# Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia

This short description is INTENTIONALLY "none" &#x2D; please see WP:SDNONE before you consider changing it!
The Leader of the Liberal Party, also known as Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, is the highest office within the Liberal Party of Australia and the Liberal–National Coalition. The position is currently, and has been since 30 May 2022, held by Peter Dutton, who represents the Division of Dickson in Queensland. Peter Dutton is the fifteenth leader of the Liberal Party. Dutton is also the first leader of the party to represent a Queensland electorate.
The current Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is Sussan Ley.

## History

The Liberal Party leadership was first held by former United Australia Party leader and eventual co–founder Robert Menzies, along with eighteen political organisations and groups.
Following the oustings of two Liberal prime ministers in three years, Scott Morrison introduced a new threshold to trigger a Liberal Party leadership change in government, requiring two-thirds of the partyroom vote to trigger a spill motion. The change was introduced at an hour long party room meeting on the evening of 3 December 2018. Morrison said the changes, which were drafted with feedback from former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott, would only apply to leaders who lead the party to victory at a federal election.

## Role

Since the days of Menzies, the Liberal Party has either been in government with a coalition or in opposition to the Labor. Thus, the leader of the Liberal Party can often be the Prime Minister of Australia or Leader of the Opposition. Furthermore, the leader picks the Cabinet and is also the leader of the Coalition. The Liberal Party only had one leader of the party from the Senate, John Gorton, for a brief period in January 1968 before he resigned from the Senate to contest the Higgins by-election in February 1968.

## Leaders of the Liberal Party

    Note: the right-hand column does not allocate height proportional to time in office.
A list of leaders (including acting leaders) since 1945.
| No. | Leader (birth–death) | Electorate | Took office | Left office | Election contested | Prime Minister (term) |
| 1 | Robert Menzies (1894–1978) | Kooyong, Vic. | 21 February 1945 | 20 January 1966 | 1946, 1949, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1961, 1963, | Curtin (1941–1945) |
| 1 | Robert Menzies (1894–1978) | Kooyong, Vic. | 21 February 1945 | 20 January 1966 | 1946, 1949, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1961, 1963, | Forde (1945) |
| 1 | Robert Menzies (1894–1978) | Kooyong, Vic. | 21 February 1945 | 20 January 1966 | 1946, 1949, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1961, 1963, | Chifley (1945–1949) |
| 1 | Robert Menzies (1894–1978) | Kooyong, Vic. | 21 February 1945 | 20 January 1966 | 1946, 1949, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1961, 1963, | Himself (1949–1966) |
| 2 | Harold Holt (1908–1967) | Higgins, Vic. | 20 January 1966 (unopposed) | 17 December 1967 (died in office) | 1966, | Himself (1966–1967) |
| 3 | John Gorton (1911–2002) | Senator for Victoria (9 January – 1 February) Higgins, Vic. | 9 January 1968 (elected) | 10 March 1971 | 1969, | McEwen (1967–1968) |
| 3 | John Gorton (1911–2002) | Senator for Victoria (9 January – 1 February) Higgins, Vic. | 9 January 1968 (elected) | 10 March 1971 | 1969, | Himself (1967–1971) |
| 4 | William McMahon (1908–1988) | Lowe, NSW | 10 March 1971 (elected) | 20 December 1972 | 1972, | Himself (1971–1972) |
| 4 | William McMahon (1908–1988) | Lowe, NSW | 10 March 1971 (elected) | 20 December 1972 | 1972, | Whitlam (1972–1975) |
| 5 | Billy Snedden (1926–1987) | Bruce, Vic. | 20 December 1972 (elected) | 21 March 1975 | 1974, | Whitlam (1972–1975) |
| 6 | Malcolm Fraser (1930–2015) | Wannon, Vic. | 21 March 1975 (elected) | 11 March 1983 | 1975, 1977, 1980, 1983 | Whitlam (1972–1975) |
| 6 | Malcolm Fraser (1930–2015) | Wannon, Vic. | 21 March 1975 (elected) | 11 March 1983 | 1975, 1977, 1980, 1983 | Himself (1975–1983) |
| 6 | Malcolm Fraser (1930–2015) | Wannon, Vic. | 21 March 1975 (elected) | 11 March 1983 | 1975, 1977, 1980, 1983 | Hawke (1983–1991) |
| 7 | Andrew Peacock (1939–2021) (1st time) | Kooyong, Vic. | 11 March 1983 (elected) | 5 September 1985 | 1984 | Hawke (1983–1991) |
| 8 | John Howard (b. 1939) (1st time) | Bennelong, NSW | 5 September 1985 (elected) | 9 May 1989 | 1987 | Hawke (1983–1991) |
| (7) | Andrew Peacock (1939–2021) (2nd time) | Kooyong, Vic. | 9 May 1989 (elected) | 3 April 1990 | 1990 | Hawke (1983–1991) |
| 9 | John Hewson (b. 1946) | Wentworth, NSW | 3 April 1990 (elected) | 23 May 1994 | 1993 | Hawke (1983–1991) |
| 9 | John Hewson (b. 1946) | Wentworth, NSW | 3 April 1990 (elected) | 23 May 1994 | 1993 | Keating (1991–1996) |
| 10 | Alexander Downer (b. 1951) | Mayo, SA | 23 May 1994 (elected) | 30 January 1995 | None | Keating (1991–1996) |
| (8) | John Howard (b. 1939) (2nd time) | Bennelong, NSW | 30 January 1995 (unopposed) | 29 November 2007 | 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, | Keating (1991–1996) |
| (8) | John Howard (b. 1939) (2nd time) | Bennelong, NSW | 30 January 1995 (unopposed) | 29 November 2007 | 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, | Himself (1996–2007) |
| 11 | Brendan Nelson (b. 1958) | Bradfield, NSW | 29 November 2007 (elected) | 16 September 2008 | None | Rudd (2007–2010) |
| 12 | Malcolm Turnbull (b. 1954) (1st time) | Wentworth, NSW | 16 September 2008 (elected) | 1 December 2009 | None | Rudd (2007–2010) |
| 13 | Tony Abbott (b. 1957) | Warringah, NSW | 1 December 2009 (elected) | 14 September 2015 | 2010, 2013 | Rudd (2007–2010) |
| 13 | Tony Abbott (b. 1957) | Warringah, NSW | 1 December 2009 (elected) | 14 September 2015 | 2010, 2013 | Gillard (2010–2013) |
| 13 | Tony Abbott (b. 1957) | Warringah, NSW | 1 December 2009 (elected) | 14 September 2015 | 2010, 2013 | Rudd (2013) |
| 13 | Tony Abbott (b. 1957) | Warringah, NSW | 1 December 2009 (elected) | 14 September 2015 | 2010, 2013 | Himself (2013–2015) |
| (12) | Malcolm Turnbull (b. 1954) (2nd time) | Wentworth, NSW | 14 September 2015 (elected) | 24 August 2018 | 2016 | Himself (2015–2018) |
| 14 | Scott Morrison (b. 1968) | Cook, NSW | 24 August 2018 (elected) | 30 May 2022 | 2019, 2022 | Himself (2018–2022) |
| 14 | Scott Morrison (b. 1968) | Cook, NSW | 24 August 2018 (elected) | 30 May 2022 | 2019, 2022 | Albanese (2022–present) |
| 15 | Peter Dutton (b. 1970) | Dickson, Qld. | 30 May 2022 (unopposed) | Incumbent | None | Albanese (2022–present) |

