Leader of the Opposition (Australia)

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Leader of the Opposition
Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Peter Dutton-2024.jpg
Incumbent
Peter Dutton
since 30 May 2022
Opposition of Australia
Shadow Cabinet of Australia
Member of
Reports to Parliament
Term length While leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives that is not in government
Inaugural holder George Reid
Formation1901
Salary$390,000

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. [1]

Contents

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 his or her 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". [2]

To date there have been 35 opposition leaders, 19 of whom also have served terms as prime minister. [3]

The current Leader of the Opposition is Peter Dutton of the Liberal Party, following a leadership election on 30 May 2022. The current Deputy Leader of the Opposition is Sussan Ley, 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). [1]

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. [1]

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: [1]

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.

Whereas according to the Coalition agreement the Leader of the National Party serves as Deputy Prime Minister when the Coalition is in government, [4] 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

Billy Snedden and Andrew Peacock on 12 October 1973. Both served as Opposition Leader, but never became Prime Minister. 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. [5]

Although the role was firmly established, the House did not formally recognise the position of opposition leader in its records until 1920. [1] 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. [5] Prime Minister Andrew Fisher had previously offered Opposition Leader Alfred Deakin an allowance in 1910. Deakin declined, but did accept a paid secretary. [6] 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. [1]

Salary

The opposition leader's salary is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal, an independent statutory body. [7] 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. [8]

List of leaders of the opposition

No.LeaderPartyConstituencyTook officeLeft officePrime MinisterRef
1 George Reid [a] George Reid crop.jpg   Free Trade East Sydney (NSW) 19 May 190117 August 1904  Barton 1901–03 [9]
Deakin 1903–04
  Watson 1904
2 Chris Watson [b] ChrisWatsonBW crop.jpg   Labor Bland (NSW) 18 August 19045 July 1905  Reid 1904–05
(1) George Reid [b] George Reid crop.jpg   Free Trade / Anti-Socialist East Sydney (NSW) 7 July 190516 November 1908  Deakin 1905–08
  Fisher 1908–09
3 Joseph Cook [a] Joseph Cook - Broothorn Studios.jpg Anti-Socialist Parramatta (NSW) 17 November 190826 May 1909
4 Alfred Deakin [a] [b] Alfred Deakin 1910 (crop).tif   Liberal Ballaarat (Vic) 26 May 19092 June 1909
5 Andrew Fisher [a] [b] Andrew Fisher 1908.jpg   Labor Wide Bay (Qld) 2 June 190929 April 1910  Deakin 1909
(4) Alfred Deakin [b] Alfred Deakin 1910 (crop).tif   Liberal Ballaarat (Vic) 1 July 191020 January 1913  Fisher 1910–13
(3) Joseph Cook [a] Joseph Cook - Crown Studios 03.jpg Parramatta (NSW) 20 January 191324 June 1913
(5) Andrew Fisher [a] [b] AndrewFisher.jpg   Labor Wide Bay (Qld) 8 July 191317 September 1914  Cook 1913–14
(3) Joseph Cook [b] Joseph Cook - Crown Studios 03.jpg   Liberal Parramatta (NSW) 8 October 191417 February 1917  Fisher 1914–15
  Hughes 1915–23
 
