# List of longest-serving members of the Parliament of Australia

This article lists the longest-serving members of the Parliament of Australia.

## Longest total service

This section lists members of parliament who have served for a cumulative total of at least 30 years.
All these periods of service were spent in one House exclusively. A number of people have served in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, but none of them to date has had an aggregate length of service to the Parliament reaching 30 years.
No woman yet appears on this list. Bronwyn Bishop served in the Australian parliament longer than any other woman, in October 2014 outstripping the record of 27 years and 119 days previously held by Kathy Sullivan. At the end of her term at the 2 July 2016 double dissolution, Bishop had served for 28 years and 274 days.
| Name | Party | Chamber(s) | Start of service | End of service | Period of service |
| Hughes, BillyBilly Hughes | Labor/Nationalist/UAP/Liberal | House of Reps | 29 March 1901 | 28 October 1952† | 51 years, 213 days |
| Ruddock, PhilipPhilip Ruddock | Liberal | House of Reps | 22 September 1973 | 9 May 2016 | 42 years, 229 days |
| Page, EarleSir Earle Page | Country | House of Reps | 13 December 1919 | 9 December 1961 | 41 years, 362 days |
| Pearce, GeorgeSir George Pearce | Labor/Nationalist/UAP | Senate | 29 March 1901 | 30 June 1938 | 37 years, 94 days |
| Cooper, WalterSir Walter Cooper | Country | Senate | 17 November 1928 | 30 June 1932 | 36 years, 227 days |
| Cooper, WalterSir Walter Cooper | Country | Senate | 1 July 1935 | 30 June 1968 | 36 years, 227 days |
| Maloney, WilliamWilliam Maloney | Labor | House of Reps | 30 March 1904 | 27 August 1940† | 36 years, 151 days |
| McEwen, JohnSir John McEwen | Country | House of Reps | 15 September 1934 | 1 February 1971 | 36 years, 139 days |
| Makin, NormanNorman Makin | Labor | House of Reps | 13 December 1919 | 14 August 1946 | 36 years, 37 days |
| Makin, NormanNorman Makin | Labor | House of Reps | 29 May 1954 | 1 November 1963 | 36 years, 37 days |
| Brennan, FrankFrank Brennan | Labor | House of Reps | 8 February 1911 | 19 December 1931 | 35 years, 362 days |
| Brennan, FrankFrank Brennan | Labor | House of Reps | 15 September 1934 | 31 October 1949 | 35 years, 362 days |
| Clark, JoeJoe Clark | Labor | House of Reps | 15 September 1934 | 29 September 1969 | 35 years, 15 days |
| Sinclair, IanIan Sinclair | National | House of Reps | 30 November 1963 | 31 August 1998 | 34 years, 275 days |
| Watkins, DavidDavid Watkins | Labor | House of Reps | 29 March 1901 | 8 April 1935† | 34 years, 11 days |
| O'Byrne, JustinJustin O'Byrne | Labor | Senate | 1 July 1947 | 30 June 1981 | 34 years, 0 days |
| Howard, JohnJohn Howard | Liberal | House of Reps | 18 May 1974 | 24 November 2007 | 33 years, 191 days |
| Cadman, AlanAlan Cadman | Liberal | House of Reps | 18 May 1974 | 17 October 2007 | 33 years, 152 days |
| Brown, GordonGordon Brown | Labor | Senate | 1 July 1932 | 30 June 1965 | 33 years, 0 days |
| Groom, LittletonSir Littleton Groom | Protectionist/Liberal/Nationalist/UAP | House of Reps | 14 September 1901 | 12 October 1929 | 32 years, 353 days |
| Groom, LittletonSir Littleton Groom | Protectionist/Liberal/Nationalist/UAP | House of Reps | 19 December 1931 | 6 November 1936† | 32 years, 353 days |
| Francis, JosiahSir Josiah Francis | Nationalist/UAP/Liberal | House of Reps | 16 December 1922 | 4 November 1955 | 32 years, 324 days |
| Holt, HaroldHarold Holt | UAP/Liberal | House of Reps | 17 August 1935 | 17 December 1967† | 32 years, 123 days |
| Ward, EddieEddie Ward | Labor/Lang Labor | House of Reps | 7 March 1931 | 19 December 1931 | 32 years, 99 days |
| Ward, EddieEddie Ward | Labor/Lang Labor | House of Reps | 6 February 1932 | 31 July 1963† | 32 years, 99 days |
| Beazley, KimKim Beazley Sr. | Labor | House of Reps | 18 August 1945 | 10 November 1977 | 32 years, 85 days |
| Daly, FredFred Daly | Labor | House of Reps | 21 August 1943 | 11 November 1975 | 32 years, 83 days |
| Snowdon, WarrenWarren Snowdon | Labor | House of Reps | 11 July 1987 | 2 March 1996 | 32 years, 60 days |
| Snowdon, WarrenWarren Snowdon | Labor | House of Reps | 3 October 1998 | 11 April 2022 | 32 years, 60 days |
| Calwell, ArthurArthur Calwell | Labor | House of Reps | 21 September 1940 | 2 November 1972 | 32 years, 43 days |
| McMahon, WilliamSir William McMahon | Liberal | House of Reps | 10 December 1949 | 4 January 1982 | 32 years, 26 days |
| Katter, BobBob Katter | National/Independent/KAP | House of Reps | 13 March 1993 | present | 31 years, 276 days |
| Lynch, PatrickPatrick Lynch | Labor/Nationalist/UAP | Senate | 1 January 1907 | 30 June 1938 | 31 years, 181 days |
| Menzies, RobertSir Robert Menzies | UAP/Liberal | House of Reps | 15 September 1934 | 17 February 1966 | 31 years, 156 days |
| Boswell, RonRon Boswell | National | Senate | 5 March 1983 | 30 June 2014 | 31 years, 117 days |
| Uren, TomTom Uren | Labor | House of Reps | 22 November 1958 | 19 February 1990 | 31 years, 90 days |
| Andrews, KevinKevin Andrews | Liberal | House of Reps | 11 May 1991 | 11 April 2022 | 30 years, 335 days |
| Scullin, JamesJames Scullin | Labor | House of Reps | 13 April 1910 | 31 May 1913 | 30 years, 304 days |
| Scullin, JamesJames Scullin | Labor | House of Reps | 18 February 1922 | 31 October 1949 | 30 years, 304 days |
| Cameron, ClydeClyde Cameron | Labor | House of Reps | 10 December 1949 | 19 September 1980 | 30 years, 285 days |
| Jull, DavidDavid Jull | Liberal | House of Reps | 13 December 1975 | 5 March 1983 | 30 years, 39 days |
| Jull, DavidDavid Jull | Liberal | House of Reps | 1 December 1984 | 17 October 2007 | 30 years, 39 days |
| Lazzarini, HubertBert Lazzarini | Labor | House of Reps | 13 December 1919 | 19 December 1931 | 30 years, 24 days |
| Lazzarini, HubertBert Lazzarini | Labor | House of Reps | 15 September 1934 | 1 October 1952† | 30 years, 24 days |
| Crawford, ThomasThomas Crawford | Nationalist/UAP/Independent | Senate | 1 July 1917 | 30 June 1947 | 30 years, 0 days |
| Foll, HarryHarry Foll | Nationalist/UAP/Liberal | Senate | 1 July 1917 | 30 June 1947 | 30 years, 0 days |
| Watson, JohnJohn Watson | Liberal | Senate | 1 July 1978 | 30 June 2008 | 30 years, 0 days |
†= Died in office

