Political families of Australia Last updated August 17, 2025
A political family of Australia (also called a political dynasty ) is a family in which multiple members are involved in Australian politics , particularly electoral politics . Members may be related by blood or marriage; often several generations or multiple siblings may be involved. [ 1] Like comparable liberal democracies in the United States , Japan , Canada and The United Kingdom , Australia is susceptible to the phenomenon of political dynasties. [ 2] [ 3] There have been many instances where members of the same family have been elected to the same state or federal electoral district, sometimes immediately succeeding a family member.
The following families have had two or more members serve as premier of an Australian state :
The following families have had two or more members serve in the same federal cabinet position:
The following families have had two or more members serve in vice-regal positions :
The following families have had two or more members serve as mayor of an Australian capital city :
The following families have had three or more members elected to the same district:
The following families had two members elected to the same district:
B Thomas Turner à Beckett (1808–1892)
Sir William à Beckett (1806–1869)
William Arthur Callender à Beckett (1833–1901)
Bruce Baird (born 1942)
Mike Baird (born 1968)
C Robert Campbell (1769–1846)
Charles Campbell (1810–1888)
John Campbell (1802–1886)
Sir Charles Court (1911–2007)
Richard Court (born 1947)
(South Australia) (Western Australia) Cowper Charles Cowper (1807–1875), Premier of New South Wales (1856, 1857–1859, 1861–1863, 1865–1866, 1870), Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council for County of Cumberland (1843–1850) and County of Durham (1851–1856), Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Sydney City (1856–1859), East Sydney (1859, 1860–1867) and Liverpool Plains (1869–1870), Agent-General for New South Wales (1870–1875); His son: D John Darling Sr. (1831–1905)
John Darling Jr. (1852–1914)
Joe Darling (1870–1946)
Sir Alick Downer (1910–1981)
Alexander Downer (born 1951)
Dobson William Lambert Dobson (1833–1898), Chief Justice of Tasmania (1885–1898), Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Hobart Town (1861–1862) and Campbell Town (1864–1870), minister in the Weston (1861–1863) and Dry (1869–1870) governments; His brothers: Frank Dobson (1835–1895), Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Southern Province (1865–1882) and South-Eastern Province (1882–1895), minister in the O'Loghlen government (1881–1883); And: Henry Dobson (1841–1918), Premier of Tasmania (1892–1894), Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Brighton (1891–1900), Senator for Tasmania (1901–1910), Deputy President of the Australian Senate (1908–1910); And: Alfred Dobson (1849–1908), Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Glenorchy (1877–1887), Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly (1885–1887), Agent-General for Tasmania (1901–1908). F Charles Fitzgerald (1865–1913)
Laurie Ferguson (born 1952)
Martin Ferguson (born 1953)
Sir Simon Fraser (1832–1919)
Malcolm Fraser (1930–2015)
G (Tasmania) Ray Groom was a Member of the House of Representatives 1975–1984, a Minister in the Fraser government, a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly 1986–2001, then Premier of Tasmania 1992–1996; his son, Matthew Groom was a Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly 2010–2018 and a minister in the Tasmanian Government 2014–2018. Guy James Guy was an ALP Senator for Tasmania from 1914 to 1920 and his son James Allan Guy was ALP and later Nationalist Member for Bass and a Senator for Tasmania. George McElwee , Member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council from 1940 to 1946, was James Guy's brother-in-law. [ 39] H Rupert Hamer (1916–2004)
David Hamer (1923–2002)
Albert Hawke (1900–1986)
Bob Hawke (1929–2019)
Tom Hughes (1923–2024)
Eric Harrison was a Member of the House of Representatives seat of Wentworth from 1931 to 1956, the first Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia (1944 to 1956) and held several major portfolios. His daughter Hughes The Hughes family has a long history in both New South Wales and Federal politics.
