# Leader of the Opposition (Australia)

In Australian federal politics, the Leader of the Opposition is an elected member of parliament (MP) in the Australian House of Representatives who leads the opposition. The Leader of the Opposition, by convention, is the leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives that is not in government.
When in parliament, the opposition leader sits on the left-hand side of the centre table, in front of the opposition and opposite the prime minister. The opposition leader is elected by his or her party according to its rules. A new leader of the opposition may be elected when the incumbent dies, resigns, or is challenged for the leadership.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system and is based on the Westminster model. The term "opposition" has a specific meaning in the parliamentary sense. It is an important component of the Westminster system, with the opposition directing criticism at the government and attempts to defeat and replace the Government. The opposition is therefore known as the "government in waiting" and it is a formal part of the parliamentary system. It is in opposition to the government, but not to the Crown; hence the term "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition".
To date there have been 35 opposition leaders, 19 of whom also have served terms as prime minister.
The current Leader of the Opposition is Peter Dutton of the Liberal Party, following a leadership election on 30 May 2022. The current Deputy Leader of the Opposition is Sussan Ley, who was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party on the same date.

## Role

The opposition leader is the opposition's counterpart to the prime minister. The opposition leader is expected to be ready to form a new government if the incumbent government is unable to continue in office. This typically occurs when the opposition wins a federal election, after which the opposition leader is appointed prime minister. However, the opposition leader may also be called upon to form government if the incumbent government loses the confidence of the House (most recently in 1941) or if they are otherwise removed by the governor-general (most recently in 1975).
The opposition leader is the head of the shadow ministry, allocating portfolios and, in the case of the Coalition, determining its membership. The opposition leader is assisted by a deputy leader of the opposition, who is also recognised in the standing orders and entitled to an additional salary. Both the opposition leader and deputy opposition leader are entitled to a degree of special preference from the Speaker of the House.
The position of opposition leader has no constitutional basis but exists as a matter of convention in the Westminster system. A 1960 inquiry into parliamentary salaries and allowances observed:
   The Leader of the Opposition has to make himself master of all the business which comes before the House (not merely that of one or two departments); he has to do this at times at short notice and under constant pressure; and he gets no help from permanent officials. At all times he is the spokesman for those who are critical of or opposed to the Government, and he must be unceasingly vigilant and active. He and the Prime Minister should be the most powerful agents in guiding and forming public opinion on issues of policy.
Whereas according to the Coalition agreement the Leader of the National Party serves as Deputy Prime Minister when the Coalition is in government, no such agreement exists when the Coalition is in Opposition, and no National Party politician has ever served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

## History

George Reid became the de facto leader of the opposition in the lead-up to the inaugural 1901 federal election, following the appointment of Edmund Barton to lead a caretaker government as Australia's first prime minister. His status was confirmed when the House of Representatives met for the first time after the election. The opposition leader was initially not entitled to any salary or entitlements beyond those of an ordinary member of parliament. As a result, Reid had to maintain his legal practice in Sydney to support himself and was able to attend just over one-third of the sitting days in the first session of parliament.
Although the role was firmly established, the House did not formally recognise the position of opposition leader in its records until 1920. It was recognised by statute for the first time with the passage of the Parliamentary Allowances Act 1920, which granted its holder an additional allowance. Prime Minister Andrew Fisher had previously offered Opposition Leader Alfred Deakin an allowance in 1910. Deakin declined, but did accept a paid secretary. In 1931, the office was incorporated into the House's standing orders for the first time, with the opposition leader granted the right to exceed the time limit for speeches in certain instances.

## Salary

The opposition leader's salary is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal, an independent statutory body. As of 1 July 2019, the incumbent is entitled to a parliamentarian's base salary of A$211,250 plus an additional 85% loading, equating to a salary of around $390,000.