### Federal leaders by time in office

| No | Name | Term began | Term ended | Time in office | Term as Prime Minister |
| 1 | Sir Robert Menzies | 21 February 1945 | 20 January 1966 | 20 years, 333 days | (UAP 1939–41), 1949–66 |
| (8) | John Howard | 30 January 1995 | 29 November 2007 | 12 years, 303 days | 1996–2007 |
| 6 | Malcolm Fraser | 21 March 1975 | 11 March 1983 | 7 years, 355 days | 1975–83 |
| 13 | Tony Abbott | 1 December 2009 | 14 September 2015 | 5 years, 287 days | 2013–15 |
| 9 | John Hewson | 3 April 1990 | 23 May 1994 | 4 years, 50 days | |
| 8 | John Howard | 5 September 1985 | 9 May 1989 | 3 years, 246 days | |
| 14 | Scott Morrison | 24 August 2018 | 30 May 2022 | 3 years, 279 days | 2018–2022 |
| 3 | Sir John Gorton | 10 January 1968 | 10 March 1971 | 3 years, 59 days | 1968–71 |
| (12) | Malcolm Turnbull | 14 September 2015 | 24 August 2018 | 2 years, 344 days | 2015–2018 |
| 15 | Peter Dutton | 30 May 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 293 days | |
| 7 | Andrew Peacock | 11 March 1983 | 5 September 1985 | 2 years, 178 days | |
| 5 | Sir Billy Snedden | 20 December 1972 | 21 March 1975 | 2 years, 91 days | |
| 2 | Harold Holt | 20 January 1966 | 19 December 1967 | 1 year, 333 days | 1966–67 |
| 4 | Sir William McMahon | 10 March 1971 | 5 December 1972 | 1 year, 270 days | 1971–72 |
| 12 | Malcolm Turnbull | 16 September 2008 | 1 December 2009 | 1 year, 76 days | |
| (7) | Andrew Peacock | 9 May 1989 | 3 April 1990 | 329 days | |
| 11 | Brendan Nelson | 29 November 2007 | 16 September 2008 | 292 days | |
| 10 | Alexander Downer | 23 May 1994 | 30 January 1995 | 252 days | |
Totals for leaders who served multiple non-consecutive terms:
* John Howard: 16 years, 184 days
* Malcolm Turnbull: 4 years, 59 days
* Andrew Peacock: 3 years, 142 days

