935 color:Labor               text:"James Scullin"
bar:JohnLatham
 from: 20/11/1929 till: 07/05/1931 color:Nationalist         text:"John Latham"
bar:JosephLyons
 from: 07/05/1931 till: 06/01/1932 color:UnitedAustralia     text:"Joseph Lyons"
bar:JohnCurtin
 from: 01/10/1935 till: 07/10/1941 color:Labor               text:"John Curtin"
bar:ArthurFadden
 from: 07/10/1941 till: 23/09/1943 color:Country             text:"Arthur Fadden"
bar:RobertMenzies
 from: 23/09/1943 till: 31/08/1945 color:UnitedAustralia
 from: 31/08/1945 till: 19/12/1949 color:Liberal             text:"Robert Menzies"
bar:BenChifley
 from: 19/12/1949 till: 13/06/1951 color:Labor               text:"Ben Chifley"
bar:HVEvatt
 from: 13/06/1951 till: 09/02/1960 color:Labor               text:"H. V. Evatt"
bar:ArthurCalwell
 from: 09/02/1960 till: 08/02/1967 color:Labor               text:"Arthur Calwell"
bar:GoughWhitlam
 from: 08/02/1967 till: 05/12/1972 color:Labor
 from: 11/11/1975 till: 22/12/1977 color:Labor               text:"Gough Whitlam"
bar:BillySnedden
 from: 20/12/1972 till: 21/03/1975 color:Liberal             text:"Billy Snedden"
bar:MalcolmFraser
 from: 21/03/1975 till: 11/11/1975 color:Liberal             text:"Malcolm Fraser"
bar:BillHayden
 from: 22/12/1977 till: 08/02/1983 color:Labor               text:"Bill Hayden"
bar:BobHawke
 from: 08/02/1983 till: 11/03/1983 color:Labor               text:"Bob Hawke"
bar:AndrewPeacock
 from: 11/03/1983 till: 05/09/1985 color:Liberal
 from: 09/05/1989 till: 03/04/1990 color:Liberal             text:"Andrew Peakcock"
bar:JohnHoward
 from: 05/09/1985 till: 09/05/1989 color:Liberal
 from: 30/01/1995 till: 11/03/1996 color:Liberal             text:"John Howard"
bar:JohnHewson
 from: 03/04/1990 till: 23/05/1994 color:Liberal             text:"John Hewson"
bar:AlexanderDowner 
 from: 23/05/1994 till: 30/01/1995 color:Liberal             text:"Alexander Downer"
bar:KimBeazley
 from: 19/03/1996 till: 22/11/2001 color:Labor
 from: 28/01/2005 till: 04/12/2006 color:Labor               text:"Kim Beazley"
bar:SimonCrean
 from: 22/11/2001 till: 02/12/2003 color:Labor               text:"Simon Crean"
bar:MarkLatham
 from: 02/12/2003 till: 18/01/2005 color:Labor               text:"Mark Latham"
bar:KevinRudd
 from: 04/12/2006 till: 03/12/2007 color:Labor               text:"Kevin Rudd"
bar:BrendanNelson
 from: 03/12/2007 till: 16/09/2008 color:Liberal             text:"Brendan Nelson"
bar:MalcomTurnbull
 from: 16/09/2008 till: 01/12/2009 color:Liberal             text:"Malcolm Turnbull"
bar:TonyAbbott
 from: 01/12/2009 till: 18/09/2013 color:Liberal             text:"Tony Abbott"
bar:BillShorten
 from: 18/09/2013 till: 30/05/2019 color:Labor               text:"Bill Shorten"
bar:AnthonyAlbanese
 from: 30/05/2019 till: 23/05/2022 color:Labor               text:"Anthony Albanese"
bar:PeterDutton
 from: 30/05/2022 till: 03/05/2025 color:Liberal             text:"Peter Dutton"
bar:SussanLey
 from: 13/05/2025 till: $today     color:Liberal             text:"Sussan Ley"

