View source for Prime Minister of Australia

{{Short description|Head of government of Australia}}
{{For|a list of officeholders|List of prime ministers of Australia}}
{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Prime Minister
| body = Australia
| insignia = Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
| insigniacaption = [[Coat of arms of Australia]]
| flag = Flag of Australia (converted).svg
| flagcaption = [[Flag of Australia]]
| flagborder = No
| image = Anthony Albanese portrait (re-crop).jpg
| imagesize = 200
| incumbent = [[Anthony Albanese]]
| incumbentsince = 23 May 2022
| department = [[Australian Government]]<br>[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]]
| style = {{plainlist|
* Prime Minister (informal)
* [[The Honourable]] (formal)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contacting_Senators_and_Members/How_to_address_Senators_and_Members|title=How to address Senators and Members|access-date=21 September 2024|website=[[Parliament of Australia]]}}</ref>
* [[Excellency|His Excellency]] (diplomatic){{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
}}
| status = [[Head of government]]
| member_of = {{plainlist|
* [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
* [[Cabinet of Australia|Cabinet]]
* [[National Cabinet (Australia)|National Cabinet]]
}}
| reports_to = {{hlist|[[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]]|[[Parliament of Australia|Parliament]]}}
| residence = {{plainlist|
* [[The Lodge, Australia|The Lodge]] (primary)
* [[Kirribilli House]] (secondary)
}}
| seat = Office of the Prime Minister, [[Parliament House, Canberra|Parliament House]]
| appointer = [[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]]<ref name="APMC-PM">{{cite web|url=https://primeministers.moadoph.gov.au/prime-ministers|title=Prime Ministers|website=Australian Prime Ministers Centre, Old Parliament House|access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref> (according to the wishes of the House of Representatives)
| formation = {{start date and age|df=y|1901|1|1}}<ref name="APMC-PM" />
| first = [[Edmund Barton]]<ref name="APMC-PM" />
| deputy = [[Deputy Prime Minister of Australia|Deputy Prime Minister]]
| salary = $586,930 (2023)<ref> {{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jake |date= 29 Aug 2023 |title=Politicians receive 4 per cent pay rise after years of 'conservative' adjustments |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-29/politician-pay-increased-4-per-cent/102787252 |work= [[ABC News (Australia)]]}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|pm.gov.au}}
}}

The '''prime minister of Australia{{efn|Formally the '''Prime Minister of the Commonwealth'''<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|aa1986114|Australia Act 1986}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 January 2019 |title=Letters Patent Relating to the Office of Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2019Q00001/latest/text |website=Federal Register of Legislation |publisher=Australian Government}}</ref> or the '''Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia'''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2019 |title=Northern Australia Indigenous Development Accord |url=https://federation.gov.au/sites/default/files/about/agreements/iga-northern-australia-indigenous-development-accord.pdf |page=8}}</ref>}}''' is the [[head of government]] of the [[Commonwealth of Australia]]. The prime minister is the chair of the [[Cabinet of Australia]] and thus the head of the [[Australian Government|federal executive government]]. Under the principles of [[responsible government]], the prime minister is both responsible to and a member of the [[Parliament of Australia|Commonwealth Parliament]]. The current prime minister is [[Anthony Albanese]] of the [[Australian Labor Party]], who assumed the office on 23 May 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2022 |title=Prime Minister of Australia |url=https://www.pm.gov.au/ |access-date=22 May 2022 |website=Prime Minister of Australia |publisher=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 May 2022 |title=Australia election: Anthony Albanese signals climate policy change |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-61539426 |access-date=22 May 2022 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

The role and duties of the prime minister are not described by the [[Australian constitution]] but rather defined by [[Constitutional convention (political custom)|constitutional convention]] deriving from the [[Westminster system]] and [[responsible government]]. The prime minister is formally appointed by the [[Governor-General of Australia|governor-general]], who is ordinarily{{efn|The only exception since the appointment of [[Edmund Barton|the first prime minister]] in 1901 occurred during the [[1975 Australian constitutional crisis]].}} constrained by convention to choose the parliamentarian able to [[Confidence and supply|command the confidence]] of the [[House of Representatives (Australia)|House of Representatives]] (the lower house). Since [[Federation of Australia|Federation]], this has almost always been the leader of the majority [[Political parties of Australia|party]] or [[Coalition government|coalition]]. In practice, this means the prime minister most often changes after an election results in a different party gaining control of the lower house or as a result of the majority party changing its leader internally between elections.

The office of prime minister comes with various privileges, including the use of two official residences: [[The Lodge (Australia)|The Lodge]] in [[Canberra]] and [[Kirribilli House]] in [[Sydney]], as well as an office at [[Parliament House, Canberra|Parliament House]].

[[List of prime ministers of Australia|Thirty-one people]] (thirty men and one woman) have served as prime minister. The first was [[Edmund Barton]], who took office on 1 January 1901 following the [[Federation of Australia|federation of the British colonies in Australia]]. The [[List of prime ministers of Australia by time in office|longest-serving]] prime minister was [[Robert Menzies]], who served over 18 years, and the shortest-serving was [[Frank Forde]], who served one week.

== Powers and responsibilities ==
In common with other political systems based on the [[Westminster system]], the prime minister both leads the [[Executive (government)|executive government]] and wields significant power in [[Parliament]].