## List of leaders of the opposition

| No. | Leader | Party | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Prime Minister |
| 1 | George Reid | Free Trade | East Sydney (NSW) | 19 May 1901 | 17 August 1904 | Barton 1901–03 |
| 1 | George Reid | Free Trade | East Sydney (NSW) | 19 May 1901 | 17 August 1904 | Deakin 1903–04 |
| 1 | George Reid | Free Trade | East Sydney (NSW) | 19 May 1901 | 17 August 1904 | Watson 1904 |
| 2 | Chris Watson | Labor | Bland (NSW) | 18 August 1904 | 5 July 1905 | Reid 1904–05 |
| (1) | George Reid | Free Trade / Anti-Socialist | East Sydney (NSW) | 7 July 1905 | 16 November 1908 | Deakin 1905–08 |
| (1) | George Reid | Free Trade / Anti-Socialist | East Sydney (NSW) | 7 July 1905 | 16 November 1908 | Fisher 1908–09 |
| 3 | Joseph Cook | Anti-Socialist | Parramatta (NSW) | 17 November 1908 | 26 May 1909 | Fisher 1908–09 |
| 4 | Alfred Deakin | Liberal | Ballaarat (Vic) | 26 May 1909 | 2 June 1909 | Fisher 1908–09 |
| 5 | Andrew Fisher | Labor | Wide Bay (Qld) | 2 June 1909 | 29 April 1910 | Deakin 1909 |
| (4) | Alfred Deakin | Liberal | Ballaarat (Vic) | 1 July 1910 | 20 January 1913 | Fisher 1910–13 |
| (3) | Joseph Cook | Liberal | Parramatta (NSW) | 20 January 1913 | 24 June 1913 | Fisher 1910–13 |
| (5) | Andrew Fisher | Labor | Wide Bay (Qld) | 8 July 1913 | 17 September 1914 | Cook 1913–14 |
| (3) | Joseph Cook | Liberal | Parramatta (NSW) | 8 October 1914 | 17 February 1917 | Fisher 1914–15 |
| (3) | Joseph Cook | Liberal | Parramatta (NSW) | 8 October 1914 | 17 February 1917 | Hughes 1915–23 |
| 6 | Frank Tudor | Labor | Yarra (Vic) | 17 February 1917 | 10 January 1922 | Hughes 1915–23 |
| 7 | Matthew Charlton | Labor | Hunter (NSW) | 25 January 1922 | 29 March 1928 | Hughes 1915–23 |
| 7 | Matthew Charlton | Labor | Hunter (NSW) | 25 January 1922 | 29 March 1928 | Bruce 1923–29 |
| 8 | James Scullin | Labor | Yarra (Vic) | 29 March 1928 | 22 October 1929 | Bruce 1923–29 |
| 9 | John Latham | Nationalist | Kooyong (Vic) | 20 November 1929 | 7 May 1931 | Scullin 1929–32 |
| 10 | Joseph Lyons | United Australia | Wilmot (Tas) | 7 May 1931 | 6 January 1932 | Scullin 1929–32 |
| (8) | James Scullin | Labor | Yarra (Vic) | 6 January 1932 | 1 October 1935 | Lyons 1932–39 |
| 11 | John Curtin | Labor | Fremantle (WA) | 1 October 1935 | 7 October 1941 | Lyons 1932–39 |
| 11 | John Curtin | Labor | Fremantle (WA) | 1 October 1935 | 7 October 1941 | Page 1939 |
| 11 | John Curtin | Labor | Fremantle (WA) | 1 October 1935 | 7 October 1941 | Menzies 1939–41 |
| 11 | John Curtin | Labor | Fremantle (WA) | 1 October 1935 | 7 October 1941 | Fadden 1941 |
| 12 | Arthur Fadden | Country | Darling Downs (Qld) | 7 October 1941 | 23 September 1943 | Curtin 1941–45 |
| 13 | Robert Menzies | United Australia | Kooyong (Vic) | 23 September 1943 | 19 December 1949 | Curtin 1941–45 |
| 13 | Robert Menzies | Liberal | Kooyong (Vic) | 23 September 1943 | 19 December 1949 | Forde 1945 |
| 13 | Robert Menzies | Liberal | Kooyong (Vic) | 23 September 1943 | 19 December 1949 | Chifley 1945–49 |
| 14 | Ben Chifley | Labor | Macquarie (NSW) | 19 December 1949 | 13 June 1951 | Menzies 1949–66 |
| 15 | H. V. Evatt | Labor | Barton (NSW) 1940–58 Hunter (NSW) 1958–60 | 20 June 1951 | 9 February 1960 | Menzies 1949–66 |