</timeline>

List of deputy leaders of the opposition

Deputy Leader		Party		Constituency	Took office	Left office	Leader		Ref
Joseph Cook	File:Joseph Cook - Broothorn Studios.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	Commonwealth Liberal Party	Parramatta (NSW)	26 May 1909	2 June 1909	Template:Australian party style\|	Deakin 1909
Gregor McGregor	File:Gregor McGregor1.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	Labor Party	Senator for South Australia (SA)	2 June 1909	29 April 1910	Template:Australian party style\|	Fisher 1909–10
Joseph Cook	File:Joseph Cook - Crown Studios 03.jpg	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style \|	Commonwealth Liberal Party	Parramatta (NSW)	1 July 1910	20 January 1913	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style \|	Deakin 1910–13
Sir John Forrest	File:JohnForrest1909.jpg	Swan (WA)	Commonwealth Liberal Party	20 January 1913	24 June 1913	Cook 1913
Gregor McGregor	File:Gregor McGregor1.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	Labor Party	Senator for South Australia (SA)	8 July 1913	7 September 1914	Template:Australian party style\|	Fisher 1913–14
Sir John Forrest	File:JohnForrest1909.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	Commonwealth Liberal Party	Swan (WA)	8 October 1914	17 February 1917	Template:Australian party style\|	Cook 1914–17
Albert Gardiner	File:Albert Gardiner.jpg	rowspan="5" Template:Australian party style \|	Labor Party	Senator for New South Wales (NSW)	17 February 1917	March 1927	Template:Australian party style\|	Tudor 1917–22
Albert Gardiner	File:Albert Gardiner.jpg	Template:Australian party style \|		Senator for New South Wales (NSW)	17 February 1917	March 1927	Charlton 1922–28
James Scullin	File:James Scullin October 1928-02.jpg	Yarra (Vic)		17 March 1927	29 March 1928	Template:Australian party style\|	Charlton 1922–28	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Arthur Blakeley	File:Arthur Blakeley.jpg	Darling (NSW)		29 March 1928	1929	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Scullin 1928–29
Ted Theodore	File:Ted Theodore 1931.jpg	Dalley (NSW)		1929	22 October 1929		Scullin 1928–29
Henry Gullett	File:Henrygullett.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	Nationalist Party	Henty (Vic)	20 November 1929	7 May 1931	Template:Australian party style\|	Latham 1929–31
John Latham	File:Johnlatham.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	United Australia Party	Kooyong (Vic)	7 May 1931	6 January 1932	Template:Australian party style\|	Lyons 1931–32
Frank Forde	File:Frank Forde.jpg	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Labor Party	Capricornia (Qld)	7 January 1932	7 October 1941	Template:Australian party style\|	Scullin 1932–35
Frank Forde	File:Frank Forde.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|	Labor Party	Capricornia (Qld)	7 January 1932	7 October 1941	Curtin 1935–41
Billy Hughes	File:BillyHughes1945.jpg	rowspan="3" Template:Australian party style \|	United Australia Party	North Sydney (NSW)	9 October 1941	14 April 1944	Template:Australian party style\|	Fadden 1941–43
Billy Hughes	File:BillyHughes1945.jpg	Template:Australian party style\|		North Sydney (NSW)	9 October 1941	14 April 1944	Menzies 1943–49
Eric Harrison	File:Eric John Harrison.jpg	Wentworth (NSW)		14 April 1944	19 December 1949	Template:Australian party style\|
Eric Harrison	File:Eric John Harrison.jpg	Wentworth (NSW)	Template:Australian party style\|	14 April 1944	19 December 1949	Liberal Party		Template:Australian party style\|
H. V. Evatt	File:Herbert V. Evatt.jpg	rowspan="4" Template:Australian party style \|	Labor Party	Barton (NSW)	19 December 1949	13 June 1951	Template:Australian party style\|	Chifley 1949–51
Arthur Calwell	File:ArthurCalwell.jpg	Melbourne (Vic)		13 June 1951	9 February 1960	Template:Australian party style\|	Evatt 1951–60
Gough Whitlam	File:Gough Whitlam 1962.jpg	Werriwa (NSW)		7 March 1960	8 February 1967	Template:Australian party style\|	Calwell 1960–67
Lance Barnard	File:Lance Barnard 1970 (cropped).jpg	Bass (Tas)		8 February 1967	5 December 1972	Template:Australian party style\|	Whitlam 1967–72
Phillip Lynch	File:Phillip Lynch 1974 (cropped).jpg	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Liberal Party	Flinders (Vic)	20 December 1972	11 November 1975	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style \|	Snedden 1972–75
Phillip Lynch	File:Phillip Lynch 1974 (cropped).jpg	Fraser 1975	Liberal Party	Flinders (Vic)	20 December 1972	11 November 1975