Sir Thomas Hughes was the first Lord Mayor of Sydney and member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1908 until 1930. His brother, John Francis Hughes was also an MLC, serving from 1895 until 1912. He also served as NSW Minister for Justice and Vice-President of the Executive Council. Their brother in-law, John Lane Mullins , husband of Jane Hughes; sister of Sir Thomas and John Hughes, was also an MLC from 1917 until 1934. Their grandson and his great-nephew, Tom Hughes , was a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1963 until 1972, serving as Attorney-General during the Gorton government . His daughter, Lucy Hughes , was the first female Lord Mayor of Sydney , serving from 2003 until 2004. Hunt Alan Hunt was a member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 1961–1992. His son, Greg Hunt , is the federal member for Flinders , was Minister for the Environment in the Abbott and Turnbull governments. L Carlo Lazzarini (1880–1952)
Bert Lazzarini (1884–1952)
Anthony O'Grady Lefroy (1816–1897)
Sir Henry Lefroy (1854–1930)
David Littleproud (born 1976)
Lemmon John Lemmon was the Labor member for Williamstown in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1904 to 1955—at nearly 51 years, the longest term in the Victorian parliament's history. His son, Lewis Brothers
Sandy Lewis (1931–2016), MP for Blackwood, Western Australia 1972–1989 Tom Lewis (1922 –2016), 33rd Premier of New South Wales 1975 – 1976 their grandfather
M John Macarthur (1767–1834)
Edward Macarthur (1789–1872)
James Macarthur (1798–1867)
Tom McVeigh (born 1930)
John McVeigh (born 1965)
McLarty John McLarty (1842–1909), MLA in Western Australia 1904–1909; brother of Edward Edward McLarty (1848–1917), MLC in Western Australia 1894–1916; brother of John Ross McLarty (1891–1962), MLA in Western Australia 1930–1962, Premier 1947–1953; son of Edward N Nalder Sir Crawford Nalder was Deputy Premier of Western Australia from 1962 to 1971. His son Cambell Nalder , was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1986 to 1987. His son Dean Nalder , was a member of the Legislative Assembly from 2013 to 2021 and was the Transport minister in the Western Australian Government. O Sir Maurice Charles Philip O'Connell (1768–1848)
Sir Maurice Charles O'Connell (1812–1879)
Patrick O'Sullivan (1818–1904)
Thomas O'Sullivan (1856–1953)
Neil O'Sullivan (1900–1968)
P Alfred Piesse (1866–1939 )
Arnold Piesse (1872–1935)
Thomas Playford I (1795–1873)
Thomas Playford II (1837–1915)
Thomas Playford IV (1895–1981)
Page Sir Earle Page was Prime Minister of Australia in 1939 and a Country Party Member of the House of Representatives from 1919 to 1961. His grandson Donald Page was a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly from 1988 to 2015 and a minister in the NSW Government from 2011 to 2014. Piesse Frederick Piesse (1853–1912), MLA in Western Australia 1890–1909; brother of Alfred, Arnold, and Charles Charles Piesse (1855–1914), MLC in Western Australia 1894–1914; brother of Alfred, Arnold, and Frederick Alfred Piesse (1866–1939), MLA in Western Australia 1911–1924; brother of Arnold, Charles, and Frederick Arnold Piesse (1872–1935), MLA in Western Australia 1909–1914 and 1930–1935; brother of Alfred, Charles, and Frederick Harold Piesse (1884–1944), MLC in Western Australia 1932–1944; son of Frederick Edmund Piesse (1900–1952), Senator for Western Australia 1950–1952; son of Arnold Winifred Piesse (1923–2017), MLC in Western Australia 1977–1983; daughter-in-law of Charles Polley Michael Polley was a member for Wilmot/Lyons from 1972 to 2014 and a Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. His sister Noel Padgham-Purich was a member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for Tiwi 1977–1983; Koolpinyah 1983–1990; and Nelson 1990–1997. Her daughter, S Kenneth Snodgrass (1784–1853)
Peter Snodgrass (1817–1867)
Percy Spender (1897–1985)
John Spender (1935–2022)
Allegra Spender (born 1978)
Street John Rendell Street , MLC (b.1832–d.1891): Founder of the Australian Street dynasty; successor of Sir Edmund Barton , 1st Prime Minister of Australia , in his New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of East Sydney (1887–death); descendant of Baron Sir Thomas Street . Sir Philip Whistler Street , KCMG , KC (b.1863–d.1938): 8th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales (1925–1938); second longest serving judge in New South Wales history ; son of John Rendell, father of Sir Kenneth. Lieutenant Colonel Sir Kenneth Whistler Street , KCMG , KStJ , QC (b.1890–d.1972): 10th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales (1950–1972); son of Sir Philip, husband of "Red Jessie", father of Sir Laurence. Jessie Mary Grey, Lady Street (b.1889–d.1970): Prominent diplomat and suffragette; Australia's first female delegate to the United Nations ; instrumental in the gender non-discrimination clause of the UN Charter ; organised the formation of the Aboriginal Rights Organisation . [ 