# Manager of Opposition Business in the House (Australia)

The Manager of Opposition Business in the House, sometimes called Opposition Leader of the House, is the member of the Australian Official Opposition Shadow Ministry responsible for negotiating with the Leader of the House regarding proceedings in the Australian House of Representatives. Among other things, the topics of negotiation are the order in which Government bills and other items of business are taken, the time allotted for debate, and the timing of Opposition business.
The Manager of Opposition Business in the House and the Deputy Manager are appointed by the Opposition leader. The current Manager of Opposition Business in the House is Michael Sukkar and his deputy is Kevin Hogan. The duties of the Deputy Manager of Opposition Business are largely contingent, coming into play only when the Manager of Opposition Business is absent from the House or is on leave, when he or she is referred to as Acting Manager of Opposition Business.
Three managers of Opposition Business in the House, John Howard, Julia Gillard, and Anthony Albanese, went on to become Prime Ministers.
Another future Prime Minister, Tony Abbott stepped in as Acting Manager in 2009 in the absence of Christopher Pyne.

## List

The Managers of Opposition Business since 1974 are as follows:
| Order | Manager | Party | Leader of the Opposition | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Ian Sinclair | National Country | Billy Snedden | 14 June 1974 | 21 March 1975 | 1 year, 150 days |
| 1 | Ian Sinclair | National Country | Malcolm Fraser | 21 March 1975 | 11 November 1975 | 1 year, 150 days |
| 2 | Gordon Scholes | Labor | Gough Whitlam | 27 January 1976 | 22 December 1977 | 1 year, 336 days |
| 2 | Gordon Scholes | Labor | Bill Hayden | 22 December 1977 | 29 December 1977 | 1 year, 336 days |
| 3 | Mick Young | Labor | Bill Hayden | 29 December 1977 | 11 February 1980 | 2 years, 44 days |
| 4 | Chris Hurford | Labor | Bill Hayden | 11 February 1980 | 7 November 1980 | 270 days |
| 5 | Lionel Bowen | Labor | Bill Hayden | 10 November 1980 | 3 February 1983 | 2 years, 121 days |
| 5 | Lionel Bowen | Labor | Bob Hawke | 3 February 1983 | 11 March 1983 | 2 years, 121 days |
| (1) | Ian Sinclair | National | Andrew Peacock | 16 March 1983 | 5 September 1985 | 4 years, 43 days |
| (1) | Ian Sinclair | National | John Howard | 5 September 1985 | 28 April 1987 | 4 years, 43 days |
| 6 | John Spender | Liberal | John Howard | 29 April 1987 | 14 August 1987 | 107 days |
| 7 | Wal Fife | Liberal | John Howard | 14 August 1987 | 9 May 1989 | 4 years, 283 days |
| 7 | Wal Fife | Liberal | Andrew Peacock | 9 May 1989 | 3 April 1990 | 4 years, 283 days |
| 7 | Wal Fife | Liberal | John Hewson | 3 April 1990 | 23 May 1992 | 4 years, 283 days |
| 8 | Warwick Smith | Liberal | John Hewson | 23 May 1992 | 8 February 1993 | 261 days |
| 9 | John Howard | Liberal | John Hewson | 7 April 1993 | 23 May 1994 | 1 year, 298 days |
| 9 | John Howard | Liberal | Alexander Downer | 23 May 1994 | 30 January 1995 | 1 year, 298 days |
| 10 | Peter Reith | Liberal | John Howard | 31 January 1995 | 11 March 1996 | 1 year, 40 days |
| 11 | Simon Crean | Labor | Kim Beazley | 20 March 1996 | 20 October 1998 | 2 years, 214 days |
| 12 | Bob McMullan | Labor | Kim Beazley | 20 October 1998 | 25 November 2001 | 3 years, 36 days |
| 13 | Wayne Swan | Labor | Simon Crean | 25 November 2001 | 16 June 2003 | 1 year, 203 days |
| 14 | Mark Latham | Labor | Simon Crean | 16 June 2003 | 8 December 2003 | 165 days |
| 15 | Julia Gillard | Labor | Mark Latham | 8 December 2003 | 18 January 2005 | 3 years, 2 days |
| 15 | Julia Gillard | Labor | Kim Beazley | 18 January 2005 | 10 December 2006 | 3 years, 2 days |
| 16 | Anthony Albanese | Labor | Kevin Rudd | 10 December 2006 | 3 December 2007 | 358 days |
| 17 | Joe Hockey | Liberal | Brendan Nelson | 2 December 2007 | 16 September 2008 | 1 year, 76 days |
| 17 | Joe Hockey | Liberal | Malcolm Turnbull | 16 September 2008 | 16 February 2009 | 1 year, 76 days |
| 18 | Christopher Pyne | Liberal | Malcolm Turnbull | 16 February 2009 | 1 December 2009 | 4 years, 214 days |
| 18 | Christopher Pyne | Liberal | Tony Abbott | 1 December 2009 | 18 September 2013 | 4 years, 214 days |
| 19 | Tony Burke | Labor | Bill Shorten | 18 October 2013 | 30 May 2019 | 8 years, 217 days |
| 19 | Tony Burke | Labor | Anthony Albanese | 30 May 2019 | 23 May 2022 | 8 years, 217 days |
| 20 | Paul Fletcher | Liberal | Peter Dutton | 5 June 2022 | 25 January 2025 | 2 years, 234 days |
| 21 | Michael Sukkar | Liberal | Peter Dutton | 25 January 2025 | Incumbent | 3 days |