| 16 | Arthur Calwell | Labor | Melbourne (Vic) | 7 March 1960 | 8 February 1967 | Menzies 1949–66 |
| 16 | Arthur Calwell | Labor | Melbourne (Vic) | 7 March 1960 | 8 February 1967 | Holt 1966–67 |
| 17 | Gough Whitlam | Labor | Werriwa (NSW) | 8 February 1967 | 2 December 1972 | Holt 1966–67 |
| 17 | Gough Whitlam | Labor | Werriwa (NSW) | 8 February 1967 | 2 December 1972 | McEwen 1967–68 |
| 17 | Gough Whitlam | Labor | Werriwa (NSW) | 8 February 1967 | 2 December 1972 | Gorton 1968–71 |
| 17 | Gough Whitlam | Labor | Werriwa (NSW) | 8 February 1967 | 2 December 1972 | McMahon 1971–72 |
| 18 | Billy Snedden | Liberal | Bruce (Vic) | 20 December 1972 | 21 March 1975 | Whitlam 1972–75 |
| 19 | Malcolm Fraser | Liberal | Wannon (Vic) | 21 March 1975 | 11 November 1975 | Whitlam 1972–75 |
| (17) | Gough Whitlam | Labor | Werriwa (NSW) | 11 November 1975 | 22 December 1977 | Fraser 1975–83 |
| 20 | Bill Hayden | Labor | Oxley (Qld) | 22 December 1977 | 8 February 1983 | Fraser 1975–83 |
| 21 | Bob Hawke | Labor | Wills (Vic) | 8 February 1983 | 11 March 1983 | Fraser 1975–83 |
| 22 | Andrew Peacock | Liberal | Kooyong (Vic) | 11 March 1983 | 5 September 1985 | Hawke 1983–91 |
| 23 | John Howard | Liberal | Bennelong (NSW) | 5 September 1985 | 9 May 1989 | Hawke 1983–91 |
| (22) | Andrew Peacock | Liberal | Kooyong (Vic) | 9 May 1989 | 3 April 1990 | Hawke 1983–91 |
| 24 | John Hewson | Liberal | Wentworth (NSW) | 3 April 1990 | 23 May 1994 | Hawke 1983–91 |
| 24 | John Hewson | Liberal | Wentworth (NSW) | 3 April 1990 | 23 May 1994 | Keating 1991–96 |
| 25 | Alexander Downer | Liberal | Mayo (SA) | 23 May 1994 | 30 January 1995 | Keating 1991–96 |
| (23) | John Howard | Liberal | Bennelong (NSW) | 30 January 1995 | 11 March 1996 | Keating 1991–96 |
| 26 | Kim Beazley | Labor | Brand (WA) | 19 March 1996 | 22 November 2001 | Howard 1996–07 |
| 27 | Simon Crean | Labor | Hotham (Vic) | 22 November 2001 | 2 December 2003 | Howard 1996–07 |
| 28 | Mark Latham | Labor | Werriwa (NSW) | 2 December 2003 | 18 January 2005 | Howard 1996–07 |
| (26) | Kim Beazley | Labor | Brand (WA) | 28 January 2005 | 4 December 2006 | Howard 1996–07 |
| 29 | Kevin Rudd | Labor | Griffith (Qld) | 4 December 2006 | 3 December 2007 | Howard 1996–07 |
| 30 | Brendan Nelson | Liberal | Bradfield (NSW) | 3 December 2007 | 16 September 2008 | Rudd 2007–10 |
| 31 | Malcolm Turnbull | Liberal | Wentworth (NSW) | 16 September 2008 | 1 December 2009 | Rudd 2007–10 |
| 32 | Tony Abbott | Liberal | Warringah (NSW) | 1 December 2009 | 18 September 2013 | Rudd 2007–10 |
| 32 | Tony Abbott | Liberal | Warringah (NSW) | 1 December 2009 | 18 September 2013 | Gillard 2010–13 |
| 32 | Tony Abbott | Liberal | Warringah (NSW) | 1 December 2009 | 18 September 2013 | Rudd 2013 |
| 33 | Bill Shorten | Labor | Maribyrnong (Vic) | 13 October 2013 | 30 May 2019 | Abbott 2013–15 |
| 33 | Bill Shorten | Labor | Maribyrnong (Vic) | 13 October 2013 | 30 May 2019 | Turnbull 2015–18 |
| 33 | Bill Shorten | Labor | Maribyrnong (Vic) | 13 October 2013 | 30 May 2019 | Morrison 2018–22 |
| 34 | Anthony Albanese | Labor | Grayndler (NSW) | 30 May 2019 | 23 May 2022 | Morrison 2018–22 |
| 35 | Peter Dutton | Liberal | Dickson (Qld) | 30 May 2022 | Incumbent | Albanese 2022– |

