List of female heads of government in Australia

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A total of sixteen women have served, or are serving, as the head of an Australian government. Of these, one has served as the prime minister of Australia, eight as the premier of a state and seven as the chief minister of a territory. Twenty women have also served, or are serving, as the deputy head of government in Australian states and territories; one has served as the deputy prime minister of the country, thirteen as the deputy premier of a state, and six as the deputy chief minister of a territory.

Contents

The first female head of government in Australia, was Rosemary Follett in 1989, who was the 1st Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. Carmen Lawrence became the first female premier of a state in 1990, by serving as the 25th Premier of Western Australia. In 2010, Julia Gillard became the first, and to date, only female Prime Minister of Australia.

Today, every Australian state and territory has had at least one female head of government, except for South Australia; the Northern Territory has had the most, with four; the Australian Capital Territory has had three; Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria have each had a second female head of government serving in their respective jurisdiction. The most female heads to serve concurrently was four, during the 315 days between 16 May 2011 and 26 March 2012. Annastacia Palaszczuk, who served as the 39th Premier of Queensland from 2015 to 2023, had the longest tenure of any female head of government in Australia. The shortest tenure belongs to Eva Lawler, who served as the 13th Chief Minister of the Northern Territory from December 2023 to August 2024.

There are currently two serving female heads of government in Australia: Jacinta Allan (49th Premier of Victoria) who was appointed on 27 September 2023, and Lia Finocchiaro (14th Chief Minister of the Northern Territory) who was appointed on 28 August 2024. In addition, four women currently serve as deputy heads of government in Australia; Yvette Berry (Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory) since 31 October 2016; Susan Close (Deputy Premier of South Australia) since 21 March 2022; Prue Car (Deputy Premier of New South Wales) since 28 March 2023; and Rita Saffioti (Deputy Premier of Western Australia) since 8 June 2023.

Female heads of government

Heads

PortraitTitleName
(birth–death)		State or territoryTerm startTerm endElectionsDurationPartyNotes
RosemaryFollett.jpg Chief Minister Rosemary Follett
(b. 1948)		 Australian Capital Territory 11 May 19895 December 1989 1989
1992
1995 		4 years, 122 days Labor [a]
6 June 19912 March 1995 
Carmen Lawrence 1990 (cropped).png Premier Carmen Lawrence
(b. 1948)		 Western Australia 12 February 199016 February 1993 1993 3 years, 4 days Labor [b]
Joan kirner.jpg Premier Joan Kirner
(1938–2015)		 Victoria 10 August 19906 October 1992 1992 2 years, 57 days Labor [c]
Kate Carnell.jpg Chief Minister Kate Carnell
(b. 1955)		 Australian Capital Territory 2 March 199518 October 2000 1995
1998 		5 years, 230 days  Liberal [d]
Clare Martin (7856638174).jpg Chief Minister Clare Martin
(b. 1952)		 Northern Territory 18 August 200126 November 2007 2001
2005 		6 years, 100 days Labor [e]
Anna Bligh crop.jpg Premier Anna Bligh
(b. 1960)		 Queensland 13 September 200726 March 2012 2009
2012 		4 years, 195 days Labor [f]
Kristina Keneally Portrait 2009.jpg Premier Kristina Keneally
(b. 1968)		 New South Wales 4 December 200928 March 2011 2011 1 year, 114 days Labor [g]
Julia Gillard 2010.jpg Prime Minister Julia Gillard
(b. 1961)		 Australia
(Federal)		24 June 201027 June 2013 2010 3 years, 3 days Labor [h]
Lara Giddings.jpg Premier Lara Giddings
(b. 1972)		 Tasmania 24 January 201131 March 2014 2014 3 years, 66 days Labor [i]
Katy Gallagher Portrait 2011.jpg Chief Minister Katy Gallagher
(b. 1970)		 Australian Capital Territory 16 May 201111 December 2014 2012 3 years, 209 days Labor [j]
Annastacia Palaszczuk 2016.jpg Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
(b. 1969)		 Queensland 14 February 201515 December 2023 2015
2017
2020 		8 years, 304 days Labor [k]
Gladys Berejiklian NSW (cropped).jpg Premier Gladys Berejiklian
(b. 1970)		 New South Wales 23 January 20175 October 2021 2019 4 years, 255 days Liberal [l]
FylesPortrait (cropped).png Chief Minister Natasha Fyles
(b. 1978)		 Northern Territory 13 May 202221 December 2023—1 year, 222 days Labor [m]
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (cropped).jpg Premier Jacinta Allan
(b. 1973)		 Victoria 27 September 2023 Incumbent —1 year, 230 days Labor [n]
EvaLawler2023cropped.jpg Chief Minister Eva Lawler Northern Territory 21 December 202328 August 2024 2024 251 days Labor [o]
Lia Finocchiaro (cropped).jpg Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro
(b. 1984)		 Northern Territory 28 August 2024 Incumbent 2024 260 days Country Liberal [p]

