Former Australian Prime Ministers

We take a look at Australia’s previous prime ministers and how they lost office.

TONY ABBOTT – September 14, 2015 (Liberal): Lost in leadership spill to Malcolm Turnbull.

KEVIN RUDD – 2013 (Labor): Lost election to Tony Abbott, retired from politics.

JULIA GILLARD – 2010-2013 (Labor): Ousted by Rudd after she spilled the leadership, retired following the loss.

KEVIN RUDD – 2007-2013 (Labor): Resigned after Gillard challenged him for the leadership. Sat on the backbench until re-elected in 2013.

JOHN HOWARD – 1996-2007 (Liberal): Lost election and his seat in parliament to Rudd and Labor after successful “Kevin 07” campaign.

PAUL KEATING – 1991-1996 (Labor): Defeated by Howard in election, resigned from parliament.

BOB HAWKE – 1983-1991 (Labor): Defeated in leadership ballot by Keating 56-51. Stayed on briefly as a backbencher before retiring.

MALCOLM FRASER – 1975-1983 (Liberal): Defeated by Hawke in general election. Retired from parliament.

GOUGH WHITLAM – 1972-1975 (Labor) Dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr after the Senate delayed passage of appropriation bills. Lost subsequent election to Fraser

WILLIAM MCMAHON – 1971-1972 (Liberal): Lost election to Whitlam. Retired from parliament.

JOHN GORTON – 1968-1971 (Liberal): Lost to McMahon after calling a leadership spill.

JOHN MCEWEN – 1967-1968 (Country Party) Interim prime minister following death of Holt until Gorton was elected

HAROLD HOLT – 1966-1967 (Liberal): Disappeared while swimming near Portsea, Victoria and presumed drowned. McEwen appointed interim prime minister.

ROBERT MENZIES – 1949-1966 (Liberal): Resigned from parliament, making him the last prime minister to leave office on his own terms. Former treasurer Holt took over leadership.

BEN CHIFLEY – 1945-1949 (Labor): Defeated by Menzies in election

FRANCIS FORDE – 1945 (Labor): Prime minister for eight days following Curtin’s death, until Labor elected Chifley.

JOHN CURTIN – 1941-1945 (Labor): Died from heart disease while in office. Forde appointed caretaker prime minister.

ARTHUR FADDEN – 1941 (Country Party:) Lost election to Curtin.

ROBERT MENZIES – 1939-1941 (United Australia Party): Resigned as prime minister handing over to Hughes, then Fadden. Live to fight another day.

EARLE PAGE – 1939 (Country Party): Caretaker prime minister. Lost leadership when UAP elected Menzies

JOSEPH LYONS – 1932-1939 (United Australia Party): Died suddenly of heart attack. Page was appointed caretaker prime minister.

JAMES SCULLIN – 1929-1932 (Labor): Defeated by Lyons in election.

STANLEY MELBOURNE BRUCE – 1923-1929 (Nationalist Party): Lost in election to Scullin. First prime minister to lose his seat in a general election

WILLIAM MORRIS HUGHES – 1915-1923 (Labor and then Nationalist Party): Nationalist Party displaced Hughes as prime minister and appointed Bruce.

ANDREW FISHER – 1914-1915 (Labor) Forced to resign as prime minister and replaced by Hughes who later jumped ship to the Nationalist Party.

JOSEPH COOK – 1913-1914 (Commonwealth Liberal Party): Lost double-dissolution election to Fisher.

ANDREW FISHER – 1910-1913 (Labor): Defeated in election by Cook who held a one-seat majority in the House of Representatives.

ALFRED DEAKIN – 1909-1910 (Commonwealth Liberal Party) Defeated in election by Fisher.

ANDREW FISHER – 1908-1909 (Labor): Ousted by Deakin when Fisher formed fusion of three non-Labor groups and gained majority.

ALFRED DEAKIN – 1905-1908 (Protectionist): Ousted when Labor withdrew support for his minority government, Fisher became prime minister.

GEORGE REID – 1904-1905 (The Free Trade Party): Protectionists and Labor joined to claim majority, forcing out his government.

CHRIS WATSON – 1904 (Labor): Resigned after failing to convince the governor-general to dissolve parliament. Reid took over as prime minister.

ALFRED DEAKIN – 1903-1904 (Protectionist) Resigned after Labor withdrew support. Watson look over as prime minister.

EDMUND BARTON – 1901-1903 (Protectionist) Resigned as prime minister to become a judge of the High Court of Australia. Deakin replaced him.