Leader of the Opposition (Victoria)

Last updated

Leader of the Opposition
Victorian Liberal Leader John Pesutto b.jpg
Incumbent
John Pesutto
since 8 December 2022
Term length While leader of the largest political party not in government
Inaugural holder George Prendergast
Formation1904
Deputy Peter Walsh

The Leader of His Majesty's Opposition in Victoria is the leader of the largest political party in parliament but not in government. They are always a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Prior to 1904, opposition to the government of the day was less organised. Thus, the Victorian Parliamentary Record does not designate Leaders of the Opposition before then. The leader acts as the public face of the opposition, leading the opposition on the floor of parliament. They act as a chief critic of the government and ultimately attempt to portray the opposition as a feasible alternate government.

The office is currently held by John Pesutto after his election to the position of leader of the Liberal Party in December 2022.

List of leaders of the opposition in Victoria

This is an list of leaders of the opposition in Victoria. [1]

No.NamePortraitPartyConstituencyTerm of officeTenureElectionsPremier
 1 George Prendergast George Prendergast.jpg Labor North Melbourne 7 June 190417 September 19139 years, 102 days 1904   Bent
1904–1909
1907
1908
1911   Murray
1909–1912
  Watt
1912–1913
2 George Elmslie [2] 25Georgeelmslie.jpg Labor Albert Park 17 September 19139 December 191383 days
3 William Watt William Watt (cropped).jpg Commonwealth Liberal Essendon 9 December 191322 December 191313 days Elmslie
1913
(2) George Elmslie [2] 25Georgeelmslie.jpg Labor Albert Park 22 December 191311 May 19184 years, 140 days  Watt
1913–1914
1914   Peacock
1914–1917
1917   Bowser
1917–1918
  Lawson
1918–1924
(1) George Prendergast [3] George Prendergast.jpg Labor North Melbourne 18 June 191818 July 19246 years, 30 days 1920
1921
1924   Peacock
1924
4 Alexander Peacock 20Alexanderpeacock.jpg Nationalist Allandale 18 July 192418 November 1924123 days Prendergast
1924
(1) George Prendergast George Prendergast.jpg Labor North Melbourne 18 November 192414 April 19261 year, 147 days Allan
1924–1927
5 Edmond Hogan [4] 30Nedhogan.jpg Labor Warrenheip 14 April 192620 May 19271 year, 36 days 1927
6 William McPherson Will McPherson.jpg Nationalist Hawthorn 20 May 192722 November 19281 year, 186 days Hogan
1927–1928
(5) Edmond Hogan 30Nedhogan.jpg Labor Warrenheip and Grenville 22 November 192812 December 19291 year, 20 days 1929 McPherson
1928–1929
(6) William McPherson Will McPherson.jpg Nationalist Hawthorn 12 December 19293 September 1930265 days Hogan
1929–1932
7 Stanley Argyle Agyle, Stanley (cropped).png Nationalist Toorak 3 September 193019 May 19321 year, 259 days
United Australia 1932
8 Tom Tunnecliffe Tom Tunnecliffe.jpg Labor Collingwood 13 July 19322 April 19352 years, 263 days 1935 Argyle
1932–1935
(7) Stanley Argyle Agyle, Stanley (cropped).png United Australia Toorak 2 April 193523 November 19405 years, 235 days 1937 Dunstan
1935–1943
1940
9 Thomas Hollway TomHollway.jpg United Australia Ballarat 23 November 194014 September 19432 years, 295 days 1943
10 Albert Dunstan Albert Dunstan (cropped).jpg United Country Korong and Eaglehawk 14 September 194318 September 19434 days Cain
1943
11 John Cain John Cain 1954.jpg Labor Northcote 18 September 194321 November 19452 years, 64 days Dunstan
1943–1945
1945 Macfarlan
1945
12 John McDonald Johnmcdonaldmp.jpg United Country Shepparton 21 November 194520 November 19471 year, 364 days 1947 Cain
1945–1947
(11) John Cain John Cain 1954.jpg Labor Northcote 20 November 19477 December 19481 year, 17 days Hollway
1947–1950
(12) John McDonald Johnmcdonaldmp.jpg Country Shepparton 7 December 194827 June 19501 year, 202 days 1950
(9) Thomas Hollway TomHollway.jpg Liberal and Country Ballarat 27 June 19505 December 19511 year, 161 days McDonald
