Global political history

Global political history from 3000 BC to the 21st century – political leaders, elections, and more.

Australia

Heads of state of Australia

Governor-General of Australia
Ronald Crauford Munro Ferguson

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 6 1860; d. March 30 1934

Also known as: Viscount Novar (1920 – 1934)

1914 – 1920

Field Marshal Sir William Joseph Slim

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 6 1891; d. December 14 1970

Titles of nobility: Viscount Slim in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1960 – 1970).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1941. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1944. Promoted to general, 1945. Promoted to field marshal, 1949.

1953 – 1960

Sir Paul Meernaa Caedwalla Hasluck

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 1 1905; January 9 1993.

1969 – 1974

Sir John Robert Kerr

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 24 1914; March 24 1991.

1974 – 1977

William George “Bill” Hayden

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 23 1933; d. October 21 2023.

1989 – 1996

Dame Quentin Alice Louise Bryce

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 23 1942.

2008 – 2014

David John Hurley

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 26 1953.

2019 – 2024

Samantha Joy “Sam” Mostyn

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 13 1965.

2024 – present


Heads of Government of Australia

Prime Minister of Australia
Stanley Melbourne Bruce

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 3 1870; d. June 26 1947

Nationalist Party

1923 – 1929

Joseph Aloysius Lyons

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 15 1879; d. April 7 1939

United Australia Party

1932 – 1939

Edward Gough Whitlam

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 11 1916; d. October 21 2014.

Australian Labor Party

1972 – 1975

John Malcolm Fraser

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 21 1930; March 20 2015.

Liberal Party of Australia

1975 – 1983

Robert James Lee “Bob” Hawke

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 9 1929; d. May 16 2019.

Australian Labor Party

1983 – 1991

Paul John Keating

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 18 1944.

Australian Labor Party

1991 – 1996

John Winston Howard

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 26 1939.

Liberal Party of Australia

1996 – 2007

Kevin Michael Rudd

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 21 1957.

Australian Labor Party

2007 – 2010

Julia Eileen Gillard

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 29 1961.

Australian Labor Party

2010 – 2013

Kevin Michael Rudd

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 21 1957.

Australian Labor Party

2013

Anthony John “Tony” Abbott

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 4 1957.

Liberal Party of Australia

2013 – 2015

Malcolm Bligh Turnbull

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 24 1954.

Liberal Party of Australia

2015 – 2018

Scott John Morrison

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 13 1968.

Liberal Party of Australia

2018 – 2022

Anthony Norman Albanese

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 2 1963.

Monarchs: Elizabeth II (2022); Charles III (2022 – present).

Governors-General: David Hurley (2022 – 2024); Sam Mostyn (2024 – present).

Other prominent offices: Member of the Parliament of Australia (1996 – present); Manager of Opposition Business (2006 – 2007); Leader of the House (2007 – 2013); Minister for Infrastructure and Transport (2007 – 2013); Minister for Regional Development and Local Government (2007 – 2010, 2013); Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party (2013); Deputy Prime Minister of Australia (2013); Leader of the Australian Labor Party (2019 – present); Leader of the Opposition (2019 – 2022).

Australian Labor Party

2022 – present


Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
Paul John Keating

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 18 1944.

Australian Labor Party

1990 – 1991

Mark Anthony James Vaile

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 18 1956.

National Party of Australia

2005 – 2007

Julia Eileen Gillard

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 29 1961.

Australian Labor Party

2007 – 2010

Wayne Maxwell Swan

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 30 1954.

Australian Labor Party

2010 – 2013

Anthony Norman Albanese

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 2 1963.

Australian Labor Party

2013

Warren Errol Truss

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 8 1948.

National Party of Australia

2013 – 2016

Richard Donald Marles

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 13 1967.

Australian Labor Party

2022 – present


Leader of the Opposition
Joseph Aloysius Lyons

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 15 1879; d. April 7 1939

United Australia Party

1931 – 1932

Arthur Augustus Calwell

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 28 1896; d. July 8 1973.

Australian Labor Party

1960 – 1967

Edward Gough Whitlam

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 11 1916; d. October 21 2014.

Australian Labor Party

1967 – 1972

Billy Mackie Snedden

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 31 1926; d. June 27 1987.

Liberal Party of Australia

1972 – 1975

John Malcolm Fraser

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 21 1930; March 20 2015.

Liberal Party of Australia

1975

Edward Gough Whitlam

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 11 1916; d. October 21 2014.

Australian Labor Party

1975 – 1977

William George “Bill” Hayden

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 23 1933; d. October 21 2023.

Australian Labor Party

1977 – 1983

Robert James Lee “Bob” Hawke

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 9 1929; d. May 16 2019.

Australian Labor Party

1983

Andrew Sharp Peacock

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 13 1939; April 16 2021.

Liberal Party of Australia

1983 – 1985

John Winston Howard

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 26 1939.

Liberal Party of Australia

1985 – 1989

Andrew Sharp Peacock

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 13 1939; April 16 2021.

Liberal Party of Australia

1989 – 1990

John Winston Howard

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 26 1939.

Liberal Party of Australia

1995 – 1996

Kevin Michael Rudd

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 21 1957.

Australian Labor Party

2006 – 2007

Brendan John Nelson

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 19 1958.

Liberal Party of Australia

2007 – 2008

Malcolm Bligh Turnbull

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 24 1954.

Liberal Party of Australia

2008 – 2009

Anthony John “Tony” Abbott

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 4 1957.

Liberal Party of Australia

2009 – 2013

Christopher Eyles Guy “Chris” Bowen (*acting)

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 17 1973.

Australian Labor Party

2013

William Richard “Bill” Shorten

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 12 1967.

Australian Labor Party

2013 – 2019

Anthony Norman Albanese

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 2 1963.

Australian Labor Party

2019 – 2022

Peter Craig Dutton

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 18 1970.

Liberal Party of Australia

2022 – 2025


Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Gareth John Evans

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 5 1944.

Australian Labor Party

1996 – 1998

Julia Eileen Gillard

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 29 1961.

Australian Labor Party

2006 – 2007

Tanya Joan Plibersek

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 2 1969.

Australian Labor Party

2013 – 2019

Richard Donald Marles

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 13 1967.

Australian Labor Party

2019 – 2022