Shortest serving prime minister australian

The youngest prime minister to lose a federal election was Stanley Brucewho was 46 years, and days old when he lost the election. In recent years, the youngest prime minister to lose a federal election was Paul Keatingwho was 52 years and 44 days old when he lost the election. The youngest person to lose a federal election was Chris Watson who was 36 years and days old when he lost the election.

The youngest person to lose a federal election without ever becoming prime minister was Mark Latham who was 43 years and days old when he lost the election. The oldest prime minister to lead a party to victory at a federal election was Robert Menzieswho won the election aged 68 years and days. The oldest prime minister to lead a party to victory at a federal election for the first time was Malcolm Turnbullwho won the election aged 61 years and days.

The youngest prime minister to win an election was Stanley Brucewho was 42 years, and days old when he won the election. In recent years, the youngest prime minister to win an election was Julia Gillardwho was 48 years, and days old when she won the election.

Shortest serving prime minister australian

Nearly all 24 prime ministers of Australia have held the office at some point during their tenures without the mandates from an election. This is a common occurrence due to the parliamentary and party systems in Australia, when the position is often made vacant by a spill or leader who is resigning or retiring. In the early days of the office, the unstable non-majority party system also caused many changes in power.

Prime ministers who have taken office due to inter-party confidence prior to the development of the stable two-party system:. Prime minister who took office after the incumbent government was dismissed by the Governor-General:. Only John Gorton has come from the Senate. The shortest interval between entering Parliament and being appointed prime minister was achieved by Bob Hawkewho entered Parliament in October and was appointed prime minister only 29 months later in March The longest period of service prior to becoming prime minister was that of John McEwenwho had served 33 years in the House of Representatives before he became prime minister in December For a non-interim prime minister, the longest period of prior service was 30 years by Harold Holtwho was elected in a by-election in August and became prime minister in January The longest service as an MP of a prime minister was Billy Hugheswho served from March until his death in Octobera total of 51 years.

This is to date the longest period of service in the Australian Parliament and Hughes was father of the House from until The prime minister with the longest service in a single seat is 42 years by Earle Pagewho served the seat of Cowper from December until December In recent years, the prime minister with the longest service in a single seat is 33 years by John Howardwho served the seat of Bennelong from May until December Five prime ministers have served a long enough period in the House of Representatives to become Father of the House: [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] Italics indicate that a former or incumbent prime minister was a joint Father of the House.

As ofall 31 prime ministers of Australia have been white European Australians. Only four prime ministers are known to have been at least partly of non-Anglo-Celtic descent: Chris Watsonwhose father was a German Chilean ; [ 14 ] Harold Holtwhose maternal grandmother was German ; Malcolm Fraserwhose maternal grandfather was a Jewish New Zealander ; [ 15 ] and Anthony Albanesewhose father was Italian.

Most Australian prime ministers have been Christian. Eight of the thirty-one prime ministers of Australia have served in the military. As ofthe last prime minister who had any military service was Gough Whitlamwho served as a pilot in the Air Force from toduring World War II. Only Harold Holt has served in the military during his parliamentary career.

He served in the Armed Forces from towhen he was asked to return by Menzies due to low parliamentary numbers and difficulties. As of 26 Januarythere are seven living former Australian prime ministers. The prime minister who had the most children is Joseph Lyonswho fathered 12 children. The tallest prime minister is believed to be Gough Whitlamwho stood at around 6 feet 4 inches cm in height.

The longest personal name held by an Australian prime minister was that of Earle Page whose four names — Earle Christmas Grafton Page — total 25 letters. The following prime ministers have had facial hair. Most prime ministers, when in office, have been predominantly clean-shaven men. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history.

Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikidata item. Period of service [ edit ]. Main article: List of prime ministers of Australia by time in office. Time in office [ edit ]. Number of terms [ edit ]. Terms of prime ministers and reigns of monarchs of Australia [ edit ]. Number of monarchs served under [ edit ].

Prime ministers born during reigns in which they held office [ edit ]. Prime ministers who lived under most reigns [ edit ]. Number of governors-general served under [ edit ]. Age [ edit ]. Age of appointment [ edit ]. Scott Morrison born John Curtin — John Gorton — Julia Gillard born Malcolm Turnbull born Gough Whitlam — Kevin Rudd short serving prime minister australian Sir Edmund Barton — Anthony Albanese born James Scullin — Tony Abbott born Harold Holt — William McMahon — Joseph Cook — George Reid — Chris Watson — Arthur Fadden — Previous Article.

Next Article. Derryn Hinch: What can Australia expect from ? Derryn Hinch January 1, American culture creates a very particular kind of politician Matthew Reddin August 30, The online response to the Los Angeles fires FeaturedMy take on. Hey Perrottet, do schools educate kids or exist so parents can work? Sign up for our newsletter. Join Followers.

Show More. AI gets an instructor job — at Harvard! Punishment, pet care, and penitentiaries — Pets in prison rehabbing more than just the animals AnimalsFeaturedOn radio this weekResidents. Popular Posts. Jane Caro January 23, Forde was elected to the Scullin Ministry as an assistant ministerand was also appointed to the Committee of Public Accounts.

Fenton was absent from the country or otherwise occupied for most ofincluding as Acting Prime Minister for five months while Scullin attended the Imperial Conference in London. When Fenton and Joseph Lyons resigned from cabinet in FebruaryForde was elected to one of the vacancies and appointed Minister for Trade and Customs. However, in Forde's state of Queensland the party actually increased its representation, winning an additional two House seats and all three seats in the Senate.