42] Brigadier Geoffrey Austin Street , MP , MC (b.1894–d.1940): Australia's Minister of Defence in the First Menzies Government during World War II ; awarded Military Cross for bravery in the Battle of Gallipoli ; died as Minister of Defence in the Canberra Air Disaster of World War II ; father of Anthony Austin. Commander Sir Laurence Whistler Street , AC , KCMG , KStJ , QC (1926–2018): 14th and second youngest Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales (1974–1989); son of Sir Kenneth and "Red Jessie", father of Alexander. Anthony Austin Street , MP , (1926–2022): Australia's Foreign Minister in the Fourth Fraser Ministry (1980–1983); Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and Minister for Industrial Relations in the Third Fraser Ministry ; son of Geoffrey Austin (held the same seat, Corangamite ). Commander Alexander Whistler Street , SC (b.1959–): Incumbent judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and Commander of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve , along with his sister Justice Sylvia Emmett (née Street), a federal judge and Lieutenant Commander in the naval reserve, and wife to federal judge Arthur Emmett . Suttor William Henry Suttor (1805–1877), Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council for Counties of Roxburgh, Phillip and Wellington (1843–1854), Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for County of Bathurst (1856–1859), East Macquarie (1859, 1860–1864) and Bathurst (1866–1872); His sons: William Suttor Jr. (1834–1905), Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for East Macquarie (1875–1879), Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (1880–1900); and: Francis Bathurst Suttor (1839–1915), Free Trade /Protectionist Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Bathurst (1877–1887, 1891–1894, 1898–1900), Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (1889–1891, 1900–1903–1914), President of the New South Wales Legislative Council (1903–1914), minister in the Parkes , John Robertson , Jennings and Dibbs governments. T Tehan Marie Tehan was a Liberal member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 1987 to 1992 and of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1992 to 1999. She was a minister in the Victorian Government. Her son Dan Tehan has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2010. Thompson Lindsay Thompson was a Liberal Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 1955 to 1970 and of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1970 to 1982. He was the 40th Premier of Victoria . His son Murray Thompson has been a Liberal Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 1992. V Vale William and Richard Vale were brothers who both represented West Ballarat in the Victorian Legislative Assembly during the latter part of the 19th century. William's great-grandson, W Walker James Thomas Walker (1841–1923), original senator from New South Wales (1901–1913); his older cousin was Thomas Walker (1804–1886), member of NSW Legislative Council for Port Philip Bay (1843–1845) William Charles Wentworth I (1790–1872), member of the New South Wales Legislative Council for various periods between 1843 and 1862, including President of the Legislative Council (1861–1862) D'Arcy Wentworth, Jr. (1793–1861), member of the NSW Legislative Council (1843–1845), brother of W. C. Wentworth I William Charles Wentworth IV AO (1907–2003), member of the Australian House of Representatives (1949– 1977) and in the Ministry (1968–1972), great grandson of W. C. Wentworth I George Neville Griffiths (1840–1905), member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (1882–1885), grandfather of W. C. Wentworth IV John Scott (1821–1898), apart from 1869, member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly (1868–1888) and of the Queensland Legislative Council (1888–1890), father-in-law of G.N. Griffiths and great grandfather of W. C. Wentworth IV George Hill (1802–1883), Mayor of Sydney (1850), alderman of the City of Sydney (1842–1851) and (1857–1858), [ 43] and member of the NSW Legislative Council (1848–1849) and (1856–1861), great grandfather of W. C. Wentworth IV, his daughter, Mary Jane being the wife of Fitzwilliam, the son of W. C. Wentworth I Richard Hill (1810–1895). Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly (1868–1877), member of the Legislative Council (1880–1895), brother of George Hill, and whose wife, Henrietta Cox, was the sister of Sarah, the wife of W. C. Wentworth I William Charles Hill (1838–1919), member of the NSW Legislative Council (1900–1919), son of Richard Hill Sir Daniel Cooper, 1st Baronet (1821–1902), member of the NSW Legislative Council (1849–1851) and (1855–1856), member of the NSW Legislative Assembly (1856–1860) and the Assembly's first Speaker, his wife Elizabeth being the sister of George Hill and Richard Hill Willmott F. E. S. Willmott (1870–1941), MLA in Western Australia 1914–1921, MLC in Western Australia 1921–1926; father of F. D. Edmund Brockman (1882–1938), MLA in Western Australia 1933–1934; brother-in-law of F. E. S. William Willmott (1895–1947), MLA in Western Australia 1938–1947; nephew of F. E. S. F. D. Willmott (1904–2004), MLA in Western Australia 1955–1974; son of F. E. S. Wilson Sir Keith Wilson was Senator for South Australia from 1938 to 1944 and MHR for Sturt from 1949–1954 and 1955–1966. His son Ian represented Sturt from 1966–1969 and 1972–1993 and was a minister in the Fraser government. Ian was also great-grandson of Sir John Langdon Bonython MHR for South Australia 1901–1906 and great-great grandson of Sir John Cox Bray , the first native born premier of South Australia Wooldridge Michael Wooldridge was a Member of the House of Representatives, and Minister for Health 1996–2001 in the Howard government. His sister, Mary Wooldridge , has been a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2006 and a minister in the Victorian Government. Spouses There have been several instances of married couples being individually elected or appointed to office in Australian federal and state politics. In some cases, male politicians have died in office and were succeeded by their wives. (Millie Peacock won the by-election for the Electoral district of Allandale , replacing her husband Alexander Peacock ) and Fanny Brownbill succeeded her husband William Brownbill in the Electoral district of Geelong following his death.
In other cases the couples represented the same geographic areas but in different electoral districts (Carmel Tebbutt represented the state Electoral district of Marrickville at the same time her husband Anthony Albanese represented the overlapping federal Division of Grayndler , Carryn Sullivan represented the state Electoral district of Pumicestone while her husband Jon Sullivan represented the federal Division of Longman ), or similar geographic areas but at different times (Linda Lavarch represented the state Electoral district of Kurwongbah shortly after her husband Michael Lavarch failed to win re-election as the federal Member for Dickson ).
Joh and Florence Bjelke-Petersen, 1952
Lucy and Malcolm Turnbull, 2012
Enid and Joseph Lyons, 1930
Anthony Albanese and Carmel Tebbutt Florence and Joh Bjelke-Petersen Steele Hall and Joan Bullock Linda and Michael Lavarch Alexander and Millie Peacock Kelvin and Marsha Thomson Kelvin Thomson was an MP in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1988–1995 and was MHR for Wills in the Australian Parliament from 1996 until his retirement in 2016. His ex-wife Marsha Thomson was a member of the Victorian Legislative Council (1999–2006) and has represented Footscray in the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2006. She was the first Jewish woman to be a minister in any Australian Government serving in the Bracks and Brumby cabinets. Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull William and Fanny Brownbill Sophie and Greg Mirabella Maurice and Doris Blackburn Susan Ryan and Richard Butler Belinda Neal and John Della Bosca Alison Byrnes and Paul Scully Jim McKiernan and Jackie Watkins Trish Worth and Michael Cobb His first wife:
His second wife:
References ↑ Lewis, Charlie. "A guide to Australia's (many) political dynasties" . Crikey . Private Media Pty Ltd. Retrieved 7 June 2025 . ↑ Nottage, Luke. "Political dynasties in Japan, the US, Australia ... but not NZ?" . eastasiaforum.com . East Asis Forum. Retrieved 7 June 2025 . ↑ Walden, Max. "Global democracy undermined by political 'nepo babies', Sydney University research finds" . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 June 2025 . ↑ Knott, Matthew. "Fighting for his political life: on the road in WA with Eric Abetz's brother Peter" . The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "The life and times of Aboriginal rights champion and political trailblazer John Ah Kit, dead at 69" . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "The Hon. Peter Thomas ANDERSON" . Parliament of New South Wales . Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "Doug Anthony, former Nationals leader and deputy prime minister, dies aged 90" . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "Archer Family" . utas.edu.au . University of Tasmania. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "Labor's Scott Bacon to resign from Tasmanian Parliament" . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "Bruce Baird's career regret everyone can avoid" . Financial Review . Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Ltd. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "BAKER, Francis Patrick" . Australian Parliamentary Library . Australian Government. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "Remembering Lance Barnard - one of Launceston's finest politicians" . The Examiner . Australian Community Media. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "Martin Peter Friedrich Basedow (1829–1902)" . Australian Dictionary of Biography . Australian National University. