Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory

Last updated

Chief Minister of the
Australian Capital Territory
Coat of Arms of the Australian Capital Territory.svg
Flag of the Australian Capital Territory.svg
AndrewBarrportrait.jpg
Incumbent
Andrew Barr
since 11 December 2014
Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate
Style The Honourable
Status Head of government
AbbreviationCM
Member of Cabinet
National Cabinet
Reports to Legislative Assembly
Seat 1 Constitution Avenue, Canberra
Appointer Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
Constituting instrument Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth), section 40
Formation11 May 1989
First holder Rosemary Follett
Deputy Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
SalaryA$384,928 [1]

The chief minister of the Australian Capital Territory is the head of government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The leader of the party with the largest number of seats in the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly usually takes on the role. Unlike other states and territories, the chief minister is not appointed by a governor or administrator, but elected directly by the Assembly. [2]

Contents

The chief minister is the rough equivalent of the state premiers, and has been a member of the National Cabinet since its creation in 2020. [3] The chief minister previously also represented the ACT on the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). [4] Since there are no local governments in the territory, the chief minister's role is also similar to that of the mayor of a local government area. The chief minister sits on the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors. [5]

The current chief minister is Andrew Barr of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), who was first elected by the Assembly on 11 December 2014 following the resignation of Katy Gallagher. [6]

List of officeholders

No.PortraitName
Electorate
(Birth–death)
ElectionTerm of officePolitical partyMinistry
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 RosemaryFollett.jpg Rosemary Follett
MLA
(born 1948)
1989 11 May
1989
5 December
1989
208 days Labor Follett I
2 Trevor Kaine and John Langmore (cropped).jpg Trevor Kaine
MLA
(1928–2008)
5 December
1989
6 June
1991
1 year, 183 days Liberal Kaine
(1) RosemaryFollett.jpg Rosemary Follett
MLA
(born 1948)
6 June
1991
2 March
1995
3 years, 269 days Labor Follett II
1992 Follett III
3 Kate Carnell.jpg Kate Carnell
MLA for Molonglo
(born 1955)
1995 2 March[ citation needed ]
1995
18 October[ citation needed ]
2000
5 years, 230 days Liberal Carnell I
1998 Carnell II
4 Gary John Joseph Humphries.jpg Gary Humphries
MLA for Molonglo
(born 1958)
18 October[ citation needed ]
2000
5 November[ citation needed ]
2001
1 year, 18 days Liberal Humphries
5 JonStanhope2006.jpg Jon Stanhope
MLA for Ginninderra
(born 1951)
2001 5 November[ citation needed ]
2001
12 May
2011
9 years, 188 days Labor Stanhope I
2004 Stanhope II
2008 Stanhope III
6 Katy Gallagher Portrait 2011.jpg Katy Gallagher
MLA for Molonglo
(born 1970)
16 May[ citation needed ]
2011
11 December
2014
3 years, 209 days Labor Gallagher I
2012 Gallagher II
7 AndrewBarrportrait (cropped).jpg Andrew Barr
MLA for Kurrajong
(born 1973)
11 December
2014
Incumbent10 years, 92 days Labor Barr I
2016 Barr II
2020 Barr III
2024 Barr IV

Graphical timeline

Andrew BarrKaty GallagherJon StanhopeGary HumphriesKate CarnellRosemary FollettTrevor KaineRosemary FollettChief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory

Rank by time in office

This is a list of chief ministers of the Australian Capital Territory by time in office. The basis of the list is the inclusive number of days between dates.

Parties

   Australian Labor Party    Liberal Party of Australia

RankPortraitOfficeholderPartyDistrictAssumed
office
Left
office
Time in office
(term)
Time in office
(total)
Election
wins
 1. AndrewBarrportrait (cropped).jpg Andrew Barr
(1973–)
Labor MLA for Molonglo
(2006–2016)
MLA for Kurrajong
(2016- )
11 December 2014Incumbent Arrow east.svg 10 years, 92 days [7] 2016 2020

2024

 2. JonStanhope2006.jpg Jon Stanhope
(1951–)
AO
Labor MLA for Ginninderra
(1998–2011)
12 November 200112 May 2011 Arrow east.svg 9 years, 181 days 2001 2004
2008
 3. Kate Carnell.jpg Kate Carnell
(1955–)
AO
Liberal MLA for Molonglo
(1992–2000)
9 March 199517 October 2000 Arrow east.svg 5 years, 222 days 1995 1998
 4. RosemaryFollett.jpg Rosemary Follett
(1948–)
AO
Labor MLA for Molonglo
(1995–1996)
11 May 19895 December 1989208 days4 years, 122 days 1989 1992
6 June 19919 March 19953 years, 276 days
 5. Katy Gallagher Portrait 2011.jpg Katy Gallagher
(1970–)
Labor MLA for Molonglo
(2001–2014)
16 May[ citation needed ] 201110 December 2014 Arrow east.svg 3 years, 208 days 2012
 6. Trevor Kaine and John Langmore (cropped).jpg Trevor Kaine
(1928–2008)
Liberal MLA for Brindabella
(1995–2001)
5 December 19896 June 1991 Arrow east.svg 1 year, 183 days
 7. Gary John Joseph Humphries.jpg Gary Humphries
(1958–)
Liberal MLA for Molonglo
(1995–2002)
18 October[ citation needed ] 200012 November 2001 Arrow east.svg 1 year, 25 days

Total time in office of political parties in Australian Capital Territory

Australian Capital Territory Assembly – 13090 days as of 13 March 2025

Labor

Liberal

See also

References

  1. Tyeson, Cam (9 July 2023). "ACT's politicians, executive public servants pocket 3.5 per cent pay rise". Pedestrian. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  2. "Assembly Debate" (PDF). ACT Hansard . ACT Legislative Assembly. 11 May 1989. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  3. "Advice on coronavirus". Prime Minister of Australia (Press release). 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  4. "COAG Members". Council of Australian Governments. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  5. "Canberra". Council of Capital City Lord Mayors. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  6. "Andrew Barr elected ACT Chief Minister, seventh in history". ABC News . Australia. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  7. Andrew Barr's time in office as of 13March2025