6 Frank Tudor Frank Tudor - Humphrey & Co.jpg   Labor Yarra (Vic) 17 February 191710 January 1922 
7 Matthew Charlton Matthew Charlton 1925.jpg Hunter (NSW) 25 January 192229 March 1928 
  Bruce 1923–29
8 James Scullin [a] James Scullin October 1928-02.jpg Yarra (Vic) 29 March 192822 October 1929 
9 John Latham Johnlatham.jpg   Nationalist Kooyong (Vic) 20 November 19297 May 1931  Scullin 1929–32
10 Joseph Lyons [a] Joseph Lyons.jpg   United Australia Wilmot (Tas) 7 May 19316 January 1932
(8) James Scullin [b] James H. Scullin.jpg   Labor Yarra (Vic) 6 January 19321 October 1935  Lyons 1932–39
11 John Curtin [a] JohnCurtin1938.png Fremantle (WA) 1 October 19357 October 1941 
  Page 1939
  Menzies 1939–41
  Fadden 1941
12 Arthur Fadden [b] FaddenPEO.jpg   Country Darling Downs (Qld) 7 October 194123 September 1943  Curtin 1941–45
13 Robert Menzies [a] [b] Portrait Menzies 1950s.jpg   United Australia Kooyong (Vic) 23 September 194319 December 1949
  Liberal   Forde 1945
  Chifley 1945–49
14 Ben Chifley [b] Benchifley.jpg   Labor Macquarie (NSW) 19 December 194913 June 1951  Menzies 1949–66
15 H. V. Evatt Herbert V. Evatt.jpg Barton (NSW) 1940–58
Hunter (NSW) 1958–60
20 June 19519 February 1960 
16 Arthur Calwell Arthur Calwell 1966.jpg Melbourne (Vic) 7 March 19608 February 1967 
  Holt 1966–67
17 Gough Whitlam [a] Gough Whitlam - Leader of the Opposition (cropped).jpg Werriwa (NSW) 8 February 19672 December 1972 
  McEwen 1967–68
  Gorton 1968–71
  McMahon 1971–72
18 Billy Snedden Billy Snedden 1973 (1).jpg   Liberal Bruce (Vic) 20 December 197221 March 1975  Whitlam 1972–75
19 Malcolm Fraser [a] Fraser Malcolm BANNER.jpg Wannon (Vic) 21 March 197511 November 1975
(17) Gough Whitlam [c] Gough Whitlam headshot.jpg   Labor Werriwa (NSW) 11 November 197522 December 1977  Fraser 1975–83
20 Bill Hayden Bill Hayden 1974 (cropped).jpg Oxley (Qld) 22 December 19778 February 1983
21 Bob Hawke [a] Hawke Bob BANNER.jpg Wills (Vic) 8 February 198311 March 1983
22 Andrew Peacock Andrew Peacock 1974 (cropped).jpg   Liberal Kooyong (Vic) 11 March 19835 September 1985  Hawke 1983–91
23 John Howard [a] John Howard 1974 (cropped).jpg Bennelong (NSW) 5 September 19859 May 1989 [11]
(22) Andrew Peacock Andrew Peacock 1974 (cropped).jpg Kooyong (Vic) 9 May 19893 April 1990  [9]
24 John Hewson John Hewson 2016 01.jpg Wentworth (NSW) 3 April 199023 May 1994 
  Keating 1991–96
25 Alexander Downer Alexander Downer 1990s.jpg Mayo (SA) 23 May 199430 January 1995 [12]
(23) John Howard [a] John howard.jpg Bennelong (NSW) 30 January 199511 March 1996 [11]
26 Kim Beazley Kim Beazley crop.jpg   Labor Brand (WA) 19 March 199622 November 2001  Howard 1996–07 [13]
27 Simon Crean Simon Crean 1990s.jpg Hotham (Vic) 22 November 20012 December 2003 [14]
28 Mark Latham Ac.marklatham.jpg Werriwa (NSW) 2 December 200318 January 2005 [15]
(26) Kim Beazley Kim Beazley crop.jpg Brand (WA) 28 January 20054 December 2006 [13]
29 Kevin Rudd [a] Kevin Rudd official portrait.jpg Griffith (Qld) 4 December 20063 December 2007 [16]
30 Brendan Nelson BrendanNelson.JPG   Liberal Bradfield (NSW) 3 December 200716 September 2008  Rudd 2007–10 [17]
31 Malcolm Turnbull [a] Turnbull.JPG Wentworth (NSW) 16 September 20081 December 2009  [18]
32 Tony Abbott [a] Tony Abbott - 2010.jpg Warringah (NSW) 1 December 200918 September 2013  [19]
  Gillard 2010–13
  Rudd 2013
33 Bill Shorten Bill Shorten-crop.jpg   Labor Maribyrnong (Vic) 13 October 201330 May 2019  Abbott 2013–15 [20]
Turnbull 2015–18 [21]
Morrison 2018–22 [22]
34 Anthony Albanese [a] Anthony Albanese portrait (cropped).jpg Grayndler (NSW) 30 May 201923 May 2022
35 Peter Dutton Peter Dutton May 2018 (cropped).jpg   Liberal Dickson (Qld) 30 May 2022Incumbent  Albanese 2022–

Timeline

Peter DuttonAnthony AlbaneseBill ShortenTony AbbottMalcolm TurnbullBrendan NelsonKevin RuddMark LathamSimon CreanKim BeazleyAlexander DownerJohn HewsonJohn HowardAndrew PeakcockBob HawkeBill HaydenMalcolm FraserBilly SneddenGough WhitlamArthur CalwellH. V. EvattBen ChifleyRobert MenziesArthur FaddenJohn CurtinJoseph LyonsJohn Latham (judge)James ScullinMatthew CharltonFrank TudorAndrew FisherAlfred DeakinJoseph CookChris WatsonGeorge ReidLeader of the Opposition (Australia)