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "BAUME, Peter Erne (1935– )" . Biography Dictionary of the Australian Senate . Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "PRE-SELECTION FIGHT PLACES BEALE IN JEOPARDY" . Financial Review . Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Ltd. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ Bourke, Keane. "Victoria Park MP Hannah Beazley to replace Bill Johnston in WA cabinet reshuffle" . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "John Alexander Bell (1828–1901)" . People Australia . Australian National University. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "Yvette Berry named sixth ACT Minister" . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "Charles Best (1816–1882)" . Australian Dictionary of Biography . Australian National University. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ "Political comeback on the cards for former WA MP Matt Birney" . WA Today . Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Ltd. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ "Kenneth George (Ken) Booth (1926–1988)" . Australian Dictionary of Biography . Australian National University. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ "Sue Napier loses fight with breast cancer" . The Advocate . Australian Community Media. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ "Maribyrnong Federal Election 2025 Results" . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ "HOARE, Kelly Joy" . Australian Parliamentary Library . Australian Government. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ " . The Mercury . Nationwide News Pty Ltd. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ Aitkin, Don. "Sir Michael Frederick Bruxner (1882–1970)" . Australian Dictionary of Biography . Australian National University. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ Bolton. "Thomas Patrick (Tom) Burke (1910–1973)" . Australian Dictionary of Biography . Australian National University. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ Vinall, Frances. "David Bushby's sister Wendy Askew will replace him in Federal senate" . The Examiner . Australian Community Media. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ Rollison, Kay. "Sir Richard Butler (1850–1925)" . Australian Dictionary of Biography . Australian National University. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ Kolovos, Benita. "Vale John Cain, the man who saved the Australian Open" . Financial Review . Nine Entertainment Co Pty Ltd. ↑ Preston, Monique (13 May 2019). "Senate hopefuls have Proserpine ties" . Daily Mercury . Archived from the original on 13 May 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2020 . ↑ Burton, Jesinta (2024). "Kate Chaney on duty to family, falling into politics – and not putting up with crap" . Nine Entertainment Co Pty Ltd. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ McClaren, Rory. "SA's Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman caught in unwelcome spotlight over Kangaroo Island port. Here's how it reached that point" . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ "CHATAWAY, Thomas Drinkwater (1864–1925)" . Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate . Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ "Pollies Cameron and Milton Dick on family life" . The Sydney Morning Herald . Nine Entertainment Co Pty Ltd. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ Joyce, R.B. "John Douglas (1828–1904)" . Australian Dictionary of Biography . Australian National University. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ "Another Downer bound for Canberra?" . Inside Story . Retrieved 9 June 2025 . ↑ "John Dunn" . SA History Hub . History Trust of South Australia. Retrieved 10 June 2025 . ↑ "Biography: James Guy" . Australian Senate . Archived from the original on 22 March 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2014 . ↑ "Albert Redvers George Hawke (Labor)" . The Constitutional Center of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 21 August 2006. Retrieved 31 March 2006 . 1 2 O'Sullivan, Patrick (1818–1904) Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Australian Dictionary of Biography Retrieved 2 July 2016. ↑ Papers of Jessie Street (1889–1970) Archived 22 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine ↑ City of Sydney: Aldermen: George hill: Accessed 20 June 2020 ↑ Mitchell, Alex (21 August 2005). "Carr can't vote on successor to seat he held for 22 years" . The Sun-Herald . Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2008 . This page is based on this
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Thomas Playford II
Thomas Playford IV
John Cain Sr.
John Cain Jr.
Frank Crean
Simon Crean
Kim Beazley Sr.
Kim Beazley
Sir Phillip Street (Lieutenant-Governor, 1930–1938)
Sir Kenneth Street (Lieutenant-Governor, 1950–1972)
Sir Laurence Street (Lieutenant-Governor, 1974–1989)
Larry Anthony
Doug Anthony