### Federal deputy leaders

| # | Name | State | Term start | Term end | Duration | Leader(s) |
| 1 | Eric Harrison | New South Wales | 21 February 1945 | 26 September 1956 | 11 years, 218 days | Robert Menzies |
| 2 | Harold Holt | Victoria | 26 September 1956 | 20 January 1966 | 9 years, 116 days | Robert Menzies |
| 3 | William McMahon | New South Wales | 20 January 1966 | 10 March 1971 | 5 years, 49 days | Harold Holt John Gorton |
| 4 | John Gorton | Victoria | 10 March 1971 | 16 August 1971 | 159 days | William McMahon |
| 5 | Billy Snedden | Victoria | 18 August 1971 | 20 December 1972 | 1 year, 124 days | William McMahon |
| 6 | Phillip Lynch | Victoria | 20 December 1972 | 8 April 1982 | 9 years, 109 days | Billy Snedden Malcolm Fraser |
| 7 | John Howard | New South Wales | 8 April 1982 | 5 September 1985 | 3 years, 150 days | Malcolm Fraser Andrew Peacock |
| 8 | Neil Brown | Victoria | 5 September 1985 | 17 July 1987 | 1 year, 315 days | John Howard |
| 9 | Andrew Peacock | Victoria | 17 July 1987 | 9 May 1989 | 1 year, 296 days | John Howard |
| 10 | Fred Chaney | Western Australia | 9 May 1989 | 3 April 1990 | 329 days | Andrew Peacock |
| 11 | Peter Reith | Victoria | 24 March 1990 | 13 March 1993 | 2 years, 354 days | John Hewson |
| 12 | Michael Wooldridge | Victoria | 13 March 1993 | 23 May 1994 | 1 year, 71 days | John Hewson |
| 13 | Peter Costello | Victoria | 23 May 1994 | 29 November 2007 | 13 years, 190 days | Alexander Downer John Howard |
| 14 | Julie Bishop | Western Australia | 29 November 2007 | 24 August 2018 | 10 years, 268 days | Brendan Nelson Malcolm Turnbull Tony Abbott |
| 15 | Josh Frydenberg | Victoria | 24 August 2018 | 30 May 2022 | 3 years, 279 days | Scott Morrison |
| 16 | Sussan Ley | New South Wales | 30 May 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 293 days | Peter Dutton |