### Longest service by women

| Name | Party | Chamber(s) | Start of service | End of service | Period of service |
| Bronwyn Bishop | Liberal | Senate | 11 July 1987 | 24 February 1994 | 28 years, 272 days |
| Bronwyn Bishop | Liberal | House of Reps | 26 March 1994 | 9 May 2016 | 28 years, 272 days |
| Kathy Sullivan | Liberal | Senate | 18 May 1974 | 5 November 1984 | 27 years, 117 days |
| Kathy Sullivan | Liberal | House of Reps | 1 December 1984 | 8 October 2001 | 27 years, 117 days |
| Marise Payne | Liberal | Senate | 9 April 1997 | 30 September 2023 | 26 years, 174 days |
| Tanya Plibersek | Labor | House of Reps | 3 October 1998 | present | 26 years, 72 days |
| Dorothy Tangney | Labor | Senate | 21 August 1943 | 30 June 1968 | 24 years, 314 days |
| Annabelle Rankin | Liberal | Senate | 1 July 1947 | 24 April 1971 | 23 years, 297 days |
| Jenny Macklin | Labor | House of Reps | 2 March 1996 | 11 April 2019 | 23 years, 40 days |
| Catherine King | Labor | House of Reps | 10 November 2001 | present | 23 years, 34 days |
| Sussan Ley | Liberal | House of Reps | 10 November 2001 | present | 23 years, 34 days |
| Maria Vamvakinou | Labor | House of Reps | 10 November 2001 | present | 23 years, 34 days |
| Amanda Vanstone | Liberal | Senate | 1 December 1984 | 26 April 2007 | 22 years, 146 days |
| Penny Wong | Labor | Senate | 1 July 2002 | present | 22 years, 166 days |
| Margaret Reid | Liberal | Senate | 5 May 1981 | 14 February 2003 | 21 years, 285 days |
| Ivy Wedgwood | Liberal | Senate | 22 February 1950 | 30 June 1971 | 21 years, 128 days |
| Kay Patterson | Liberal | Senate | 11 July 1987 | 30 June 2008 | 20 years, 355 days |
| Jacinta Collins | Labor | Senate | 3 May 1995 | 30 June 2005 | 20 years, 341 days |
| Jacinta Collins | Labor | Senate | 8 May 2008 | 15 February 2019 | 20 years, 341 days |
| Sue Knowles | Liberal | Senate | 1 December 1984 | 30 June 2005 | 20 years, 211 days |
| Julie Bishop | Liberal | House of Reps | 3 October 1998 | 11 April 2019 | 20 years, 190 days |
| Judi Moylan | Liberal | House of Reps | 13 March 1993 | 5 August 2013 | 20 years, 145 days |
| Sharman Stone | Liberal | House of Reps | 2 March 1996 | 9 May 2016 | 20 years, 68 days |