=== Executive role ===
[[Cabinet of Australia|Cabinet]], the primary decision-making body of the executive government, is chaired by the prime minister. While the prime minister has been described as the "[[first among equals]]" of the other ministers that make up cabinet, they nevertheless wield primary influence in the body. They set the agenda and processes of cabinet meetings and have the final word where a collective decision cannot be reached. Ministers making up the cabinet are chosen by the prime minister and may be removed at any time. Additionally, the prime minister chooses the portfolio of each minister and a prime minister's resignation or dismissal leads by convention to the resignation of all other ministers.{{Sfn|Elder|Fowler|2018|pp=61–3}} The precise authority of each individual prime minister within cabinet is uncertain, as their deliberations are secret. The prime minister also has the authority  to make independent policy decisions independently from Cabinet, with such decisions colloquially called "captain's calls".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Probyn |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Probyn |date=2019-10-23 |title=Scott Morrison's captain's call inserts medevac critic Sarah Henderson as chair of human rights committee |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-23/scott-morrison-captain-call-sarah-henderson-parliament-committee/11628368 |access-date= |work=[[ABC News (Australia)]] |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-01-21 |title=Tony Abbott's 'captain's call' is Macquarie Dictionary's Word of the Year |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-21/tony-abbotts-captains-call-macquarie-dictionary-word-of-year/7104056 |access-date= |work=[[ABC News (Australia)]] |language=en-AU}}</ref> The prime minister also has significant influence in the setting of foreign policy, through their role as chair of the [[National Security Committee (Australia)|National Security Committee]], a sub-committee of cabinet whose decisions do not need to be endorsed by the cabinet as a whole.{{Sfn|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|2022|p=42}}

The prime minister is also one of the responsible ministers for the [[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]], whose tasks include general policy development across the government, inter-governmental communications, honours and symbols policy and Indigenous programmes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 December 2022 |title=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |url=https://www.directory.gov.au/portfolios/prime-minister-and-cabinet/department-prime-minister-and-cabinet |website=Directory |publisher=Australian Government}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 August 2023 |title=Administrative Arrangements Order |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2022Q00008/latest/text |website=Federal Registrar of Legislation |publisher=Australia Government}}</ref>

=== Legislative role ===
Since the emergence of the strong party system in Australia in the 1920s, prime ministers have almost always been the [[parliamentary leader]] of the [[Political party|party]] (or leader of the senior party in a coalition of parties) that has a majority in the House of Representatives (which has been either the [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]] or the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] in coalition with the [[National Party of Australia|National Party]] since the 1940s). [[Responsible government]] has always required the prime minister and government to have the confidence of a majority of the lower house in order to govern, however the emergence of strong parties with members strongly punished for voting against party policy (also known as [[crossing the floor]]) has meant that most prime ministers and governments have significant control over the passage of bills in this house. However, bills must also be passed by the [[Australian Senate|Senate]] (the upper house) in order to become law and the government rarely has a majority in this house, leading to some checks on the legislative powers of the government. The prime minister also controls the date of elections, through formal advice to the governor-general, with such elections usually occurring within a 6-month period prior to the maximum 3-year term of the House of Representatives expiring.

=== Other responsibilities ===
[[National Cabinet (Australia)|National Cabinet]], the primary inter-governmental decision-making forum between the federal government and the states, is also chaired by the prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Cabinet |url=https://federation.gov.au/national-cabinet |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Federation.gov.au |publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> While called a cabinet, the body is merely a discussion forum and the principles of secrecy and collective decision making do not apply.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Twomey |first=Anne |date=2021-08-06 |title=Nowhere to hide: the significance of national cabinet not being a cabinet |url=http://theconversation.com/nowhere-to-hide-the-significance-of-national-cabinet-not-being-a-cabinet-165671 |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}</ref> 

Since the 1940s, the prime minister has asserted their authority to select the governor-general alone, instead of this being a cabinet decision.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pyke |first=John |title=Government powers under a Federal Constitution: constitutional law in Australia |date=2020 |publisher=Lawbook Co |isbn=978-0-455-24415-0 |edition=2nd |location=Pyrmont, NSW |pages=291–2 |language=en-AU}}</ref> The power is exercised through advice to the [[King of Australia]], who holds the de jure power to make the appointment and is by convention bound to accept such advice. The prime minister can also advise the monarch to dismiss the governor-general, though it remains unclear how quickly the monarch would act on such advice in a [[constitutional crisis]]. This uncertainty, and the possibility of a race between the governor-general and prime minister to dismiss the other, was a key question in the [[1975 Australian constitutional crisis|1975 constitutional crisis]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Twomey |first=Anne |title=The veiled sceptre: reserve powers of heads of state in Westminster systems |date=2018 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-29784-5 |series= |location=Cambridge |pages=333–40 |language=en}}</ref>

==Selection and constitutional basis==
{{Politics of Australia sidebar|right}}
In ordinary circumstances, the leader of the party or coalition that has the confidence of the House of Representatives is entitled to become prime minister and form a government. Generally, a party or coalition will have a majority in the lower house in order to provide confidence, however in periods of minority government, the larger party will rely on confidence and supply from minor parties or independents. By convention, the prime minister must be a member of the lower house.<ref name="senatebrief14">{{cite web |date=December 2016 |title=No. 14 - Ministers in the Senate |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/Senate_Briefs/Brief14 |website=Senate Briefs |publisher=Parliament of Australia}}</ref> The only case where a member of the [[Australian Senate|Senate]] was appointed prime minister was [[John Gorton]], who subsequently resigned his Senate position and was [[1968 Higgins by-election|elected]] as the [[Division of Higgins|member for Higgins]] in the House of Representatives. The prime minister is formally appointed to the role by the governor-general under section 64 of the Australian Constitution,<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 May 2022 |title=Instruments of appointment of ministers of state |url=https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/instruments-appointment-ministers-state-23-may-2022 |access-date= |website=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> however their choice is limited in normal circumstances to the individual with the confidence of the lower house. However, the prime minister (and all other ministers) must be a parliamentarians or become one within three months to be a minister. 

There are no term limits for the prime minister, and they are generally entitled to continue in their role whilst they retain the confidence of the lower house. Individuals most commonly cease to become prime minister after losing an election by not obtaining a majority in the lower house (at which point they generally become leader of the opposition or resign) or through replacement by their parliamentary party colleagues. This later method has become increasingly common, with the office changing hands four times due to parliamentary spill and only twice due to an election in the period following the election defeat of John Howard in 2007 to the election of Anthony Albanese in 2022. 