## List of deputy leaders of the opposition

| Deputy Leader | Party | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Leader |
| Joseph Cook | Commonwealth Liberal Party | Parramatta (NSW) | 26 May 1909 | 2 June 1909 | Deakin 1909 |
| Gregor McGregor | Labor Party | Senator for South Australia (SA) | 2 June 1909 | 29 April 1910 | Fisher 1909–10 |
| Joseph Cook | Commonwealth Liberal Party | Parramatta (NSW) | 1 July 1910 | 20 January 1913 | Deakin 1910–13 |
| Sir John Forrest | Commonwealth Liberal Party | Swan (WA) | 20 January 1913 | 24 June 1913 | Cook 1913 |
| Gregor McGregor | Labor Party | Senator for South Australia (SA) | 8 July 1913 | 7 September 1914 | Fisher 1913–14 |
| Sir John Forrest | Commonwealth Liberal Party | Swan (WA) | 8 October 1914 | 17 February 1917 | Cook 1914–17 |
| Albert Gardiner | Labor Party | Senator for New South Wales (NSW) | 17 February 1917 | March 1927 | Tudor 1917–22 |
| Albert Gardiner | Labor Party | Senator for New South Wales (NSW) | 17 February 1917 | March 1927 | Charlton 1922–28 |
| James Scullin | Labor Party | Yarra (Vic) | 17 March 1927 | 29 March 1928 | Charlton 1922–28 |
| Arthur Blakeley | Labor Party | Darling (NSW) | 29 March 1928 | 1929 | Scullin 1928–29 |
| Ted Theodore | Labor Party | Dalley (NSW) | 1929 | 22 October 1929 | Scullin 1928–29 |
| Henry Gullett | Nationalist Party | Henty (Vic) | 20 November 1929 | 7 May 1931 | Latham 1929–31 |
| John Latham | United Australia Party | Kooyong (Vic) | 7 May 1931 | 6 January 1932 | Lyons 1931–32 |
| Frank Forde | Labor Party | Capricornia (Qld) | 7 January 1932 | 7 October 1941 | Scullin 1932–35 |
| Frank Forde | Labor Party | Capricornia (Qld) | 7 January 1932 | 7 October 1941 | Curtin 1935–41 |
| Billy Hughes | United Australia Party | North Sydney (NSW) | 9 October 1941 | 14 April 1944 | Fadden 1941–43 |
| Billy Hughes | United Australia Party | North Sydney (NSW) | 9 October 1941 | 14 April 1944 | Menzies 1943–49 |
| Eric Harrison | United Australia Party | Wentworth (NSW) | 14 April 1944 | 19 December 1949 | Menzies 1943–49 |
| Eric Harrison | Liberal Party | Wentworth (NSW) | 14 April 1944 | 19 December 1949 | Menzies 1943–49 |
| H. V. Evatt | Labor Party | Barton (NSW) | 19 December 1949 | 13 June 1951 | Chifley 1949–51 |
| Arthur Calwell | Labor Party | Melbourne (Vic) | 13 June 1951 | 9 February 1960 | Evatt 1951–60 |
| Gough Whitlam | Labor Party | Werriwa (NSW) | 7 March 1960 | 8 February 1967 | Calwell 1960–67 |
| Lance Barnard | Labor Party | Bass (Tas) | 8 February 1967 | 5 December 1972 | Whitlam 1967–72 |