List of deputy leaders of the opposition

Deputy LeaderPartyConstituencyTook officeLeft officeLeaderRef
Joseph Cook Joseph Cook - Broothorn Studios.jpg   Commonwealth Liberal Party Parramatta (NSW) 26 May 19092 June 1909  Deakin 1909
Gregor McGregor Gregor McGregor1.jpg   Labor Party Senator for South Australia (SA) 2 June 190929 April 1910  Fisher 1909–10
Joseph Cook Joseph Cook - Crown Studios 03.jpg   Commonwealth Liberal Party Parramatta (NSW) 1 July 191020 January 1913  Deakin 1910–13
Sir John Forrest JohnForrest1909.jpg Swan (WA) 20 January 191324 June 1913 Cook 1913
Gregor McGregor Gregor McGregor1.jpg   Labor Party Senator for South Australia (SA) 8 July 19137 September 1914  Fisher 1913–14
Sir John Forrest JohnForrest1909.jpg   Commonwealth Liberal Party Swan (WA) 8 October 191417 February 1917  Cook 1914–17
Albert Gardiner Albert Gardiner.jpg   Labor Party Senator for New South Wales (NSW) 17 February 1917March 1927  Tudor 1917–22
  Charlton 1922–28
James Scullin James Scullin October 1928-02.jpg Yarra (Vic) 17 March 192729 March 1928  [23]
Arthur Blakeley Arthur Blakeley.jpg Darling (NSW) 29 March 19281929  Scullin 1928–29
Ted Theodore Ted Theodore 1931.jpg Dalley (NSW) 192922 October 1929
Henry Gullett Henrygullett.jpg   Nationalist Party Henty (Vic) 20 November 19297 May 1931  Latham 1929–31
John Latham Johnlatham.jpg   United Australia Party Kooyong (Vic) 7 May 19316 January 1932  Lyons 1931–32
Frank Forde Frank Forde.jpg   Labor Party Capricornia (Qld) 7 January 19327 October 1941  Scullin 1932–35
  Curtin 1935–41
Billy Hughes BillyHughes1945.jpg   United Australia Party North Sydney (NSW) 9 October 194114 April 1944  Fadden 1941–43
  Menzies 1943–49
Eric Harrison Eric John Harrison.jpg Wentworth (NSW) 14 April 194419 December 1949 
  Liberal Party  
H. V. Evatt Herbert V. Evatt.jpg   Labor Party Barton (NSW) 19 December 194913 June 1951  Chifley 1949–51
Arthur Calwell ArthurCalwell.jpg Melbourne (Vic) 13 June 19519 February 1960  Evatt 1951–60
Gough Whitlam Gough Whitlam 1962.jpg Werriwa (NSW) 7 March 19608 February 1967  Calwell 1960–67
Lance Barnard Lance Barnard 1970 (cropped).jpg Bass (Tas) 8 February 19675 December 1972  Whitlam 1967–72
Phillip Lynch Phillip Lynch 1974 (cropped).jpg   Liberal Party Flinders (Vic) 20 December 197211 November 1975  Snedden 1972–75
Fraser 1975
Frank Crean Frank Crean 1974 (cropped).jpg   Labor Party Melbourne Ports (Vic) 11 November 197522 December 1975  Whitlam 1975–77
Tom Uren Tom Uren 1974 (cropped).jpg Reid (NSW) 22 December 197522 December 1977
Lionel Bowen Lionel Bowen 1973 (cropped).jpg Kingsford Smith (NSW) 22 December 197711 March 1983 Hayden 1977–83
Hawke 1983
John Howard John Howard 1974 (cropped).jpg   Liberal Party Bennelong (NSW) 11 March 19835 September 1985  Peacock 1983–85 [11]
Neil Brown Neil Brown 1970.png Menzies (Vic) 5 September 198517 July 1987  Howard 1985–89
Andrew Peacock Andrew Peacock 1974 (cropped).jpg Kooyong (Vic) 17 July 19879 May 1989
Fred Chaney Fred Chaney 1974 (cropped).jpg Senator for Western Australia (WA) 1989–90
Pearce (WA) 1990
9 May 198924 March 1990  Peacock 1989–90
Peter Reith Peter Reith cropped.jpg Flinders (Vic) 24 March 199013 March 1993  Hewson 1990–94 [24]
Michael Wooldridge No image.svg Chisholm (Vic) 13 March 199323 May 1994 [25]
Peter Costello Peter Costello.jpg Higgins (Vic) 23 May 199419 March 1996 Downer 1994–95 [26]
Howard 1995–96
Gareth Evans Gareth Evans 2000 (cropped).jpg   Labor Party Holt (Vic) 19 March 199619 October 1998  Beazley 1996–2001 [27]
Simon Crean Simon Crean 1990s.jpg Hotham (Vic) 19 October 199822 November 2001 [14]
Jenny Macklin Jenny Macklin (cropped).jpg Jagajaga (Vic) 22 November 200118 September 2006  Crean 2001–03 [28]
  Latham 2003–05
 Beazley 2005–06
Julia Gillard Juliagillard-CROP.jpg Lalor (Vic) 4 December 20063 December 2007  Rudd 2006–07 [29]
Julie Bishop Portrait of Julie Bishop.jpg   Liberal Party Curtin (WA) 3 December 200718 September 2013  Nelson 2007–08 [30]
  Turnbull 2008–09
  Abbott 2009–13
Tanya Plibersek Tanya-plibersek2015.jpg   Labor Party Sydney (NSW) 14 October 201330 May 2019  Shorten 2013–19 [31]
Richard Marles Richard Marles crop.jpg Corio (Vic) 30 May 201923 May 2022 Albanese 2019–22 [32]
Sussan Ley SL - 2012 Profile.jpg   Liberal Party Farrer (NSW) 30 May 2022Incumbent  Dutton 2022–