A prime minister may also lose their position following a vote of no confidence in the government or due to a failure to pass supply through the lower house. In either event, the prime minister is required by convention to either resign or call an election. Whether a prime minister is required to resign or call an election following an inability to pass supply through the Senate was the animating issue of the [[1975 Australian constitutional crisis|1975 constitutional crisis]]. In that event, governor-general Sir John Kerr dismissed the Whitlam government following the Senate's deferral of the government's budget and demand that they would not pass supply until the government called an election. The constitutional propriety of the governor-general's action during that period remains subject to vigorous debate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What are reserve powers? |url=https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/your-questions-on-notice/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20230312065832/https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/your-questions-on-notice/questions/what-are-reserve-powers/ |archive-date=12 March 2023 |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=The Parliamentary Education Office (PEO) |language=en}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Reserve Powers and the Whitlam dismissal |url=https://www.ruleoflaw.org.au/constitution/reserve-powers-and-the-whitlam-dismissal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20220318123154/https://www.ruleoflaw.org.au/constitution/reserve-powers-and-the-whitlam-dismissal/ |archive-date=18 March 2022 |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=Rule of Law Education Centre |language=en-AU}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>[[File:John Gorton Swearing In.jpg|thumb|[[John Gorton]] being sworn in as the 19th Prime Minister on 10 January 1968. To date, Gorton is the only Senator to have served as Prime Minister, though he would swiftly move to the House of Representatives as the member for [[Division of Higgins|Higgins]].]]

Despite the importance of the office of prime minister, the Constitution does not mention the office by name. The conventions of the [[Westminster system]] were thought to be sufficiently entrenched in Australia by the authors of the Constitution that it was deemed unnecessary to detail these.<ref>{{cite web |last=Spry |first=Dr Max |date=1996 |title=The Executive Power of the commonwealth: its scope and limits |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/RP9596/96rp28 |access-date=10 August 2021 |website=Parliament of Australia}}</ref> Indeed, prior to Federation in 1901 the terms "premier" and "prime minister" were used interchangeably for the head of government in a colony.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 August 1898 |title=The Premiers' Conference - Text of the Resolutions |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/18494769 |access-date=5 December 2019 |newspaper=[[The Age]]}}</ref>

Following a resignation in other circumstances or the death of a prime minister, the governor-general generally appoints the [[Deputy Prime Minister of Australia|deputy prime minister]] as the new prime minister, until or if such time as the governing party or senior coalition party elects an alternative party leader. This has resulted in the party leaders from the Country Party (now named [[National Party of Australia|National Party]]) being appointed as prime minister, despite being the smaller party of their coalition. This occurred when [[Earle Page]] became caretaker prime minister following the death of [[Joseph Lyons]] in 1939, and when [[John McEwen]] became caretaker prime minister following the [[disappearance of Harold Holt]] in 1967. However, in 1941, [[Arthur Fadden]] became the leader of the Coalition and subsequently prime minister by the agreement of both coalition parties, despite being the leader of the smaller party in coalition, following the resignation of [[United Australia Party]] leader Robert Menzies.

Excluding the brief transition periods during changes of government or leadership elections, there have only been a handful of cases where someone other than the leader of the majority party or coalition in the House of Representatives was prime minister:
* [[File:Australian House of Reps 1901.jpg|thumb|Australia's first prime minister, [[Edmund Barton]], at the central table in the [[House of Representatives (Australia)|House of Representatives]] in 1901.]][[Federation of Australia|Federation]] occurred on 1 January 1901, but [[1901 Australian federal election|elections for the first parliament]] were not scheduled until late March. In the interim, an unelected [[caretaker government]] was necessary. In what is now known as the [[Hopetoun Blunder]], the governor-general, [[John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun|Lord Hopetoun]], invited Sir [[William Lyne]], the [[Premier of New South Wales|premier]] of the most populous state, [[New South Wales]], to form a government. However, no politician would agree to be a member of his Cabinet and Lyne returned his commission before Federation actually took place. The governor-general instead then commissioned the much more popular [[Edmund Barton]], who became the first prime minister on Federation and led the inaugural government into and beyond the election.
* During the second parliament, three parties (Free Trade, Protectionist and Labor) had roughly equal representation in the House of Representatives. The leaders of the three parties, [[Alfred Deakin]], [[George Reid]] and [[Chris Watson]] each served as prime minister before losing a vote of confidence.
* As a result of the [[Australian Labor Party split of 1916|Labor Party's split over conscription]], [[Billy Hughes]] and his supporters were expelled from the Labor Party in November 1916. He subsequently continued on as prime minister at the head of the new [[National Labor Party]], which had only 14 members out of a total of 75 in the House of Representatives. The [[Commonwealth Liberal Party]] – despite still forming the official Opposition – provided confidence and supply until February 1917, when the two parties agreed to merge and formed the [[Nationalist Party (Australia)|Nationalist Party]].
* During the [[1975 Australian constitutional crisis|1975 constitutional crisis]], on 11 November 1975, the governor-general, Sir [[John Kerr (governor-general)|John Kerr]], dismissed the Labor Party's [[Gough Whitlam]] as prime minister. Despite Labor holding a majority in the House of Representatives, Kerr appointed the Leader of the Opposition, [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] leader [[Malcolm Fraser]] as caretaker prime minister, conditional on the passage of the Whitlam government's [[Confidence and supply|Supply]] bills through the [[Australian Senate|Senate]] and the calling of an election for both houses of parliament. Fraser accepted these terms and immediately advised a [[double dissolution]]. An election was called for [[1975 Australian federal election|13 December]], which the Liberal Party won in its own right (although the Liberals governed in a coalition with the Country Party).