1950–1952
13 Les Norman Les Norman.jpg Liberal and Country Glen Iris 5 December 195123 July 1952231 days
(11) John Cain John Cain 1954.jpg Labor Northcote 23 July 195217 December 1952147 days
Hollway
1952
1952 McDonald
1952
14 Trevor Oldham Trevor Oldham.png Liberal and Country Malvern 17 December 19522 May 1953136 days Cain
1952–1955
15 Henry Bolte Henry Bolte.jpg Liberal and Country Hampden 3 June 19537 June 19552 years, 4 days 1955
(11) John Cain John Cain 1954.jpg Labor Northcote 8 June 19554 August 19572 years, 57 days Bolte
1955–1972
16 Ernie Shepherd Ernie Shepherd.jpg Labor Ascot Vale
Footscray
20 August 195712 September 1958 [5] 1 year, 23 days 1958
17 Clive Stoneham Clive Stoneham.jpg Labor Midlands 7 October 195815 May 1967 [6] 8 years, 220 days 1961
1964
1967
18 Clyde Holding No image.png Labor Richmond 15 May 196729 June 197710 years, 45 days 1970
1973 Hamer
1972–1981
1976
19 Frank Wilkes No image.png Labor Northcote 29 June 19779 September 1981 [6] 4 years, 72 days 1979
Thompson
1981–1982
20 John Cain John Cain 2018.jpg Labor Bundoora 9 September 19818 April 1982211 days 1982
21 Lindsay Thompson Lindsay Thompson with Japanese MP (cropped).jpg Liberal Malvern 8 April 19825 November 1982211 days Cain
1982–1990
22 Jeff Kennett Jeff Kennett b.jpg Liberal Burwood 5 November 198223 May 19896 years, 199 days 1985
1988
23 Alan Brown No image.png Liberal Gippsland West 23 May 198923 April 19911 year, 335 days
Kirner
1990–1992
(22) Jeff Kennett Jeff Kennett b.jpg Liberal Burwood 23 April 19916 October 19921 year, 166 days 1992
24 Joan Kirner Joan kirner.jpg Labor Williamstown 6 October 199222 March 1993167 days Kennett
1992–1999
25 Jim Kennan No image.png Labor Broadmeadows 22 March 199329 June 199399 days
26 John Brumby John Brumby.jpg Labor Broadmeadows 14 July 199322 March 19995 years, 251 days 1996
27 Steve Bracks Steve Bracks at a Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony, August 2006.jpg Labor Williamstown 22 March 199920 October 1999212 days 1999
(22) Jeff Kennett Jeff Kennett b.jpg Liberal Burwood 20 October 199926 October 19996 days Bracks
1999–2007
28 Denis Napthine Denis Napthine.jpg Liberal Portland 26 October 199920 August 20022 years, 298 days
29 Robert Doyle Robert Doyle 2013.jpg Liberal Malvern 20 August 20028 May 20063 years, 261 days 2002
30 Ted Baillieu Ted baillieu.jpg Liberal Hawthorn 8 May 20062 December 20104 years, 208 days 2006
2010 Brumby
2007–2010
31 Daniel Andrews Daniel Andrews 2018.jpg Labor Mulgrave 3 December 20104 December 20144 years, 1 day Baillieu
2010–2013
2014 Napthine
2013–2014
32 Matthew Guy 2015 Matthew Guy MLA b.jpg Liberal Bulleen 4 December 20146 December 20184 years, 2 days 2018   Andrews
2014–2023
33 Michael O'Brien O'Brien 2022 b.jpg Liberal Malvern 6 December 20187 September 20212 years, 275 days
(32) Matthew Guy 2015 Matthew Guy MLA b.jpg Liberal Bulleen 7 September 20218 December 20221 year, 92 days 2022
34 John Pesutto Victorian Liberal Leader John Pesutto.jpg Liberal Hawthorn 8 December 2022Incumbent1 year, 144 days
  Allan
2023–

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References

  1. Victorian Parliament Chronology, Government of Victoria (Australia).
  2. 1 2 "VICTORIAN POLITICS". The Advertiser . Adelaide. 18 September 1913. p. 15. Retrieved 5 July 2011 via National Library of Australia.
  3. "VICTORIA'S NEW LABOUR LEADER". The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times . TAS. 19 June 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 5 July 2011 via National Library of Australia.
  4. "VICTORIAN LABOR PARTY". The Advertiser . Adelaide. 15 April 1926. p. 16. Retrieved 5 July 2011 via National Library of Australia.
  5. "New Leader For Victorian Labour". The Canberra Times . 21 August 1957. p. 11. Retrieved 16 November 2014 via National Library of Australia.
  6. 1 2 "The Sydney Morning Herald - Google News Archive Search".