See also

In the Australian House of Representatives, the Leader of the Opposition sits at the front table to the left of the Speaker's chair (on the right-hand side in this photo). Australian House of Representatives - Parliament of Australia.jpg
In the Australian House of Representatives, the Leader of the Opposition sits at the front table to the left of the Speaker's chair (on the right-hand side in this photo).

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Opposition Leader who later became Prime Minister.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Opposition Leader who had previously been Prime Minister.
  3. Gough Whitlam refused to use the title Leader of the Opposition between the dismissal of his government in November 1975 and the first meeting of the new parliament in February 1976. During the election campaign in December 1975 he styled himself as the Leader of the Majority in the House of Representatives. [10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Chapter 2: House, Government and Opposition, the (official) Opposition". House of Representatives Practice. May 2018. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  2. Jaensch, Dean (1997). The Politics of Australia. Melbourne: MacMillan Education Australia. p. 100. ISBN   0-7329-4128-8.
  3. "A House for the nation". Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
  4. Koziol, Michael; Bagshaw, Eryk (16 February 2018). "Why can't Malcolm Turnbull sack Barnaby Joyce?". The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  5. 1 2 Heriot, Dianne (12 February 2019). "Australia's first Parliament: Her Majesty's loyal opposition" (PDF). FlagPost. Australian Parliamentary Library. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  6. Brett, Judith (14 August 2017). The Enigmatic Mr Deakin. Text Publishing. p. 397. ISBN   9781925498660.
  7. "Salary". Department of Finance. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  8. Doran, Matthew (8 June 2019). "Pay rise coming for federal politicians as they prepare to return to Canberra". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  9. 1 2 "Appendix 4: Leaders of the Opposition". House of Representatives Practice. May 2018. pp. 805–806. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  10. Gough, Whitlam. "Whitlam Speeches – 1975 Election Policy Speech". Whitlam Dismissal. Archived from the original on 16 November 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2006.
  11. 1 2 3 "Hon John Howard MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  12. "Hon Alexander Downer MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  13. 1 2 "The Hon Kim Beazley MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  14. 1 2 "Hon Simon Crean MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  15. "Mr Mark Latham MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  16. "Hon Kevin Rudd MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  17. "Hon Brendan Nelson MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  18. "Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  19. "Hon Tony Abbott MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  20. "Hon Chris Bowen MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  21. "Hon Bill Shorten MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  22. "Hon Anthony Albanese MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  23. "Inter-state". The Mercury . 18 March 1927. p. 6. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2021 via Trove.
  24. "Hon Peter Reith MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  25. "Hon Dr Michael Wooldridge MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  26. "Hon Peter Costello MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  27. "Hon Gareth Evans QC, MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  28. "Hon Jenny Macklin MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  29. "Hon Julia Gillard MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  30. "Hon Julie Bishop MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  31. "Hon Tanya Plibersek MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  32. "Hon Richard Marles MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.