Compared to other [[Westminster system]]s such as those of [[Canada]]'s federal and provincial governments, the transition from an outgoing prime minister to an incoming prime minister has been brief in Australia since the 1970s. Prior to that, in accordance with longstanding Australian constitutional practice, convention held that an outgoing prime minister would stay on as a caretaker until the full election results were tallied. Starting with the [[1972 Australian federal election]] on 2 December 1972, Gough Whitlam and his deputy were sworn in on 5 December 1972 to form an interim government for two weeks, as the vote was being finalised and the full ministry makeup was being determined. On 23 May 2022 [[Anthony Albanese]] became prime minister with an interim four person ministry, two days after his victory in [[2022 Australian federal election|the election]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=23 May 2022 to 1 June 2022 - Parliament of Australia |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/Parliamentary_Handbook/Current_Ministry_List/23_May_2022_to_1_June_2022 |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=Parliament of Australia}}</ref> This rapid shift was done in order for the new PM to attend a [[Quadrilateral Security Dialogue|Quad]] meeting scheduled shortly after the election. When the results of the election were more clearly known the entire ministry was sworn in on 1 June 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/22/australias-government-is-changing-after-nine-years-of-the-coalition-what-happens-next | title=Australia's government is changing after nine years of the Coalition – what happens next? | website=[[TheGuardian.com]] | date=22 May 2022 }}</ref>

==Amenities of office==

===Salary===
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="text-align:right;" 
|+ style="white-space:nowrap;" | '''Prime ministerial salary history'''
|-
! Effective date !! Salary !! Ref. 
|-
| 2 June 1999 || {{AUD|289,270}} || 
|-
| 6 September 2006 || {{AUD|309,270}} || 
|-
| 1 July 2007 || {{AUD|330,356}} || 
|-
| 1 October 2009 || {{AUD|340,704}} || <ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/prime-minister-kevin-rudd-gives-mps-a-3-pay-rise/story-e6freuy9-1225779054052 | title=Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and MPs in line to get a 3% pay rise}}</ref>
|-
| 1 August 2010 || {{AUD|354,671}} || <ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/money/money-matters/prime-minister-pollies-grab-rich-pay-rises/story-e6frfmd9-1225909630520 | work=Herald Sun | location=Australia | title=Politicians awarded secret pay rise | first=Phillip | last=Hudson | date=25 August 2010 | access-date=25 August 2010 | archive-date=6 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306174754/https://www.news.com.au/money/money-matters/prime-minister-pollies-grab-rich-pay-rises/story-e6frfmd9-1225909630520 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| 1 July 2011 || {{AUD|366,366}} || 
|-
| 1 December 2011 || {{AUD|440,000}} || 
|-
| 15 March 2012 || {{AUD|481,000}} || <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.remtribunal.gov.au/determinationsReports/Current%20Principal%20Determinations/2012/2012-02%20Determination.pdf | title = Determination 2012/02: Members of Parliament – Base Salary and Related Matters  |website=www.remtribunal.gov.au |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413222609/http://www.remtribunal.gov.au/determinationsReports/Current%20Principal%20Determinations/2012/2012-02%20Determination.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2013}}</ref>
|-
| 1 July 2012 || {{AUD|495,430}} || <ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/money/senator-lashes-out-as-pollies-given-another-5500-pay-rise/story-e6frfmci-1226416182460 | work=Herald Sun | title=Tony Abbott defends increase in MP salary, saying he's working hard for every Australian | date=5 July 2012 | access-date=4 July 2012 | archive-date=2 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202031914/http://www.news.com.au/money/senator-lashes-out-as-pollies-given-another-5500-pay-rise/story-e6frfmci-1226416182460 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| 1 July 2013 || {{AUD|507,338}} || <ref>{{cite news|last=Peatling|first=Stephanie|title=PM's salary tops $500,000|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/pms-salary-tops-500000-20130613-2o75b.html|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=14 June 2013}}</ref>
|-
| 1 January 2016 || {{AUD|517,504}} || <ref>{{cite news|last=Mannheim|first=Markus|title=Politicians, judges and top public servants to gain 2% pay rise after wage freeze|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/politicians-judges-and-top-public-servants-to-gain-2-pay-rise-after-wage-freeze-20151209-gljesr.html|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=10 December 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 1 July 2017 || {{AUD|527,852}} || <ref name="abc527">{{cite news|title=Politicians under fire for pay increases while penalty rates cut, One Nation wants to reject rise|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-23/politicians-under-fire-for-pay-increases-while-penalty-rates-cut/8646872|date=23 June 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 1 July 2018 || {{AUD|538,460}} || <ref name=":0" />
|-
| 1 July 2019 || {{AUD|549,250}} || <ref name=":0" />
|- 
| 27 August 2023 || {{AUD|586,950}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://politicalsalaries.com/leaders/|website=PoliticalSalaries.com - What the world pays its politicians|title = Leaders |date=15 June 2022 | access-date=19 Mar 2024}}</ref>
|-
|}

{{as of|2023|08|27|post=,}}<ref name="remtribunal_gov_au">{{cite web|url=https://www.remtribunal.gov.au/document-library-search/remuneration-tribunal-members-parliament-determination-no2-2023| title = Remuneration Tribunal (Members of Parliament) Determination (No.2) 2023 |website=Remuneration Tribunal|access-date=19 Mar 2024}}</ref> Australia's prime minister is paid a total salary of {{AUD|586,950}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://politicalsalaries.com/leaders/|website=PoliticalSalaries.com - What the world pays its politicians|title = Leaders |date=15 June 2022 | access-date=19 Mar 2024}}</ref> This is made up of the 'base salary' received by all members of parliament ({{AUD|225,750<ref name="remtribunal_gov_au" />}}) plus a 160 percent 'additional salary' for the role of prime minister.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.remtribunal.gov.au/document-library-search/report-ministerial-salaries-salary-additional-parliamentary-base-salary-july-2023| title = Report on Ministerial Salaries - Salary Additional to the Parliamentary Base Salary - July 2023 |website=Remuneration Tribunal|access-date=19 Mar 2024}}</ref> Increases in the base salary of MPs and senators are determined annually by the independent Remuneration Tribunal.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=What do Federal Members of Parliament get paid? |url=https://www.remtribunal.gov.au/faq/what-do-federal-members-parliament-get-paid |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126010526/https://www.remtribunal.gov.au/what-do-federal-members-parliament-get-paid |archive-date=26 November 2020 |access-date=21 January 2019 |website=Remuneration Tribunal}}</ref>