Deputy heads

NameState/
territory		PartyHead of governmentTerm startTerm endDuration
Joan Kirner Victoria  Labor John Cain II 7 February 198910 August 19901 year, 184 days
Joan Sheldon Queensland  Liberal Rob Borbidge 19 February 199626 June 19982 years, 127 days
Sue Napier Tasmania Liberal Tony Rundle 18 March 199614 September 19982 years, 180 days
Anna Bligh Queensland Labor Peter Beattie 28 July 200513 September 20072 years, 47 days
Katy Gallagher Australian Capital Territory Labor Jon Stanhope 20 April 200616 May 20115 years, 26 days
Marion Scrymgour Northern Territory Labor Paul Henderson 26 November 20078 February 20091 year, 74 days
Julia Gillard Australia Labor Kevin Rudd 3 December 200724 June 20102 years, 203 days
Lara Giddings Tasmania Labor David Bartlett 26 May 200824 January 20112 years, 243 days
Carmel Tebbutt New South Wales Labor Nathan Rees
Kristina Keneally 		5 September 200828 March 20112 years, 204 days
Delia Lawrie Northern Territory LaborPaul Henderson9 February 200929 August 20123 years, 202 days
Robyn Lambley Northern Territory  Country Liberal Terry Mills 29 August 20126 April 2013251 days
Jackie Trad Queensland Labor Annastacia Palaszczuk 14 February 201510 May 20205 years, 86 days
Liza Harvey Western Australia Liberal Colin Barnett 16 February 201617 March 20171 year, 29 days [24]
Nicole Manison Northern Territory Labor Michael Gunner
Natasha Fyles 		12 September 201621 December 20237 years, 100 days
Yvette Berry Australian Capital Territory Labor Andrew Barr 31 October 2016Incumbent8 years, 196 days [25]
Vickie Chapman South Australia Liberal Steven Marshall 19 March 201822 November 20213 years, 248 days [26]
Susan Close South Australia Labor Peter Malinauskas 21 March 2022Incumbent3 years, 55 days [27]
Jacinta Allan Victoria Labor Daniel Andrews 27 June 202227 September 20231 year, 92 days [28]
Prue Car New South Wales Labor Chris Minns 28 March 2023Incumbent2 years, 48 days
Rita Saffioti Western Australia Labor Roger Cook 8 June 2023Incumbent1 year, 341 days