### Leaders in the Senate

| Leader | Term began | Term ended | Portfolio | Status | Parliamentary leader | Term in office | Deputy |
| Neil O'Sullivan | 21 February 1950 | 8 December 1958 | Trade and Customs (to Jan 1956) the Navy (Jan–Oct 1956) Attorney-General (from Aug 1956) V-P Exec. Council (from Oct 1956) | Government | Menzies | 8 years, 290 days |
| Bill Spooner | 8 December 1958 | 2 June 1964 | V-P Exec. Council National Development | Government | Menzies | 5 years, 178 days | Shane Paltridge |
| Shane Paltridge | 10 June 1964 | 19 January 1966 | Defence | Government | Menzies | 1 year, 230 days | Denham Henty |
| Denham Henty | 26 January 1966 | 16 October 1967 | Supply | Government | Holt | 1 year, 263 days | John Gorton |
| John Gorton | 16 October 1967 | 1 February 1968 | Education and Science Prime Minister (from 10 Jan. 1968) | Government | Holt | 108 days | Denham Henty |
| John Gorton | 16 October 1967 | 1 February 1968 | Education and Science Prime Minister (from 10 Jan. 1968) | Government | None | 108 days | Denham Henty |
| John Gorton | 16 October 1967 | 1 February 1968 | Education and Science Prime Minister (from 10 Jan. 1968) | Government | Himself | 108 days | Denham Henty |
| Ken Anderson | 28 February 1968 | 5 December 1972 | Supply (to 1971) Health | Government | Gorton | 4 years, 281 days | Denham Henty |
| Ken Anderson | 28 February 1968 | 5 December 1972 | Supply (to 1971) Health | Government | Gorton | 4 years, 281 days | Annabelle Rankin |
| Ken Anderson | 28 February 1968 | 5 December 1972 | Supply (to 1971) Health | Government | McMahon | 4 years, 281 days | Annabelle Rankin |
| Ken Anderson | 28 February 1968 | 5 December 1972 | Supply (to 1971) Health | Government | McMahon | 4 years, 281 days | Reg Wright |
| Reg Withers | 20 December 1972 | 11 November 1975 | | Opposition | Snedden | 5 years, 230 days |
| Reg Withers | 20 December 1972 | 11 November 1975 | | Opposition | Fraser | 5 years, 230 days |
| Reg Withers | 12 November 1975 | 7 August 1978 | V-P Exec. Council Administrative Services | Government | Fraser | 5 years, 230 days |
| John Carrick | 7 August 1978 | 11 March 1983 | V-P Exec. Council (to 1982) Education (to 1979) National Development (from 1979) | Government | Fraser | 4 years, 216 days |
| Fred Chaney | 11 March 1983 | 27 February 1990 | Energy and Resources (1983-1984) Industry, Technology and Commerce (1984-1985) | Opposition | Peacock | 6 years, 353 days |
| Fred Chaney | 11 March 1983 | 27 February 1990 | Industry, Technology and Commerce (1985-1987) Employment (1987) Industrial Relations (1987-1988) Industry, Technology and Commerce (1988-1989) | Opposition | Howard | 6 years, 353 days |
| Fred Chaney | 11 March 1983 | 27 February 1990 | Industrial Relations (1989-1990) Deputy Leader of the Opposition (1989-1990) | Opposition | Peacock | 6 years, 353 days |
| Robert Hill | 3 April 1990 | 11 March 1996 | Foreign Affairs (1990-1993) Defence, Public Administration (1993-1994) | Opposition | Hewson | 15 years, 292 days |
| Robert Hill | 3 April 1990 | 11 March 1996 | Education, Science and Technology | Opposition | Downer | 15 years, 292 days |
| Robert Hill | 3 April 1990 | 11 March 1996 | Education, Science and Technology | Opposition | Howard | 15 years, 292 days |
| Robert Hill | 11 March 1996 | 20 January 2006 | Environment and Heritage (to 2001) Defence | Government | Howard | 15 years, 292 days | Nick Minchin |
| Nick Minchin | 27 January 2006 | 3 December 2007 | V-P Exec. Council Finance and Administration | Government | Howard | 4 years, 96 days | Helen Coonan |
| Nick Minchin | 3 December 2007 | 3 May 2010 | | | | 4 years, 96 days |
| Nick Minchin | 3 December 2007 | 3 May 2010 | Defence | Opposition | Nelson | 4 years, 96 days | Eric Abetz |
| Nick Minchin | 3 December 2007 | 3 May 2010 | Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy | Opposition | Turnbull | 4 years, 96 days | Eric Abetz |
| Nick Minchin | 3 December 2007 | 3 May 2010 | Resources and Energy | Opposition | Abbott | 4 years, 96 days | Eric Abetz |
| Eric Abetz | 3 May 2010 | 18 September 2013 | Employment and Workplace Relations | Opposition | Abbott | 2 years, 2 days | George Brandis |
| Eric Abetz | 18 September 2013 | 21 September 2015 | Employment | Government | Abbott | 2 years, 2 days | George Brandis |
| George Brandis | 21 September 2015 | 20 December 2017 | Attorney-General V-P Exec. Council | Government | Turnbull | 2 years, 90 days | Mathias Cormann |
| Mathias Cormann | 20 December 2017 | 30 October 2020 | Finance and the Public Service V-P Exec. Council | Government | Turnbull | 2 years, 315 days | Mitch Fifield Simon Birmingham |
| Mathias Cormann | 20 December 2017 | 30 October 2020 | Finance and the Public Service V-P Exec. Council | Government | Morrison | 2 years, 315 days | Mitch Fifield Simon Birmingham |
| Simon Birmingham | 30 October 2020 | 25 January 2025 | Finance Trade, Tourism and Investment (to Dec 2020) V-P Exec. Council | Government | Morrison | 4 years, 87 days | Michaelia Cash |
| Simon Birmingham | 30 October 2020 | 25 January 2025 | Foreign Affairs | Opposition | Dutton | 4 years, 87 days | Michaelia Cash |
| Michaelia Cash | 25 January 2025 | Incumbent | Employment and Workplace Relations | Opposition | Dutton | 53 days | Anne Ruston |