===Residences and transport===
[[Image:Curtin GGPrinceHenry Fadden Hughes Menzies.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Prime ministers [[John Curtin|Curtin]], [[Arthur Fadden|Fadden]], [[Billy Hughes|Hughes]], [[Robert Menzies|Menzies]] and Governor-General [[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester|The Duke of Gloucester]] 2nd from left, in 1945.]]

The prime minister has two official residences. The primary official residence is [[The Lodge (Australia)|the Lodge]] in [[Canberra]]. Most prime ministers have chosen the Lodge as their primary residence because of its security facilities and close proximity to Parliament House. There have been some exceptions, however. [[James Scullin]] preferred to live at the [[Hotel Canberra]] (now the Hyatt Hotel) and [[Ben Chifley]] lived in the [[Hotel Kurrajong]]. More recently, [[John Howard]] used the [[Sydney]] prime ministerial residence, [[Kirribilli House]], as his primary accommodation. On her appointment on 24 June 2010, [[Julia Gillard]] said she would not be living in the Lodge until such time as she was returned to office by popular vote at the [[2010 Australian federal election|next general election]], as she became prime minister by replacing an incumbent during a parliamentary term. [[Tony Abbott]] was never able to occupy the Lodge during his term (2013–15) because it was undergoing extensive renovations, which continued into the early part of his successor [[Malcolm Turnbull]]'s term.<ref>[https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/report-blames-abbott-government-for-renovation-nightmare-at-the-lodge-20170818-gxzbd9.html Canberra Times, 18 August 2017]. Retrieved 12 June 2018</ref> Instead, Abbott resided in dedicated rooms at the [[Australian Federal Police|Australian Federal Police College]] when in Canberra.

During his first term, Rudd had a staff at the Lodge consisting of a senior chef and an assistant chef, a child carer, one senior house attendant, and two junior house attendants. At [[Kirribilli House]] in Sydney, there are a full-time chef and a full-time house attendant.<ref>{{cite news|last=Metherell|first=Mark|title=Rudds' staff extends to a child carer at the Lodge|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rudds-staff-extends-to-a-child-carer-at-the-lodge/2008/02/18/1203190740533.html|access-date=24 June 2010|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 February 2008}}</ref> The official residences are fully staffed and catered for both the prime minister and their family. In addition, both have extensive security facilities. These residences are regularly used for official entertaining, such as receptions for [[Australian of the Year]] finalists.

The prime minister receives a number of transport amenities for official business. A [[Royal Australian Air Force]] operated [[Airbus KC-30A]], transports the prime minister overseas, with two [[Boeing 737 MAX|Boeing 737 MAX 8]] planes available for shorter flights.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-08 |title=ScoMo dubs his new plane 'Shark One' |url=https://www.afr.com/rear-window/scomo-dubs-his-new-plane-shark-one-20190908-p52p53 |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Lisa |date=2024-05-19 |title=Taxpayers to pay $450m for two luxury jets for PM, ministers |url=https://thenightly.com.au/politics/taxpayers-to-pay-450m-for-anthony-albaneses-two-new-luxury-boeing-737-business-jets--c-14723362 |access-date= |website=The Nightly |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Church |first=Nathan |date=12 November 2020 |title=The evolution of the Royal Australian Air Force's 'VIP fleet' |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp2021/SpecialPurposeAircraft |access-date= |website=Parliament of Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref> For ground travel, the prime minister is transported in an armoured [[BMW]] 7 Series model. It is referred to as "C-1", or Commonwealth One, because of its number plate. It is escorted by police vehicles from state and federal authorities.<ref>{{cite web|author=CarAdvice.com.au |url=http://www.caradvice.com.au/27616/over-25-of-government-car-fleet-foreign-made/ |title=25% of government car fleet foreign made |publisher=Car Advice |date=6 April 2009|access-date=12 December 2011}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" height="150" perrow="3" caption="Privileges of office">
File:The Lodge Canberra renovated.jpg|'''[[The Lodge (Australia)|The Lodge]]'''
File:(1)Kirribilli House Kirribilli.jpg|'''[[Kirribilli House]]'''
File:Redcliffe Coast Guard visit by Prime Minister-2 (cropped).jpg|'''[[Prime Ministerial Limousine]]'''
File:RAAF Boeing 737-7DT(BBJ) CBR Gilbert-1.jpg|'''[[No. 34 Squadron RAAF|Official aircraft]]''' (2000–2024)
</gallery>

===After office===
Politicians, including prime ministers, are usually granted certain privileges after leaving office, such as office accommodation, staff assistance, and a Life Gold Pass which entitles the holder to travel within Australia for non-commercial purposes at government expense. In 2017, then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said the pass should be available only to former prime ministers, though he would not use it when he was no longer PM.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/feb/07/malcolm-turnbull-to-scrap-life-gold-pass-for-former-mp|title=Malcolm Turnbull to scrap Life Gold Pass for former MPs|first=Gareth|last=Hutchens|date=7 February 2017|website=the Guardian}}</ref>

Only one prime minister who had left the Federal Parliament ever returned. [[Stanley Bruce]] was defeated in his own seat in [[1929 Australian federal election|1929]] while prime minister but was re-elected to parliament in [[1931 Australian federal election|1931]]. Other prime ministers were elected to parliaments other than the Australian federal parliament: Sir [[George Reid]] was elected to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|UK House of Commons]] (after his term as High Commissioner to the UK), and [[Frank Forde]] was re-elected to the Queensland Parliament (after his term as High Commissioner to Canada, and a failed attempt to re-enter the Federal Parliament).