## Chronological list

This section lists the members of parliament (and of each chamber) with the longest continuous service at any given time. The longest-serving MPs in each chamber are sometimes referred to as the "Father of the House" and "Father of the Senate", and very rarely the overall longest-serving MP is called the "Father of the Parliament".
House of Representatives Practice describes the title "Father of the House" as a "completely informal designation" with "no functions attached to it".
Odgers' Australian Senate Practice notes that the title "Father of the Senate" is "now seldom referred to or used". It further notes that "as no woman senator has ever been in this situation, it is not clear what the title would be in that circumstance". Since then, the title was assumed by Marise Payne, the longest serving female senator in Australia's history. After Payne's resignation took effect, Penny Wong, also a woman, became the longest serving incumbent senator.
| From | To | Overall | Senate | Continuous term started | House | Continuous term started |
| 29/30 March 1901 | 14 September 1923 | Nil | Nil | n/a | Nil | n/a |
| 15 September 1923 | 8 April 1935 | Nil | Sir George Pearce | 29 March 1901 | Billy Hughes David Watkins | n/a |
| 9 April 1935 | 30 June 1938 | Nil | Sir George Pearce | 29 March 1901 | Billy Hughes | 30 March 1901 |
| 1 July 1938 | 30 June 1947 | Billy Hughes MP | Thomas Crawford Harry Foll | 1 July 1917 | Billy Hughes | 30 March 1901 |
| 1 July 1947 | 30 June 1950 | Billy Hughes MP | Gordon Brown Joe Collings | 1 July 1932 | Billy Hughes | 30 March 1901 |
| 1 July 1950 | 28 October 1952 | Billy Hughes MP | Gordon Brown | 1 July 1932 | Billy Hughes | 30 March 1901 |
| 29 October 1952 | 9 December 1961 | Sir Earle Page MP | Gordon Brown | 1 July 1932 | Sir Earle Page | 13 December 1919 |
| 10 December 1961 | 31 July 1963 | Eddie Ward MP | Gordon Brown | 1 July 1932 | Eddie Ward | 6 February 1932 |
| 1 August 1963 | 30 June 1965 | Senator Gordon Brown | Gordon Brown | 1 July 1932 | Joe Clark John McEwen Sir Robert Menzies | 15 September 1934 |
| 1 July 1965 | 16 February 1966 | Joe Clark MP John McEwen MP Sir Robert Menzies MP | Sir Walter Cooper | 1 July 1935 | Joe Clark John McEwen Sir Robert Menzies | 15 September 1934 |
| 17 February 1966 | 30 June 1968 | Joe Clark MP John McEwen MP | Sir Walter Cooper | 1 July 1935 | Joe Clark John McEwen | 15 September 1934 |
| 1 July 1968 | 29 September 1969 | Joe Clark MP John McEwen MP | Bert Hendrickson Justin O'Byrne Dame Annabelle Rankin | 1 July 1947 | Joe Clark John McEwen | 15 September 1934 |
| 30 September 1969 | 1 February 1971 | John McEwen MP | Bert Hendrickson Justin O'Byrne Dame Annabelle Rankin | 1 July 1947 | John McEwen | 15 September 1934 |
| 2 February 1971 | 24 May 1971 | Arthur Calwell MP | Bert Hendrickson Justin O'Byrne Dame Annabelle Rankin | 1 July 1947 | Arthur Calwell | 21 September 1940 |
| 25 May 1971 | 30 June 1971 | Arthur Calwell MP | Bert Hendrickson Justin O'Byrne | 1 July 1947 | Arthur Calwell | 21 September 1940 |
| 1 July 1971 | 2 November 1972 | Arthur Calwell MP | Justin O'Byrne | 1 July 1947 | Arthur Calwell | 21 September 1940 |