Female opposition leaders

PortraitName
(birth–death)		State or territoryTerm startTerm endElectionsDurationPartyNotes
Rosemary Follett
(b. 1948)		 Australian Capital Territory 5 December 19896 June 19911 year, 183 days Labor
Joan kirner.jpg Joan Kirner
(1938–2015)		 Victoria 6 October 199222 March 1993167 days Labor
Carmen Lawrence 1990 (cropped).png Carmen Lawrence
(b. 1948)		 Western Australia 16 February 19937 February 1994356 days Labor [q]
Kate Carnell.jpg Kate Carnell
(b. 1955)		 Australian Capital Territory 21 April 19939 March 1995 1995 1 year, 322 days  Liberal
Rosemary Follett
(b. 1948)		 Australian Capital Territory 9 March 19955 March 1996362 days Labor
Maggie Hickey
(b. 1946)		 Northern Territory 16 April 19962 February 1999 1997 2 years, 292 days Labor
Kerry Chikarovski.jpg Kerry Chikarovski
(b. 1956)		 New South Wales 8 December 199828 March 2002 1999 3 years, 110 days Liberal [r]
Clare Martin (7856638174).jpg Clare Martin
(b. 1952)		 Northern Territory 2 February 199927 August 2001 2001 2 years, 206 days Labor
Sue Napier
(1948–2010)		 Tasmania 2 July 199920 August 20012 years, 49 days Liberal [s]
Jodeen Carney
(b. 1965)		 Northern Territory 18 June 200529 January 20082 years, 225 days  Country Liberal [t]
Isobel Redmond.jpg Isobel Redmond
(b. 1953)		 South Australia 8 July 200931 January 2013 2010 3 years, 207 days Liberal
Annastacia Palaszczuk 2016.jpg Annastacia Palaszczuk
(b. 1969)		 Queensland 28 March 201214 February 2015 2015 2 years, 323 days Labor
Delia Lawrie in 2001.jpg Delia Lawrie
(b. 1966)		 Northern Territory 29 August 201220 April 20152 years, 234 days Labor [u]
Rebecca White MP.jpg Rebecca White
(b. 1983)		 Tasmania 17 March 201715 May 2021 2018
2021 		4 years, 59 days Labor [v]
7 July 202110 April 2024 2024 2 years, 278 days 
Deb Frecklington headshot crop narrow.jpg Deb Frecklington
(b. 1971)		 Queensland 12 December 201712 November 2020 2020 2 years, 336 days  Liberal National [w]
Liza Harvey
(b. 1966)		 Western Australia 13 June 201924 November 20201 year, 194 days Liberal
Jodi McKay
(b. 1969)		 New South Wales 29 June 201928 May 20211 year, 333 days Labor
Lia Finocchiaro Profile.jpg Lia Finocchiaro
(b. 1984)		 Northern Territory 1 February 202028 August 2024 2024 5 years, 103 days Country Liberal
Elizabeth Lee MLA (cropped).jpg Elizabeth Lee
(b. 1979)		 Australian Capital Territory 27 October 202031 October 20244 years, 4 days Liberal
Mia Davies MLA.png Mia Davies
(b. 1978)		 Western Australia 14 April 202130 January 20231 year, 291 days  National
Leanne Castley
(b. 1974)		 Australian Capital Territory 31 October 2024Incumbent196 days Liberal


Timeline

Heads

Lia FinocchiaroEva LawlerJacinta AllanNatasha FylesGladys BerejiklianAnnastacia PalaszczukKaty GallagherLara GiddingsJulia GillardKristina KeneallyAnna BlighClare MartinKate CarnellRosemary FollettJoan KirnerCarmen LawrenceRosemary FollettList of female heads of government in Australia

Red represents members of the Australian Labor Party, blue represents members of the Liberal Party of Australia.

Deputy heads

Rita SaffiotiPrue CarJacinta AllanSusan CloseVickie ChapmanYvette BerryNicole ManisonLiza HarveyJackie TradRobyn LambleyDelia LawrieCarmel TebbuttLara GiddingsJulia GillardMarion ScrymgourKaty GallagherAnna BlighSue NapierJoan SheldonJoan KirnerList of female heads of government in Australia