As well as Reid and Forde, five other prime ministers went on to hold diplomatic posts.

Andrew Fisher, Joseph Cook and Stanley Bruce also served as High Commissioners to the United Kingdom, Gough Whitlam had served as Ambassador to UNESCO and Kevin Rudd is currently the Ambassador to the United States.

==Acting prime ministers and succession==
The [[Deputy Prime Minister of Australia|deputy prime minister]] becomes [[acting prime minister]] if the prime minister is unable to undertake the role for a short time, for example if they are ill, overseas or on leave (and if both are unavailable, then another senior minister takes on this role).<ref name=":02">{{cite web|title=Does Australia have a parliamentary line of succession to the Prime Minister and if so, what is the order?|url=https://questions.peo.gov.au/questions/does-australia-have-a-parliamentary-line-of-succession-to-the-prime-minister-and-if-so-what-is-the-order/22|access-date=18 August 2021|website=Parliamentary Education Office}}</ref> The ''Acts Interpretation Act 1901'' confers upon acting ministers "the same power and authority with respect to the absent Minister's statutory responsibilities".<ref>{{cite news|title=The Ministry|edition=7th|work=House of Representatives Practice|publisher=Parliament of Australia|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/Powers_practice_and_procedure/Practice7/HTML/Chapter2/The_Ministry|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00691 Acts Interpretation Act 1901], s 19(4).</ref> Anthony Albanese has authorised the following ministers to act on his behalf (in this order) where he is overseas or otherwise unavailable: [[Richard Marles]] (deputy prime minister), [[Penny Wong]] (minister for foreign affairs), [[Jim Chalmers]] (treasurer), [[Katy Gallagher]] (minister for finance, women, the public service and government services), and [[Don Farrell]] (special minister of state and minister for trade and tourism).<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 May 2025 |title=Authorisation of ministers to exercise powers of Prime Minister |url=https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/authorisation-ministers-exercise-powers-prime-minister-13-may-2025 |website=Australian Government: Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref>

If the prime minister were to die, then the deputy prime minister would be appointed prime minister by the governor-general until the government votes for another member to be its leader.<ref name=":02" /> This happened when [[Disappearance of Harold Holt|Harold Holt disappeared]] in 1967,<ref name=":02" /> when [[John McEwen]] was appointed prime minister.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|date=24 August 2018|title=Australia's PMs and how they left office|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/australia-s-pms-and-how-they-left-office/2380958a-950d-4d17-a709-6527b600b93d|access-date=18 August 2021|website=[[SBS News]]|language=}}</ref> On the other two occasions that the prime minister has died in office, in [[Joseph Lyons|1939]] and [[John Curtin|1945]], [[Earle Page]] and [[Frank Forde]], respectively, were appointed prime minister.<ref name=":1" /> 

In the early 20th century, overseas travel generally required long journeys by ship. As a result, some held the position of acting prime minister for significant periods of time, including [[William Watt (Australian politician)|William Watt]] (16 months, 1918–1919),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/watt-william-alexander-9011|title=Watt, William Alexander (1871–1946)|work=[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]]|year=1990|volume=12}}</ref> [[George Pearce]] (7 months, 1916),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/pearce-sir-george-foster-7996|title=Pearce, Sir George Foster (1870–1952)|first=B.|last=Beddie|year=1988|volume=11|work=[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]]}}</ref> [[Alfred Deakin]] (6 months, 1902),<ref>{{Australian Dictionary of Biography |last=Norris |first=R. |coauthor= |title=Deakin, Alfred (1856–1919) |year=1981 |id2=deakin-alfred-5927}}</ref> [[Joseph Cook]] (5 months, 1921),<ref>{{cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |last1=Crowley|first1=F.K.|title=Cook, Sir Joseph (1860–1947)|id2=cook-sir-joseph-5763|access-date=2016-04-24}}</ref> [[James Fenton (Australian politician)|James Fenton]] (19 weeks, 1930–1931),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/fenton-james-edward-6155|title=Fenton, James Edward (1864–1950)|first=J. R.|last=Robertson|year=1981|volume=8|work=Australian Dictionary of Biography}}</ref> [[John Forrest]] (4 months, 1907),<ref>{{cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |id2=forrest-sir-john-6211 |title=Forrest, Sir John (1847–1918) |first=Frank|last=Crowley}}</ref> and [[Arthur Fadden]] (4 months, 1941). Fadden was acting prime minister for a cumulative total of 676 days (over 22 months) between 1941 and 1958.<ref>{{Cite thesis|first=Tracey M.|last=Arklay|title=Arthur Fadden: A Political Silhouette|year=2010|type=PhD thesis|publisher=[[Griffith University]]|url=https://www120.secure.griffith.edu.au/rch/file/9e60ec78-ebd2-d16e-3533-2af6f43a5cee/1/Arklay_2011_02Thesis.pdf|page=196|access-date=16 December 2019|archive-date=28 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528133311/https://www120.secure.griffith.edu.au/rch/file/9e60ec78-ebd2-d16e-3533-2af6f43a5cee/1/Arklay_2011_02Thesis.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Honours==
Prime ministers have been granted numerous honours, typically after their period as prime minister has concluded, with a few exceptions.