| 3 November 1972 | 11 November 1975 | Fred Daly MP | Justin O'Byrne | 1 July 1947 | Fred Daly | 21 August 1943 |
| 12 November 1975 | 10 November 1977 | Kim Beazley Sr. MP | Justin O'Byrne | 1 July 1947 | Kim Beazley Sr. | 18 August 1945 |
| 11 November 1977 | 19 September 1980 | Senator Justin O'Byrne | Justin O'Byrne | 1 July 1947 | Clyde Cameron Sir William McMahon | 10 December 1949 |
| 20 September 1980 | 30 June 1981 | Senator Justin O'Byrne | Justin O'Byrne | 1 July 1947 | Sir William McMahon | 10 December 1949 |
| 1 July 1981 | 4 January 1982 | Sir William McMahon MP | Doug McClelland | 1 July 1962 | Sir William McMahon | 10 December 1949 |
| 5 January 1982 | 31 March 1983 | Malcolm Fraser MP Sir James Killen MP Sir Billy Snedden MP | Doug McClelland | 1 July 1962 | Malcolm Fraser Sir James Killen Sir Billy Snedden | 10 December 1955 |
| 1 April 1983 | 21 April 1983 | Sir James Killen MP Sir Billy Snedden MP | Doug McClelland | 1 July 1962 | Sir James Killen Sir Billy Snedden | 10 December 1955 |
| 22 April 1983 | 15 August 1983 | Sir James Killen MP | Doug McClelland | 1 July 1962 | Sir James Killen | 10 December 1955 |
| 16 August 1983 | 18 January 1984 | Doug Anthony MP | Doug McClelland | 1 July 1962 | Doug Anthony | 14 September 1957 |
| 19 January 1984 | 23 January 1987 | Tom Uren MP | Doug McClelland | 1 July 1962 | Tom Uren | 22 November 1958 |
| 24 January 1987 | 27 February 1989 | Tom Uren MP | Arthur Gietzelt Peter Durack | 1 July 1971 | Tom Uren | 22 November 1958 |
| 28 February 1989 | 19 February 1990 | Tom Uren MP | Peter Durack | 1 July 1971 | Tom Uren | 22 November 1958 |
| 20 February 1990 | 30 June 1993 | Ian Sinclair MP | Peter Durack | 1 July 1971 | Ian Sinclair | 30 November 1963 |
| 1 July 1993 | 31 August 1998 | Ian Sinclair MP | Mal Colston Brian Harradine | 13 December 1975 | Ian Sinclair | 30 November 1963 |
| 1 September 1998 | 30 June 1999 | Philip Ruddock MP | Mal Colston Brian Harradine | 13 December 1975 | Philip Ruddock | 22 September 1973 |
| 1 July 1999 | 30 June 2005 | Philip Ruddock MP | Brian Harradine | 13 December 1975 | Philip Ruddock | 22 September 1973 |
| 1 July 2005 | 30 June 2008 | Philip Ruddock MP | John Watson | 1 July 1978 | Philip Ruddock | 22 September 1973 |
| 1 July 2008 | 30 June 2014 | Philip Ruddock MP | Ron Boswell | 5 March 1983 | Philip Ruddock | 22 September 1973 |
| 1 July 2014 | 6 February 2015 | Philip Ruddock MP | John Faulkner | 4 April 1989 | Philip Ruddock | 22 September 1973 |
| 6 February 2015 | 9 May 2016 | Philip Ruddock MP | Ian Macdonald | 1 July 1990 | Philip Ruddock | 22 September 1973 |
| 9 May 2016 | 30 June 2019 | Senator Ian Macdonald | Ian Macdonald | 1 July 1990 | Kevin Andrews | 11 May 1991 |
| 1 July 2019 | 11 April 2022 | Kevin Andrews MP | Kim Carr | 28 April 1993 | Kevin Andrews | 11 May 1991 |
| 11 April 2022 | 1 July 2022 | Bob Katter MP | Kim Carr | 28 April 1993 | Bob Katter | 13 March 1993 |
| 1 July 2022 | 30 September 2023 | Bob Katter MP | Marise Payne | 9 April 1997 | Bob Katter | 13 March 1993 |
| 30 September 2023 | - | Bob Katter MP | Penny Wong | 1 July 2002 | Bob Katter | 13 March 1993 |