Forde was the "principal architect" of the Scullin government's policy of high tariffswhich aimed to reduce the effect of the Great Depression on secondary industries. Despite his reputation as a protectionist, he agreed to reduce the tariff on imported sound equipment from 60 percent to just 10 percent, after vigorous lobbying from F.

As acting customs minister inForde played a key role in the banning of Norman Lindsay 's novel Redheapthe first occasion on which the federal government had banned the importation of a book by an Australian author. A ballot for the party's leadership positions was held on 16 Februaryat which Scullin was re-elected short serving prime minister australian as leader and Forde was elected as his deputy.

He thus became Deputy Leader of the Opposition. With Scullin suffering frequent bouts of ill health, Forde was Acting Leader of the Opposition on a number occasions. Notably, after the Italian invasion of Abyssinia in he announced that the ALP would pursue a policy of non-participation, as "the control of Abyssinia is not worth the loss of a single Australian life".

When Scullin retired inForde contested the leadership ballot but was defeated by one vote by John Curtineleven votes to ten. The Age called it "one of the greatest surprises in federal political circles during recent years". It has been suggested that some MPs viewed Forde as too closely linked with the activities of the Scullin government.

Forde was a loyal deputy, and in when Labor returned to power he became Minister for the Armya vital role in wartime. As army minister, Forde held responsibility for internment of enemy aliens during World War II and administration of the prisoner-of-war camps. In Februaryfollowing mounting concerns over a possible Japanese invasion, he authorised a mass round-up of enemy aliens in Queensland — primarily Italians — and imposed a curfew on any enemy aliens in Queensland not interned.

Evatta civil libertarian, who concluded some internments were "unjustified or frivolous". In MarchForde authorised the internment of twenty people connected with the Australia First Movementincluding writer Percy Stephensen and suffragette Adela Pankhurstannouncing in parliament that the detainees intended to collaborate with the Japanese and had plans to carry out industrial sabotage and political assassinations.

Late that month, Curtin was admitted to hospital; in the absence of Forde and H. Forde did not return to Australia until 2 July, but then immediately took over from Chifley. The prime minister's health had severely declined in the meantime, although he had been able to go home to The Lodge. Curtin died in his sleep in the early hours of 5 July, at the age of On the day that Curtin died, Forde issued a brief statement announcing the death, and then in the afternoon moved a condolence motion at a brief sitting of parliament.

On the morning of the following day, 6 July, he led a procession of MPs past Curtin's coffin at Parliament Housewhere his body was lying in state. In the afternoon, Forde attended a memorial service, and then went to Government Housewhere he was formally sworn in as prime minister by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucesterthe Governor-General.

He was appointed as prime minister with the understanding that he would resign if the Labor Party elected someone other than him as leader at its next caucus meeting. Forde was the Labor Party's sixth prime minister. He is the only Australian prime minister to have never led a political party. There was little precedent for his appointment, as only one previous prime minister Joseph Lyons had died in office, and Lyons had been succeeded by the leader of the smaller party in his governing coalition Earle Page.

Two days later, Ben Chifley told him that he would be contesting the leadership; that evening, they both issued statements announcing their candidacies. Norman Makin announced his intention to stand the following day. On the morning of 12 July, Les Haylen informed Forde that he did not have the numbers to win. In response, Forde said "I must say a little prayer for Ben.

It's not an easy job". In the leadership ballotChifley received 45 votes to Forde's 16, Makin's seven, and Evatt's two. Several MPs were absent including Evattand Rowley James unsuccessfully proposed that the ballot be postponed. Forde resigned as prime minister on 13 July, after one week in office. He is Australia's shortest-serving prime minister.

After losing the leadership contest to Chifley, Forde was re-elected unopposed as deputy leader. He remained Minister for the Army and Minister for Defence, having assumed the latter portfolio after Curtin's death. As the Pacific War ended on 15 AugustForde's primary responsibility was to oversee the demobilisation of the Australian military. At this time service men and women were spread around the country and across the Pacific.

He handled the issue in a way that was unpopular with the general public, refusing appeals to release servicemen early but also making public statements about the rate of demobilisation that turned out to be inaccurate. He suffered a point swing against him, compared with a nationwide 0. As well as the concerns over demobilisation, he had been criticised for moving his family to Sydney during the war and his electorate was experiencing a severe drought.

In Novemberit was announced that Forde would become the new High Commissioner to Canadacutting short the term of Alfred Stirling. His appointment was the "first major executive act of the new Federal Cabinet" after the election. At the Queensland state election the Labor Party split resulted not only in Labor falling from power, but also in Forde being defeated in his own seat by Bill Longeran of the Country Party by one vote.

However, at the by-election held on 17 MayLongeran defeated Forde by over votes. InForde was nominated for Labor preselection for the Senate vacancy caused by the death of Max Poulter. He received three out of 66 votes in the ballot, [ 44 ] with his age probably a factor in his low tally. Forde retired to Brisbane where he devoted himself to Catholic charity work.

Forde died in Forde was the last surviving member of the Scullin, Curtin and his own Cabinet. Furthermore, he was the last surviving MP from when Stanley Bruce was prime minister. The electoral Division of Forde and the Canberra suburb of Forde are named after him.