Nine former prime ministers were awarded knighthoods: Barton ([[Order of St Michael and St George|GCMG]], 1902),<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=27448 |date=26 June 1902 |supp=y |pages=4189–4196 }}</ref> Reid (GCMG, 1911),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1073781|title=GCMG|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> Cook (GCMG, 1918),<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30831 |supp=y|page=9264|date=6 August 1918}}</ref> Page (GCMG, 1938),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1073808|title=GCMG|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> Menzies ([[Order of the Thistle|KT]], 1963),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1083809|title=KT|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> Fadden (KCMG, 1951),<ref>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1082573 It's an Honour - Fadden KCMG] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222204621/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1082573 |date=22 February 2019}}</ref> McEwen (GCMG, 1971),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1073782|title=GCMG|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> Gorton (GCMG, 1977),<ref>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1073778 It's an Honour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222042052/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1073778 |date=22 February 2019 }} – Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George</ref> and McMahon (GCMG, 1977).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1073780 |title=It's an Honour – GCMG |website=Itsanhonour.gov.au |date=12 June 1977 |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224001650/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1073780 |archive-date=24 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Of those awarded, Barton and Menzies were knighted while still serving as prime minister, with Page awarded his before becoming prime minister, and the remainder awarded after leaving office. Reid ([[Order of the Bath|GCB]], 1916),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1073775|title=GCB|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> Menzies ([[Knight of the Order of Australia|AK]], 1976)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/884342|title=AK|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> and Fadden (GCMG, 1958)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1073792|title=GCMG|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> were awarded a second - higher - knighthood after leaving office.

Non-titular honours were also bestowed on former prime ministers, usually the [[Order of the Companions of Honour]] (CH). This honour was awarded to Bruce (1927),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1065984|title=CH|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> Lyons (1936),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1065987|title= Mr Joseph Aloysius LYONS|work=It's An Honour|publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref> Hughes (1941),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1065980 |title=It's an Honour |access-date=4 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224001747/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1065980 |archive-date=24 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Page (1942),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1065988|title=It's an Honour – CH|publisher=Itsanhonour.gov.au|date=26 June 1942|access-date=4 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223074136/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1065988|archive-date=23 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Menzies (1951),<ref>{{cite web |title=It's an Honour: CH |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=15 October 2009 |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1065985 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222042056/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1065985 |archive-date=22 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Holt (1967),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1065981|title=CH|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> McEwen (1969),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1065979|title=CH|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> Gorton (1971),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1073778|title=CH|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> McMahon (1972),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1065991|title=CH|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> and Fraser (1977),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1065990|title=CH|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> generally during office as prime minister.

In almost all occasions these honours were only accepted by non-Labor/conservative prime ministers. However, appointment to the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom]] was accepted by prime ministers of different political persuasions until 1983 (with the exception of Alfred Deakin, Chris Watson and Gough Whitlam), with Malcolm Fraser being the last prime ministerial appointee.

Since its introduction in 1975, former prime ministers of Australia have been appointed to the [[Order of Australia]] and to its highest level, Companion (AC): Whitlam (1978),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/884426|title=AC|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> Fraser (1988),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/884375|title=AC|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> Gorton (1988),<ref>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/884482 It's an Honour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129124645/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/884482 |date=29 January 2019 }} – Companion of the Order of Australia</ref> Howard (2008),<ref>{{Citation |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1138585 |title=It's an Honour: AC |publisher=Australian Government |date=9 June 2008 |access-date=20 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129181320/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1138585 |archive-date=29 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Gillard (2017),<ref>{{Citation|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1154582 |title=It's an Honour: AC |work=Itsanhonour.gov.au |publisher=Government of Australia |date=26 January 2017 |access-date=26 January 2017}}</ref> Rudd (2019),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2004929|title=AC|publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}</ref> Abbott (2020),<ref>{{Citation|title=Queen's Birthday Honours 2020|publisher=Governor General|url=https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/QB2020%20Gazette%20-%20O%20of%20A.PDF|access-date=7 June 2020}}</ref> Turnbull (2021),<ref>{{Citation|title=Australia Day Honours 2021|publisher=Governor General|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2007752|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref> and Morrison (2025).<ref>{{Citation|title=King's Birthday Honours 2025|publisher=Governor General|url=https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-06/The%20King's%20Birthday%202025%20Honours%20List%20-%20Order%20of%20Australia%20Awards.pdf|access-date=11 July 2025}}</ref> Keating refused appointment in the 1997 Australia Day Honours, saying that he had long believed honours should be reserved for those whose work in the community went unrecognised and that having been prime minister was sufficient public recognition.<ref name=naa_afteroffice>{{cite web |title=After office |work=Australia's PMs&nbsp;– Paul Keating |publisher=National Archives of Australia |url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/keating/after-office.aspx |access-date = 15 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Keating: gone wrong |agency=[[The Sun-Herald]] |date=26 January 1997 |page=3}}</ref> Bob Hawke was appointed a Companion in 1979, for service to trade unionism and industrial relations, before becoming prime minister in 1983.<ref>{{cite web| title=It's an Honour| work=Government of Australia| url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/881975| access-date=3 September 2007| archive-date=29 January 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129123025/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/881975| url-status=live}}</ref> Menzies was appointed to the higher grade of Knight of the Order, which is no longer awarded, in 1976.

John Howard was also appointed to the [[Order of Merit]] (OM) by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] in 2012.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=60028|page=485|date=12 January 2012}}</ref> Appointment within the Order of Merit is in the personal gift of the monarch (i.e. not recommended by the government of the day). Menzies' [[Knight of the Order of the Thistle]] awarding - recognising his Scottish heritage - was also in the personal gift of the monarch and Menzies was likewise appointed by [[Elizabeth II]] in 1963.

Although not strictly an honour, one former prime minister was raised to the peerage; Stanley Bruce was created 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37911 |date=21 March 1947 |page=1333 }}</ref> in the [[1947 New Year Honours]].