Frank Crean	File:Frank Crean 1974 (cropped).jpg	rowspan="4" Template:Australian party style\|	Labor Party	Melbourne Ports (Vic)	11 November 1975	22 December 1975	rowspan="4" Template:Australian party style \|	Whitlam 1975–77
Tom Uren	File:Tom Uren 1974 (cropped).jpg	Reid (NSW)		22 December 1975	22 December 1977			Whitlam 1975–77
Lionel Bowen	File:Lionel Bowen 1973 (cropped).jpg	Kingsford Smith (NSW)		22 December 1977	11 March 1983	Hayden 1977–83
Lionel Bowen	File:Lionel Bowen 1973 (cropped).jpg	Kingsford Smith (NSW)		22 December 1977	11 March 1983	Hawke 1983
John Howard	File:John Howard 1974 (cropped).jpg	rowspan="8" Template:Australian party style \|	Liberal Party	Bennelong (NSW)	11 March 1983	5 September 1985	Template:Australian party style\|	Peacock 1983–85	<ref name="Howard aph" />
Neil Brown	File:Neil Brown 1970.png	Menzies (Vic)		5 September 1985	17 July 1987	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Howard 1985–89
Andrew Peacock	File:Andrew Peacock 1974 (cropped).jpg	Kooyong (Vic)		17 July 1987	9 May 1989		Howard 1985–89
Fred Chaney	File:Fred Chaney 1974 (cropped).jpg	Senator for Western Australia (WA) 1989–90 Pearce (WA) 1990		9 May 1989	24 March 1990	Template:Australian party style\|	Peacock 1989–90
Peter Reith	File:Peter Reith cropped.jpg	Flinders (Vic)		24 March 1990	13 March 1993	rowspan="4" Template:Australian party style \|	Hewson 1990–94	<ref name="Reith aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
Michael Wooldridge	File:No image.svg	Chisholm (Vic)		13 March 1993	23 May 1994	<ref name="Wooldridge aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>	Hewson 1990–94
Peter Costello	File:Peter Costello.jpg	Higgins (Vic)		23 May 1994	11 March 1996	Downer 1994–95	<ref name="Costello aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
Peter Costello	File:Peter Costello.jpg	Higgins (Vic)		23 May 1994	11 March 1996	Howard 1995–96	<ref name="Costello aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
Gareth Evans	File:Gareth Evans 2000 (cropped).jpg	rowspan="6" Template:Australian party style \|	Labor Party	Holt (Vic)	19 March 1996	19 October 1998	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Beazley 1996–2001	<ref name="Evans aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
Simon Crean	File:Simon Crean 1990s.jpg	Hotham (Vic)		19 October 1998	22 November 2001	<ref name="Crean aph" />		Beazley 1996–2001
Jenny Macklin	File:Jenny Macklin (cropped).jpg	Jagajaga (Vic)		22 November 2001	18 September 2006	Template:Australian party style\|	Crean 2001–03	<ref name="Macklin aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
						Template:Australian party style\|	Latham 2003–05
						Template:Australian party style\|	Beazley 2005–06
Julia Gillard	File:Juliagillard-CROP.jpg	Lalor (Vic)		4 December 2006	3 December 2007	Template:Australian party style\|	Rudd 2006–07	<ref name="Gillard aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
Julie Bishop	File:Portrait of Julie Bishop.jpg	rowspan="3" Template:Australian party style\|	Liberal Party	Curtin (WA)	3 December 2007	18 September 2013	Template:Australian party style\|	Nelson 2007–08	<ref name="Julie Bishop aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
		Template:Australian party style\|					Turnbull 2008–09
		Template:Australian party style\|					Abbott 2009–13
Tanya Plibersek	File:Tanya-plibersek2015.jpg	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Labor Party	Sydney (NSW)	14 October 2013	30 May 2019	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Shorten 2013–19	<ref name="Plibersek aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
Richard Marles	File:Richard Marles crop.jpg	Corio (Vic)	Labor Party	30 May 2019	23 May 2022	Albanese 2019–22	<ref name="Marles aph">Template:Cite Au Parliament</ref>
Sussan Ley	File:SL - 2012 Profile.jpg	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Liberal Party	Farrer (NSW)	30 May 2022	13 May 2025	rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style\|	Dutton 2022–25
Ted O'Brien	File:Ted O'Brien Buderim Men's Shed 2017 (cropped).jpg	Fairfax (Qld.)	Liberal Party	13 May 2025	Incumbent	Ley 2025–

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

{{#invoke:Navbox|navbox}} Template:Parliament of Australia

Leader of the Opposition (Australia)

Contents

Role

History

Salary

List of leaders of the opposition

Timeline

List of deputy leaders of the opposition

See also

Notes

References

Navigation menu

Leader of the Opposition (Australia)

Role

History

Salary

List of leaders of the opposition

Timeline

List of deputy leaders of the opposition

See also

Notes

References

Navigation menu

Search