## Longest-serving members by state and territory

| State / Territory | Longest-serving members | Longest-serving members | Longest-serving members |
| State / Territory | Lower house | Upper house | Overall |
| Australian Capital Territory | Jim Fraser 18 years, 338 days 1951–1970 | Margaret Reid 21 years, 285 days 1981–2003 | Bob McMullan 22 years, 86 days 1988–1996 (S), 1996–2010 (H) |
| New South Wales | Billy Hughes 45 years, 354 days 1901–1917, 1922–1952 | Stan Amour 26 years, 364 days 1938–1965 | Billy Hughes 45 years, 354 days 1901–1917, 1922–1952 |
| Northern Territory | Warren Snowdon 32 years, 60 days 1987–1996, 1998–2022 | Nigel Scullion 17 years, 232 days 2001–2019 | Warren Snowdon 32 years, 60 days 1987–1996, 1998–2022 |
| Queensland | Littleton Groom 32 years, 353 days 1901–1929, 1931–1936 | Walter Cooper 36 years, 227 days 1928–1932, 1935–1968 | Walter Cooper 36 years, 227 days 1928–1932, 1935–1968 |
| South Australia | Norman Makin 36 years, 37 days 1919–1946, 1955–1963 | Robert Hill 24 years, 257 days 1981–2006 | Norman Makin 36 years, 37 days 1919–1946, 1955–1963 |
| Tasmania | Gil Duthie 29 years, 76 days 1946–1975 | Justin O'Byrne 34 years, 0 days 1947–1981 | Justin O'Byrne 34 years, 0 days 1947–1981 |
| Victoria | William Maloney 36 years, 151 days 1904–1940 | Kim Carr 29 years, 63 days 1993–2022 | William Maloney 36 years, 151 days 1904–1940 |
| Western Australia | Kim Beazley Sr. 32 years, 145 days 1945–1977 | George Pearce 37 years, 93 days 1901–1938 | George Pearce 37 years, 93 days 1901–1938 |