In addition to these honours, all deceased former prime ministers of Australia currently have federal electorates named after them.{{Efn|The [[Division of Cook]] jointly recognises former prime minister Sir Joseph Cook and explorer Sir [[James Cook]].<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Names and boundaries of federal electoral divisions in New South Wales decided |date=12 September 2024 |publisher=[[Australian Electoral Commission]] |url=https://www.aec.gov.au/media/2024/09-12.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912094037/https://www.aec.gov.au/media/2024/09-12.htm |archive-date=12 September 2024}}</ref>}} The most newly created of these electorates is the [[Division of Hawke]], named in honour of the recently deceased Bob Hawke in 2021.

== Lists relating to the prime ministers of Australia ==
The longest-serving prime minister was [[Robert Menzies]], who served in office twice: from 26 April 1939 to 28 August 1941, and again from 19 December 1949 to 26 January 1966. In total Robert Menzies spent 18 years, 5 months and 12 days in office. He served under the United Australia Party and the Liberal Party respectively.

The shortest-serving prime minister was [[Frank Forde]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Francis Forde {{!}} naa.gov.au |url=https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/francis-forde |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=www.naa.gov.au}}</ref> who was appointed to the position on 6 July 1945 after the death of [[John Curtin]], and served until 13 July 1945 when [[Ben Chifley]] was elected leader of the [[Australian Labor Party]].

Lists of the 31 people who have so far held the premiership:
* '''[[List of prime ministers of Australia]]'''
* [[List of prime ministers of Australia by birthplace]]
* [[List of prime ministers of Australia by time in office]]

==See also==
* [[Historical rankings of prime ministers of Australia]]
* [[List of Commonwealth heads of government]]
* [[List of prime ministers of Australia by time in office]]
* [[List of prime ministers of Elizabeth II]]
* [[List of prime ministers of Charles III]]
* [[Prime Ministers Avenue]] in Horse Chestnut Avenue in the [[Ballarat Botanical Gardens]] contains a collection of bronze busts of former Australian prime ministers.
* [[Prime Ministers' Corridor of Oaks]] in [[Faulconbridge, New South Wales]] contains a corridor of oaks of former Australian prime ministers.
* [[Prime Minister's XI]]
* [[Spouse of the prime minister of Australia]]
* [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==

=== Specific references ===
{{Reflist}}

=== General references ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Elder |first1=D R |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/Powers_practice_and_procedure/Practice7 |title=House of Representatives Practice |last2=Fowler |first2=P E |date=2018 |publisher=Department of the House of Representatives |isbn=978-1-74366-654-8 |edition=7th |location=Caberra |language=en-AU}}
* {{Cite book |last=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |url=https://www.pmc.gov.au/government/administration/cabinet-handbook-15th-edition/cabinet-government-australia |title=Cabinet Handbook |date=2022 |publisher=Australian Government |isbn=978-1-925365-13-9 |language=en-AU}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book| first=Norman |last=Abjorensen| title=The Manner of Their Going: Prime Ministerial Exits from Lyne to Abbott|year=2015| publisher=Australian Scholarly |isbn=9781925333213}}
* {{cite book| first=Michelle|last=Grattan|author-link=Michelle Grattan|title=Australian Prime Ministers| year=2016| publisher=New Holland | isbn=9781742579337}}
* {{cite book| first=Colin |last=Hughes| author-link=Colin Hughes|title=Mr Prime Minister: Australian Prime Ministers 1901–1972|year=1976| publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=0195504712}}
* {{cite book |first=Paul|last=Strangio|chapter=Evaluating Prime-Ministerial Performance: The Australian Experience|title=Understanding Prime-Ministerial Performance: Comparative Perspectives |editor1-first=Paul|editor1-last=Strangio|editor2-first=Paul|editor2-last='t Hart|editor3-first=James |editor3-last=Walter|publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |isbn=9780199666423 }}
* {{cite book |first1=Paul|last1=Strangio|first2= Paul|last2='t Hart|first3=James|last3=Walter | title = Settling the Office: The Australian Prime Ministership from Federation to Reconstruction | publisher = Melbourne University Press | year = 2016 | isbn = 9780522868722 }}
* {{cite book|first1=Paul|last1=Strangio|first2= Paul|last2='t Hart|first3=James|last3=Walter | title = The Pivot of Power: Australian Prime Ministers and Political Leadership, 1949-2016 | publisher = Melbourne University Press | year = 2017 | isbn = 9780522868746 }}
* {{cite book|first=Don|last=Whitington|author-link=Don Whitington|title=Twelfth Man?|publisher=Jacaranda Press|year=1972|isbn=0701605855 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Prime Ministers of Australia}}
{{Library resources box|by=no|onlinebooks=no|about=yes|wikititle=Prime Minister of Australia}}
* [http://www.pm.gov.au/ Official website of the prime minister of Australia]
* [http://www.pmc.gov.au/ Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet]
* [http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/ Australia's Prime Ministers] – National Archives of Australia reference site and research portal
* [http://www.nma.gov.au/primeministers Biographies of Australia's Prime Ministers] / National Museum of Australia
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080718201628/http://dl.filmaust.com.au/tag/Prime+Ministers/ Classroom resources on Australian Prime Ministers]
* [https://primeministers.moadoph.gov.au/ Museum of Australian Democracy website about Australian prime ministers]

{{Prime Ministers of Australia}}
{{Lists of Prime Ministers of Australia}}
{{Parliament of Australia}}
{{Politics of Australia}}
{{Australian federal ministerial portfolios}}
{{Heads of state and government of Oceania}}
{{Prime Minister}}
{{Australia topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prime Minister of Australia}}
[[Category:Prime Minister of Australia| ]]
[[Category:Lists of government ministers of Australia]]
[[Category:1901 establishments in Australia]]