Red represents members of the Australian Labor Party, blue represents members of the Liberal Party of Australia and orange represents the Country Liberal Party.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Elected 1st Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory in May 1989, after her party formed government following the inaugural general election in March 1989. Defeated in a vote-of-no-confidence in December 1989, to Trevor Kaine. Returned to power in June 1991, following a vote-of-no-confidence against Kaine. Led Labor to victory at the 1992 general election. Defeated by the Liberals under Kate Carnell at the general election in February 1995. First woman to become Chief Minister of a Territory of the Commonwealth of Australia. Only female government head to serve non-consecutive terms. [1]
  2. ↑ Appointed 25th Premier of Western Australia in February 1990, following the resignation of Peter Dowding. Defeated at the state election in February 1993, by Richard Court (Liberal). First woman to become Premier of Western Australia, and hence, of a State within the Commonwealth of Australia.
  3. ↑ Appointed 42nd Premier of Victoria in August 1990, following the resignation of John Cain II. Defeated at the state election in October 1992, by Jeff Kennett (Liberal). First woman Premier of Victoria. [2]
  4. ↑ Elected 3rd Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory in March 1995, after defeating Labor under Rosemary Follett at the general election. Led the Liberals to victory at the 1998 general election. Resigned in October 2000. [3]
  5. ↑ Elected 7th Chief Minister of the Northern Territory in August 2001, after defeating the Country Liberal Party under Denis Burke at the general election. Led Labor to victory at the 2005 general election. Resigned in November 2007. First woman Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. [4]
  6. ↑ Appointed 37th Premier of Queensland in September 2007, following the retirement of Peter Beattie. Led Labor to victory at the 2009 state election. Defeated at the state election in March 2012, by Campbell Newman (Liberal). First woman Premier of Queensland. [5] [6]
  7. ↑ Appointed 42nd Premier of New South Wales in December 2009, following a Labor Party leadership challenge against Nathan Rees. Defeated at the state election in March 2011, by Barry O'Farrell (Liberal). First woman Premier of New South Wales. [7]
  8. ↑ Appointed 27th Prime Minister of Australia in June 2010, following a Labor Party leadership challenge against Kevin Rudd. Led Labor to victory at the 2010 federal election. Defeated in a leadership challenge by Rudd, in June 2013. First, and to date, only woman Prime Minister of Australia. [8]
  9. ↑ Appointed 44th Premier of Tasmania in January 2011, following the resignation of David Bartlett. Defeated at the state election, in March 2014. First, and to date, only woman Premier of Tasmania. [9] [10] [11]
  10. ↑ Appointed 6th Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory in May 2011, following the resignation of Jon Stanhope. Led Labor to victory at the 2012 general election. Resigned in December 2014. [12]
  11. ↑ Elected 39th Premier of Queensland in February 2015, after defeating the Liberals under Campbell Newman at the state election. [13] [14] Led Labor to victory at the 2017 state election [15] and the 2020 state election. [16] Resigned in December 2023. [17] Only woman head of government to win three elections.
  12. ↑ Appointed 45th Premier of New South Wales in January 2017, following the resignation of Mike Baird. Led the Liberals to victory at the 2019 state election. [18] Resigned in October 2021.
  13. ↑ Appointed 12th Chief Minister of the Northern Territory on 13 May 2022, after the resignation of Michael Gunner. [19] Resigned in December 2023. [20]
  14. ↑ Appointed 49th Premier of Victoria on 27 September 2023, after the resignation of Daniel Andrews. [21]
  15. ↑ Appointed 13th Chief Minister of the Northern Territory on 21 December 2023, after the resignation of Natasha Fyles. [22] Defeated by the Country Liberals under Lia Finocchiaro at the general election in August 2024.
  16. ↑ Elected 14th Chief Minister of the Northern Territory in August 2024, after defeating Labor under Eva Lawler at the general election. [23]
  17. ↑ Resigned in order to enter federal politics at the 1994 Fremantle by-election.
  18. ↑ Challenged for the leadership by John Brogden, lost by one vote.
  19. ↑ Challenged for the leadership by Bob Cheek.
  20. ↑ Challenged for the leadership by Terry Mills. Resigned in favour of Mills after vote was tied.
  21. ↑ Resigned as leader following a successful spill motion.
  22. ↑ Resigned as leader following electoral defeat.
  23. ↑ Resigned as leader following electoral defeat.