| Phillip Lynch | Liberal Party | Flinders (Vic) | 20 December 1972 | 11 November 1975 | Snedden 1972–75 |
| Phillip Lynch | Liberal Party | Flinders (Vic) | 20 December 1972 | 11 November 1975 | Fraser 1975 |
| Frank Crean | Labor Party | Melbourne Ports (Vic) | 11 November 1975 | 22 December 1975 | Whitlam 1975–77 |
| Tom Uren | Labor Party | Reid (NSW) | 22 December 1975 | 22 December 1977 | Whitlam 1975–77 |
| Lionel Bowen | Labor Party | Kingsford Smith (NSW) | 22 December 1977 | 11 March 1983 | Hayden 1977–83 |
| Lionel Bowen | Labor Party | Kingsford Smith (NSW) | 22 December 1977 | 11 March 1983 | Hawke 1983 |
| John Howard | Liberal Party | Bennelong (NSW) | 11 March 1983 | 5 September 1985 | Peacock 1983–85 |
| Neil Brown | Liberal Party | Menzies (Vic) | 5 September 1985 | 17 July 1987 | Howard 1985–89 |
| Andrew Peacock | Liberal Party | Kooyong (Vic) | 17 July 1987 | 9 May 1989 | Howard 1985–89 |
| Fred Chaney | Liberal Party | Senator for Western Australia (WA) 1989–90 Pearce (WA) 1990 | 9 May 1989 | 24 March 1990 | Peacock 1989–90 |
| Peter Reith | Liberal Party | Flinders (Vic) | 24 March 1990 | 13 March 1993 | Hewson 1990–94 |
| Michael Wooldridge | Liberal Party | Chisholm (Vic) | 13 March 1993 | 23 May 1994 | Hewson 1990–94 |
| Peter Costello | Liberal Party | Higgins (Vic) | 23 May 1994 | 19 March 1996 | Downer 1994–95 |
| Peter Costello | Liberal Party | Higgins (Vic) | 23 May 1994 | 19 March 1996 | Howard 1995–96 |
| Gareth Evans | Labor Party | Holt (Vic) | 19 March 1996 | 19 October 1998 | Beazley 1996–2001 |
| Simon Crean | Labor Party | Hotham (Vic) | 19 October 1998 | 22 November 2001 | Beazley 1996–2001 |
| Jenny Macklin | Labor Party | Jagajaga (Vic) | 22 November 2001 | 18 September 2006 | Crean 2001–03 |
| Jenny Macklin | Labor Party | Jagajaga (Vic) | 22 November 2001 | 18 September 2006 | Latham 2003–05 |
| Jenny Macklin | Labor Party | Jagajaga (Vic) | 22 November 2001 | 18 September 2006 | Beazley 2005–06 |
| Julia Gillard | Labor Party | Lalor (Vic) | 4 December 2006 | 3 December 2007 | Rudd 2006–07 |
| Julie Bishop | Liberal Party | Curtin (WA) | 3 December 2007 | 18 September 2013 | Nelson 2007–08 |
| Julie Bishop | Liberal Party | Curtin (WA) | 3 December 2007 | 18 September 2013 | Turnbull 2008–09 |
| Julie Bishop | Liberal Party | Curtin (WA) | 3 December 2007 | 18 September 2013 | Abbott 2009–13 |
| Tanya Plibersek | Labor Party | Sydney (NSW) | 14 October 2013 | 30 May 2019 | Shorten 2013–19 |
| Richard Marles | Labor Party | Corio (Vic) | 30 May 2019 | 23 May 2022 | Albanese 2019–22 |
| Sussan Ley | Liberal Party | Farrer (NSW) | 30 May 2022 | Incumbent | Dutton 2022– |