References

  1. ↑ Profile. womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  2. ↑ Wallace, Rick (1 June 2015). "Joan Kirner, first female premier of Victoria, dies aged 76". The Australian . Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Carnell, Anne Katherine – profile". Encyclopedia of Australian Science. 1 August 2007. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  4. ↑ Murdoch, Lindsay. "Clare Martin and deputy quit". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  5. ↑ Koren Helbig; Sarah Vogler (25 March 2012). "Anna Bligh quits: 'Labor cannot rebuild with me in its ranks'". The Sunday Mail . Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Bligh resigns after election wipe-out". ABC News. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "Keneally sworn in as state's first female premier". Herald Sun. 4 December 2009.
  8. ↑ "The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Member for Lalor (Vic)". Australian House of Representatives . Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Bartlett confirms resignation on Facebook". ABC News . Australia. 23 January 2011. Archived from the original on 23 January 2011.
  10. ↑ "Tasmanian premier to resign". The Sydney Morning Herald . AAP. 23 January 2011.
  11. ↑ Atherton, Ben (15 March 2014). "Liberals swept to power in Tasmania, Labor hopeful of clinging to power in South Australia". ABC News . Australia. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "Katy Gallagher resigns as Chief Minister, declares for Senate". The Canberra Times. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  13. ↑ Robertson, Joshua (13 February 2015). "Annastacia Palaszczuk new premier of Queensland after Labor wins 44 seats". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  14. ↑ "Queensland election 2015: Annastacia Palaszczuk sworn in as Premier". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (14 February 2015). 14 February 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  15. ↑ "Queensland election: Labor's Annastacia Palaszczuk claims victory with at least 47 seats". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (8 December 2017). 8 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  16. ↑ Beaumont, Adrian (31 October 2020). "Labor wins Queensland election, as Greens could win up to four seats". The Conversation. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  17. ↑ Rebgetz, Louisa (10 December 2023). "Annastacia Palaszczuk, the 'accidental premier' who became a Labor legend and trailblazer for women". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  18. ↑ Blumer, Clare. (23 January 2017). "Gladys Berejiklian is Premier of New South Wales, replacing Mike Baird". ABC . Retrieved 23 January 2017
  19. ↑ Vivian, Steve, Gibson, Jano, and Perera, Alicia. (13 May 2022). "Natasha Fyles sworn in as Northern Territory Chief Minister, replacing Michael Gunner". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  20. ↑ Hislop, Jack and Morgan, Thomas. (19 December 2023). "Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles resigns amid mounting pressure over leadership". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  21. ↑ Kolovos, Benita and Ore, Adeshola. (27 September 2023). "Jacinta Allan named as new premier of Victoria". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  22. ↑ Brissenden, Neve. (20 December 2023). "NT Treasurer Eva Lawler set for Chief Minister’s job". Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  23. ↑ Parkinson, Amanda. (24 August 2024). "Country Liberals clinch victory in NT election". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  24. ↑ AAP. (13 March 2017). "WA election: Alannah MacTiernan seeks cabinet role in McGowan government". The Australian . Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  25. ↑ Lawson, Kirsten. (17 October 2016). "ACT election 2016: Yvette Berry backed for Labor deputy as Greens weigh up coalition or crossbench". The Canberra Times . Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  26. ↑ Dayman, Isabel (22 November 2021). "Vickie Chapman steps down as SA Deputy Premier and aside from ministerial roles pending ombudsman investigation". ABC News (Australia) . Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  27. ↑ "SA election 2022: Liberal minister Corey Wingard set to lose seat, One Nation could gain in upper house". ABC News. 20 March 2022.
  28. ↑ "Victorian Labor endorses Jacinta Allan as deputy premier after mass ministerial resignations". ABC News. 25 June 2022.
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